Income Affidavit for Scholarship — 2026 Eligibility Guide

Every year, lakhs of students apply for scholarships in India — from central schemes like the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to state-level programs and private trusts. Almost all of them require one key document: an income affidavit.

But many students get confused about income limits, eligibility, and the correct format. This guide clears all doubts — with 2026 income limits and step-by-step application process.

What is an Income Affidavit?

An income affidavit is a sworn statement — signed in the presence of a Notary Public — in which your parent or guardian declares the family's annual income. Scholarship authorities use it to verify that you fall within the eligible income bracket.

Unlike an income certificate (issued by the Tehsildar or SDM), an affidavit is faster, cheaper, and can be prepared within a day.

Scholarship Income Limits 2026

Here are the annual family income limits for major scholarship schemes:

Income Affidavit vs Income Certificate

When is Income Affidavit Required?

An income affidavit is typically required for:

• National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — All central schemes
• Post-Matric Scholarships — SC/ST/OBC students
• Pre-Matric Scholarships — Class 9 and 10 students
• Merit-cum-Means Scholarships — For minority students
• EWS Certificate — For general category students
• State Scholarships — UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc.
• Private Trusts — Tata, Reliance Foundation, etc.
• College Fee Waivers — EWS and income-based concessions

Format of Income Affidavit

A standard income affidavit includes:

1. Header: "Affidavit of Income" on non-judicial stamp paper.
2. Declarant details: Name, father's/mother's name, address, and occupation of parent/guardian.
3. Student details: Name, course, college, and enrollment number.
4. Income declaration: "I declare that my annual income from all sources for FY 2025–26 is ₹___."
5. Purpose: "This affidavit is being submitted for the scholarship application."
6. Verification clause: "I declare the above information is true to the best of my knowledge."
7. Signature block: Declarant, Notary, and two witnesses.

Stamp Paper Value

Always check the scholarship's checklist — NSP clearly mentions the required value. For more details, read our Stamp Paper Guide.

Documents Required

• Aadhaar card of parent/guardian
• Aadhaar card of student
• Address proof
• Student ID card / admission proof
• Previous year's income proof (salary slip, ITR, or bank statement)
• Two passport-size photos
• Non-judicial stamp paper (₹10 / ₹20 / ₹100)
• Two witnesses with valid ID

How to Apply Online — Step by Step

1. Register on NSP. Visit scholarships.gov.in and click "New Registration".
2. Fill the application form. Enter personal details, academic details, and scheme selection.
3. Download the income affidavit format. Or use our free income affidavit generator.
4. Print on stamp paper. Buy correct-value stamp paper and print the affidavit.
5. Visit a Notary Public. Parent/guardian signs in the presence of a notary with two witnesses.
6. Scan and upload. Upload clear PDF scans of the notarized affidavit.
7. Submit and track. Note the application ID for tracking.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mismatched spelling. Parent's name must match Aadhaar exactly.
• Wrong income figure. Don't under-declare income — it can be verified.
• Forgotten witnesses. Two witnesses are mandatory.
• Signing before the notary. The signature must be witnessed in person.
• Low-quality scan. Blurred uploads often get rejected.
• Using an outdated format. Scholarship portals update formats every year.

Popular Affidavit Formats for Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

An income affidavit is one of the easiest steps in the scholarship process — but also one of the most commonly rejected due to spelling mismatches and outdated formats. Use a current template, verify details against Aadhaar, and get it notarized correctly.

At AffidavitFormat.com, we provide a free, updated income affidavit format that's accepted by NSP and most state scholarship portals.