Kalpana Chawla Scholarship 2026: Last Date, Scheme, Amount, Apply Online

The Kalpana Chawla Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship launched by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Under this scheme, 2000 female students of the state who have cleared Class 12 are provided financial support. Named after the first Indian-origin woman to travel to space, the scholarship encourages girls to pursue their higher education despite facing financial and social challenges. Let’s get started and learn this wonderful scheme in more detail!

Scholarship Name	Kalpana Chawla Scholarship or the Kalpana Chawla Chatravriti Yojana
Beneficiaries	Female students from Himachal Pradesh who have cleared Class 12
Eligibility Criteria	Female students who have cleared Class 12 in Science, Arts, or Commerce from a recognized govt./private institute
Scholarship Amount	INR 15,000 per annum
Application Deadline	To be announced (Usually in the month of September)

About Kalpana Chawla

Dr Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and aerospace engineer who became the first woman of Indian origin in space. She flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia and remains a symbol of ambition, courage, and scientific excellence. Many scholarships and programs are named after her to:

• Encourage girls’ education
• Promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
• Support meritorious and financially disadvantaged students.

Also Read: Sir Ratan Tata Post-Doctoral Fellowships for South Asian Students at LSE

Himachal Pradesh Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme

The Himachal Pradesh Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme is one of the most well-known government initiatives named after the astronaut. It is offered by the Himachal Pradesh Government to meritorious girls of the state who perform well in their board examinations. The scheme provides financial assistance for higher education and benefits thousands of students every year. Selection is mainly merit-based, and in some categories, there is no strict income limit, making it accessible to many deserving candidates. The scholarship is awarded annually to support girls in pursuing college and professional courses.

Offered by	Himachal Pradesh Government
Reach	Around 10,000 girls benefit every yea

Kalpana Chawla Scholarship by Chandigarh Welfare Trust

The Kalpana Chawla Scholarship offered by the Chandigarh Welfare Trust is designed to support single girl children from economically weaker sections. Under this program, selected students receive substantial financial assistance to continue their higher education in any field. The scholarship aims to promote girls’ education and gender equality by reducing financial barriers and encouraging academic growth among deserving candidates.

Scholarship Value	INR 10 lakhs
Eligibility	Single girl child in Class 12 from economically weaker families

IIT Delhi Kalpana Chawla Scholarship

The IIT Delhi Kalpana Chawla Scholarship is an institutional award given to academically strong undergraduate students at IIT Delhi. It is typically offered to students in their third and fourth years who maintain a minimum CGPA requirement. The scholarship provides annual financial assistance, rewarding academic excellence and helping students manage educational expenses during the later years of their degree.

Scholarship Value	INR 35,000 per year (3rd year) INR 25,000 per year (4th year)
Eligibility	3rd and 4th year undergraduate studentsMinimum CGPA: 8

International Space Studies Kalpana Chawla Scholarship

Some international and space-related organisations offer Kalpana Chawla scholarships for advanced space studies programs. These scholarships usually support students interested in space science, aerospace engineering, or related fields. The funding may cover a significant portion of the program cost, and selection is generally based on academic performance, project work, and demonstrated interest in the space sector.

Scholarship Value	INR 7 lakh
Eligibility	–

Kalpana Fellowship (Aerospace Research Program)

The Kalpana Fellowship, offered by Skyroot Aerospace, is a modern research-focused program inspired by Kalpana Chawla’s legacy. It is open to final-year students or recent graduates in aerospace or related engineering fields. The fellowship provides a monthly stipend along with mentorship from industry experts, hands-on research experience, and potential job opportunities after completion, making it an attractive option for aspiring space professionals.

Scholarship Value	INR 30,000–INR 80,000 per month, depending on qualification
Eligibility	Final-year or recent graduates in BTech, MTech, or PhD. Aerospace or related fields

Eligibility Criteria for the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship

The Kalpana Chawla Scholarship is meant for meritorious girl students studying in Himachal Pradesh. To be considered for the Scholarship, you need to fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

1. The applicant must be female.
2. The applicant must have cleared her Class 12 from the HP Board of Education in any of the following streams: Science, Commerce, and Arts with at least 60% marks in aggregate.
3. Female candidates enrolled in 10+2 courses (academic/technical/professional) in any recognised government/private institute can also apply.
4. The applicant’s annual family income must not exceed INR 1 lakh.

Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Percentage Required

The Government has not provided any specific percentage required for this scholarship. This might mean that most girl students who are enrolled in the 12th standard academic, professional or technical course in Science/Arts/Commerce stream are eligible to apply. Ensure that the school you have taken admission in is either a government, government-aided, or private School. The scholarships are often granted based on the merit list prepared by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education, Dharamshala. To estimate, you must have secured at least 60% to be considered for the award.

How to Apply for the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship in 2025?

If you fulfil the above eligibility criteria, then here’s how you can apply for the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship. The application form is available online. Therefore, you can apply online. The good news is that this application requires no fee payment. The application process is provided below:

1. Visit the National Portal Scholarship to apply.
2. Read the instructions carefully and click on ‘Continue’.
3. Fill in the required details such as scholarship category, state, name, date of birth, mobile number, email, and bank details.
4. Enter the mobile number, captcha code, and OTP, then submit.
5. Complete the registration process, note down the Application ID and Password and log in to complete the application form.
6. Fill in the required details, upload the necessary documents and submit the application.
7. Take a printout of the online application form and submit it along with the relevant certificates to the head of the institute.

Documents To Be Submitted

Aspiring candidates for this scholarship need to have the following documents prepared for verification purposes. While filling out the application form, you will be required to upload these documents.

• Aadhar card
• Admission for the previous year’s exam
• Bonafide certificate
• Caste certificate
• Fee payment receipt
• Income certificate
• Marksheet of last year’s matriculation exam
• Passport-sized photograph
• Bank details

Also Read: TATA Scholarships

Kalpana Chawla Scholarship: Amount and Benefits

If chosen, the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship provides an amount of INR 15,000 along with several benefits to 2000 female students. The scholarship will renew itself for the entire degree/diploma course duration based on the candidate’s academic performance.

Scholarship Amount (Typical Range)

The Kalpana Chawla Scholarship amount varies depending on the scheme, institution, and level of study. In general, the financial support can range from a few thousand rupees per year to several lakhs for specialised programs or fellowships. The scholarship is designed to reduce the financial burden on meritorious students and encourage them to pursue higher education, especially in science, technology, and professional fields. Depending on the program:

Scholarship Type	Amount
State merit scholarships	INR 15,000– INR 1,00,000 per year
Institutional scholarships	INR 25,000– INR 35,000 per year
Special programs	Up to INR 7 lakh or more
Fellowships	INR 30,000–INR 80,000 monthly stipend

Kalpana Chawla Scholarship 2026: Important Dates

The start of the application process for the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship 2026 cycle is yet to be announced. Given below are some more important tentative dates regarding the scholarship:

	Schoarship Events	Scholarship Dates
	Application Start Date	July–September
	Application Deadline	September–November
	Defective Application Verification Date	To be announced
	Institute Verification
	DNO/SNO/MNO Verification	To be announced

Selection Process

The selection process for the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship is based on both merit and financial need of the applicant. The Himachal Pradesh Board of Education prepares a merit list based on students’ academic performance in Class 12 and submitted documents. Then the top 2000 female students of the state are awarded the scholarship amount accordingly.

How to Download the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship 2025 Merit List?

The merit list for the year 2025-26 has been released. The applications for the year 2026 will be announced later on. The reason? The scholarship application for 2026 has not yet started. To download the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship 2026 merit list, you can follow the steps below:

1. Visit the official website of the Directorate of Higher Education, Shimla (Government of Himachal Pradesh, India).
2. Thereafter, you can visit the notice board (on the homepage) and go to the option ‘Regarding merit list of Kalpna Chawla Utkrisht Chhatrvriti Yojana’.
3. The Merit List PDF will be available to view or download, or both.

Contact Details

If you have any queries related to the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship, you can contact the concerned authorities at the following addresses/ numbers:

S. No.	Detail	Information
1	Location	Government of Himachal Pradesh
2	Address	HP Secretariat, Shimla
3	Email Address	[email protected]
4	Phone Number	(+911) 77 2622204
5	Fax Number	(+911) 77 2621154

Also Read: CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme For Single Girl Child

The Kalpana Chawla Scholarship represents more than financial aid; it symbolises ambition, courage, and scientific excellence. If you are a meritorious student, especially a girl aiming for higher education or a STEM career, this scholarship can be a powerful stepping stone toward your dreams.

FAQs

Related Reads: 

	Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship: Last Date, Amount, Application Online, Eligibility
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Scholarship : Last Date, Renewal Process, Eligibility, Benefits	Clinic Plus Scholarship: Benefits, Eligibility, Application Process, Last Date
Paramedical Scholarships for Medical Students in India	Kanya Utthan Scholarship

We hope that this blog gave you a complete overview of the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship. If you are looking for more such scholarships to study in India, then start following Leverage Edu today. Thank you for reading!