Students from single-parent families can apply for several scholarship programmes in India, but there is no single scholarship that automatically covers every single-parent student. Some programmes specifically include single-parent children, while others are available only to students who have lost a parent under particular circumstances.
For 2026, the clearest opportunities include the Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program and Jyoti Prakash Scholarship and Mentorship Program. In Tamil Nadu, VIDYA by Kavasa Foundation specifically prioritizes single-parent and parentless students.
Single Parent Scholarships in India
| Scholarship | Eligibility Type | Coverage | Education Level | Benefit |
| Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program | Direct single-parent category | All India | Selected UG courses | Up to ₹1 lakh/year |
| Jyoti Prakash Scholarship & Mentorship Program | Specifically includes students from single-parent families | India | Classes 9–12, UG & PG | Up to ₹24,000 |
| VIDYA – Kavasa Foundation | Single-parent priority | Tamil Nadu | Grade 1 through Grade 12, and undergraduate studies | Educational scholarship support |
| Scholarship for Fatherless Girls | Specific father-loss category | Madhya Pradesh | Classes 1–12 | ₹350–₹450/year |
| AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme | Students who’ve lost a parent, plus certain other special categories | All India | Eligible technical diploma and degree programmes | ₹50,000/year |
| PM CARES for Children | Children who satisfy the programme’s defined COVID-19-related loss-of-parent or guardian criteria | All India | School to higher education | Financial assistance, education support and other benefits |
Important: AICTE Swanath, PM CARES for Children and the Fatherless Girls Scholarship should not be treated as general single-parent scholarships. They have specific parent-loss or other eligibility conditions.
Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program
The Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program supports students entering selected undergraduate courses and has a special category for students with a single parent and orphan students.
- Provider: Group Legrand India
- Coverage: All India
- Application: Online
Eligibility
- Courses: B.E., B.Tech., B.Arch., B.B.A., B.Com., B.Sc. and other specified eligible UG courses
- Admission: The applicant should have joined the first year of an eligible undergraduate course at an Indian institution.
- Class 12: Passed in 2025–26
- Academic requirement: At least 70% in Class 10 and Class 12 for the special category
- Family income: The applicant’s total annual family income must be below ₹5 lakh.
- Special category: Single-parent and orphan students
Benefit
- Scholarship amount: Covers up to 80% of the eligible annual course fee, with a maximum benefit of ₹1,00,000 per year.
- Support may continue until course completion, subject to the programme’s academic and verification conditions.
Apply on: Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program
VIDYA – Kavasa Foundation
VIDYA is particularly relevant to students searching for a single parent scholarship in Tamil Nadu because Kavasa Foundation states that it prioritizes single-parent, parentless and low-income students.
- Organization: Kavasa Foundation
- Coverage: Tamil Nadu
- Application: Through the foundation’s programme process
Eligibility / Priority
- Location: Tamil Nadu
- Priority: Single-parent students
- Also prioritized: Parentless and low-income students
- Education: Classes 1–12 and graduation
- Focus: Government-school students and students from underserved communities
Benefit
- Educational scholarship support for Classes 1–12
- Graduation support until course completion
- Mentoring and guidance under the VIDYA programme
- Additional educational assistance may be provided according to programme conditions.
Information: VIDYA – Kavasa Foundation
Scholarship for Fatherless Girls
This scholarship supports girls who have lost their fathers and study in eligible government schools in Madhya Pradesh. It is relevant to a specific group of single-parent families but is not an all-India programme.
- Provider: School Education Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh
- Coverage: Madhya Pradesh
- Application: Through the student’s government school
Eligibility
- Applicant: Girl student
- Residence: Madhya Pradesh
- Education: Classes 1–12
- School: Eligible government school
- Family condition: Father has died
- Academic condition: Must have passed the previous class
Benefit
- Classes 1–5: ₹350 per year
- Classes 6–8: ₹400 per year
- Classes 9–12: ₹450 per year
Important: This scholarship is specific to eligible fatherless girls studying in Madhya Pradesh government schools.
Apply on: pmcaresforchildren.in
AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme
AICTE Swanath is a related parent-loss scholarship, not a general scholarship for every student from a single-parent family. Eligible categories include orphans, students who lost one or both parents due to COVID-19 and certain wards of Armed Forces and Central Paramilitary Forces personnel martyred in action.
- Provider: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the organization
- Coverage: All India
- Application: National Scholarship Portal
Eligibility
- Nationality: Indian
- Course: Eligible AICTE-approved technical diploma or degree
- Institution: AICTE-approved institution
- Relevant categories: Orphans, COVID-19-related parent loss and other categories specified under the scheme
- Family income: The applicant’s annual household income should not exceed ₹8 lakh.
- Study level: Eligible years of technical diploma or degree courses
Benefit
- ₹50,000 per year
- Can be used for eligible educational expenses under the scheme
- Degree: Up to 4 years
- Diploma: Up to 3 years, subject to scheme conditions
Apply: National Scholarship Portal
PM CARES for Children
PM CARES for Children supports children who lost both parents, a surviving parent, legal guardian or adoptive parent due to COVID-19 during the period covered by the scheme. It is not a general scholarship for all single-parent children.
- Provider: Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India
- Coverage: All India
- Application: For identified beneficiaries
Eligibility
- Family condition: Qualifying loss of both parents, surviving parent, legal guardian or adoptive parent due to COVID-19
- Beneficiary status: Child must meet the scheme’s specified conditions and be identified under the programme
- Education: School and higher education support according to the applicable provisions
Benefit
- School students: ₹20,000 per child per year for Classes 1–12
- Higher education: Education-loan assistance and scholarship support under applicable government schemes
- Financial support: A corpus structured to reach ₹10 lakh when the beneficiary turns 18, with the amount available at age 23 under the scheme provisions
- Health support: Health insurance support under the scheme
Official information: PM CARES for Children
Jyoti Prakash Scholarship and Mentorship Program
The Jyoti Prakash Scholarship and Mentorship Program specifically includes single-parent children among its eligible categories and supports students from Class 9 through postgraduate education.
- Provider: Buddy4Study India Foundation
- Coverage: India
- Application: Online
Eligibility
- Single-parent category: Yes
- Education: Classes 9–12, graduation and postgraduate courses
- Academic requirement: At least 55% in the previous qualifying examination
- Family income: Below ₹6 lakh per year for applicable categories
- Nationality: Indian
- Other programme categories may include orphans, first-generation learners, students with disabilities, transgender students and sportspersons.
Benefit
- Up to ₹24,000
- Mentorship support may also be provided under the programme.
Documents Required
The exact documents depend on the scholarship. Keep these ready if requested:
- Academic marksheets
- Income certificate
- Bank account details
- Admission or bonafide certificate
- Aadhaar or other identity proof
- Parent’s death certificate, where applicable
- Domicile or category certificate, where applicable
Important: Follow the document list shown on the specific scholarship application page rather than submitting every document listed above.
How to Apply for a Single Parent Scholarship?
- Check eligibility – Confirm the academic, income and family-status requirements.
- Prepare documents – Keep the required certificates and academic records ready.
- Apply through the correct portal – Use the official website or application platform.
- Upload and submit – Check all details and documents before final submission.
- Save the application number – Keep the acknowledgement for future status checks.
Important: Check the current deadline before applying because dates can vary between scholarships and academic years.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a Tamil Nadu Government scholarship for single-parent students?
Yes, VIDYA by Kavasa Foundation scholarship is particularly relevant because it specifically prioritizes single-parent and parentless students in Tamil Nadu.
2. What is the highest single parent scholarship in India?
Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program offers the highest stated annual amount for its special category: 80% of annual course fees up to ₹1 lakh per year, subject to the programme conditions.
3. Can children raised by a single mother or single father apply?
Yes, if the scholarship specifically accepts students from single-parent families. The applicant must also satisfy the programme’s academic, income, course and other eligibility conditions.
4. Is PM CARES for Children available to every single-parent student?
No. PM CARES for Children is limited to children who meet its specific COVID-19-related eligibility conditions. Being raised by one parent alone does not make a student eligible.
Conclusion
Students from single-parent families have several scholarship opportunities, but eligibility differs from one programme to another. Start with scholarships that explicitly recognize single-parent students, such as Legrand and Jyoti Prakash. If a parent has died under circumstances covered by a specific scheme, AICTE Swanath or PM CARES for Children may also be relevant.
For students in Tamil Nadu, VIDYA by Kavasa Foundation is an important programme to check because it specifically prioritizes single-parent and parentless students.
Before submitting an application, verify the latest eligibility, documents, deadline and application instructions on the relevant provider’s website.
Need Help Finding the Right Scholarship?
Not sure which scholarship matches your eligibility, course or family situation? OBCRIGHTS People Centre can help you understand the available options and guide you on the next steps.
Contact OBCRIGHTS People Centre for scholarship guidance and support.
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