April 10, 2026
Step 1 – Registration Deadline
Fill out the simple online form with accurate details before the April 10 deadline
April 10, 2026
Smarter India Logical Reasoning & Aptitude Scholarship 2026
A national-level merit scholarship that supports your career, strengthens competitive exam skills, and offers global career exposure.
Total Scholarship Amount: ₹4 Lakhs
Application Fee: None
About the Scholarship
The Smarter India Scholarship is an initiative designed to provide students with direct financial assistance. Our primary goal is to offer funding to help you pursue your education without financial stress. To qualify, applicants take an online test modeled after standard government and corporate aptitude exams. This process ensures that while competing for funds, you also improve the logical reasoning, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills needed for future placements, internships, and university entrance tests. Top achievers additionally receive career opportunities through exclusive international exposure.
Who Can Apply
– Indian citizens aged 13 to 45 years.
– People from any stream or discipline.
– No restriction on academic percentage.
Scholarship Awards
01
Top Winner
₹1,00,000 + U. S. Visit
3-day in-person visit to Southern California universities and innovation sites.
Access to labs and campus tours, innovative project showcases, and career talks with university faculty or researchers in your field.
02
2nd Place
₹50,000 + Virtual U. S. Project
Work on a remote mini-project with a U.S. lab/research group and get an international recommendation letter.
03
3rd Place
₹50,000
A well-deserved reward for your hard work, so you can keep moving forward with your plans and dreams.
04
Merit Awards
₹10,000 Each for 20 Participants
The merit award helps candidates to take the next step in their career, such as paying exam fees, study materials, or skill-development resources.
05
Recognition of Top 50 Finalists
One-on-one interview with our panel of international judges and certificate (plus get featured in the Smarter India Scholars Directory).
06
Certificate of Completion
Participants who complete Round 2 get a digital QR verifiable Completion Certificate, which is absolutely ideal for a job resume.
Selection Process
April 18, 2026
Step 2 – Online Aptitude Test (1 Hour)
Covers logical reasoning and analytical ability
April 18, 2026
April 25, 2026
Step 3 – Online Aptitude Test (1 hour)
Covers logical reasoning and analytical ability questions at the advanced level
April 25, 2026
May 2, 2026
Step 4 – Shortlisting Interview
One-on-one interview to determine the final candidates.
May 2, 2026
May 16, 2026
Step 5 – Final Interview
One-on-one interview with a panel of judges to select the top 3 candidates.
May 16, 2026
May 23, 2026
Step 6 – Results & Disbursal
Winners are announced publicly and awarded accordingly
May 23, 2026
How to Study for the Scholarship
You can use any study material of your choice. Suppose you would like to study every topic in the syllabus and improve your competitive exam technique in one single resource, then you can use this optional study guide.
Take the First Step Toward Becoming a Smarter India Scholar and Life-Changing Award
Scholarship Test Syllabus
Section 1 – Verbal Reasoning
Topics: Statements & Assumptions, Statements & Arguments, Statements & Conclusions, Cause & Effect, Course of Action.
Section 2 – Non-Verbal Reasoning
Topics: Classification, Analogy, Series Completion, Mirror & Water Images, Paper Folding & Cutting, Embedded Figures.
Section 3 – Analytical Reasoning
Topics: Number Series, Letter Series, Mixed Series, Coding & Decoding (Letter, Number, Mixed, Sentence Coding), Blood Relations, Directions & Distance, Syllogisms, Linear & Circular Seating Arrangements, Puzzle Problems, Matrix and Mixed logic puzzles.
Section 4 – Data Interpretation & Analytical Ability
Topics: Data Sufficiency, Logical Deductions, Coded Inequalities, Critical Thinking & Decision Making.
Section 5 – Clocks & Calendars
Topics: Clocks (angles, overlaps, opposite times), Calendars (odd days, leap years, day calculation).
Smarter India Logical Reasoning & Aptitude Scholarship 2026 Official Rules & Process
1. Overview
The Smarter India Logical Reasoning & Aptitude Scholarship 2026 (“Scholarship”) is a merit-based national program designed to recognize problem-solving, logical reasoning, and analytical ability. The Scholarship is organized by Logical Reasoning Online (“Organizer”) and is conducted entirely online through the official website www.logicalreasoningonline.com/.
2. Eligibility
2.1 The Scholarship is open to individuals who:
Are Indian citizens at the time of registration.
Are between 13–45 years of age on April 10, 2026 (date of closing of registration).
Have entered accurate information while registering.
2.2 The Scholarship is merit-based. It is not linked to the purchase of any course or service. Participants can use any material for preparation.
2.3 The Organizer reserves the right to request proof of government-issued ID (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN, Passport). Failure to produce proper proof within the given time period will result in disqualification.
3. Registration
3.1 Registration will close on April 10, 2026, 11:59 PM IST.
3.2 A single registration per Participant is permitted. Duplicate registrations, fake names, or multiple registrations using various emails, devices, IP addresses, or VPNs will result in immediate disqualification.
3.3 System-automatic registration details (with timestamp) will be applied towards tie-breaking purposes.
3.4 By confirming registration, the Participant understands that all data entered is correct, true, and complete. Incomplete or incorrect data may lead to rejection of the application.
4. Selection Process
4.1 The Scholarship has four rounds. All the rounds are online on the official website www.logicalreasoningonline.com.
Round 1 – Online Test
Date: April 18, 2026
Duration: 60 minutes
The maximum score for this round is 50 points
Each correct answer awards 1 point, and each wrong answer deducts 1 point (negative marking).
Format: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on logical reasoning and analytical ability.
Advancement: The candidates who score in the top 30% advance to
Round 2.
Example: If 1000 students appear, then only the top 300 (30%) will advance.
Round 2 – Online Test
Date: April 25, 2026
Duration: 60 minutes
The maximum score for this round is 50 points
Each correct answer awards 1 point, and each wrong answer deducts 1 point (negative marking)
Format: More-difficult MCQs on logical reasoning and analytical ability.
Only the top 50 scorers (on a percentile basis) who score 40 (cutoff) or more out of 50 will advance to the Shortlisting Interview.
If fewer than 50 participants score 40 or more, only the cutoff qualified candidates will advance.
If no participant scores 40+, no interview round will be conducted for this cycle.
Example: If 300 students participate in Round 2, the test is scored out of 50 points with +1 for correct answers and −1 for wrong answers. After scoring, all participants who score 40+ enter shortlist consideration. From this qualified pool, the highest scoring 50 candidates are selected to advance to the Shortlisting Interview. If only 37 candidates score 40+, then only those 37 advance, and the interview is conducted with 37 participants. If no participant scores 40+, the organizer announces that the cycle ends at Round 2, and no interview round takes place.
Shortlisting Interview
Date: May 2, 2026
Format: One-on-one interviews with a panel nominated by the Organizer who will assign a score.
Conducted through Zoom/webinar platform.
Purpose: To evaluate thought depth in Logical reasoning and analytical ability, and practicality.
The interview is scored out of 100 points.
The cutoff to qualify for awards and ranking is 60 out of 100 (60%).
Advancement: Six finalists will be shortlisted for the Final Interview.
If no candidate reaches the 60% cutoff, no ranking or cash prize winners will be declared for this cycle.
Final Interview
Date: May 16, 2026
Interview Format: Expert Panel one-on-one interview who will assign score.
Held via Zoom/webinar platform.
The interview is scored out of 100 points.
The cutoff to qualify for awards and ranking is 60 out of 100 (60%).
Advancement: Makes final 3 ranking and award allocation decision.
If no candidate reaches the 60% cutoff, no ranking or cash prize winners will be declared for this cycle.
Result Announcement
Date: May 23, 2026
Final winners announced publicly on the Website.
5. Scoring
5.1 Each stage will have its own marking criteria. Marks from one stage do not transfer to the next.
5.2 Round 1 & 2 Online Tests: Scores will be based on correct answers. Each correct answer will be given 1 point, and each wrong or skipped question will be penalized (negative marking) by 1 point.
5.3 Shortlisting & Final Interviews:
Interview carries 100 points, evaluated equally across 5 criteria, each contributing 20 points to the final interview score.
Candidate must demonstrate clear logical reasoning in both spoken answers and real-time problem solving.
Judges may present on-the-spot reasoning or aptitude questions to test analytical ability beyond MCQ scores.
Candidate must maintain answer accuracy while explaining the logic behind their approach when challenged.
Communication skills will be evaluated alongside reasoning quality (listening, clarity, confidence, and composure).
Judges may test adaptability by adding new information mid-question to observe logical adjustment.
6. Tie-Breakers
6.1 In the event two or more Participants have equal scores for the same round, advancement will be decided in the following sequence:
Less time taken to complete the test will be given priority.
Example: Two participants with a score of 40/50, where Participant A completes in 38 minutes and Participant B completes in 44 minutes, Participant A is ranked higher.
In the event of still being tied, the scholarship application registration date and time are prioritized.
Example: Participant A registered for the scholarship on 15 November 2025 at 10:32 AM. Participant B registered for the scholarship on 16 November 2025 at 4:45 PM. Both scored 40/50 and finished the test in 42 minutes. In this case, Participant A ranks higher since he/she registered earlier than Participant B.
If still tied, a random draw will be used.
7. Confirmation of Winners
7.1 All provisional winners are subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Rules before the awards are finalized.
7.2 Contestants shall provide the following within 7 calendar days on being asked:
Government-issued photo identification (Aadhar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.).
Age and Indian citizenship verification.
Any other documents reasonably necessary for the Organizer.
7.3 Failure to produce documents within the stipulated deadline will result in automatic forfeiture of the award.
8. Awards & Recognition
8.1 Scholarship Awards
Top Scholar (1st Place): ₹1,00,000 + U.S. Career Exposure Visit (local stay and local transport in the US
included).
2nd & 3rd Place: ₹50,000 each + Virtual U.S. mini-project with international recommendation.
20 Merit Awards: ₹10,000 each.
Completion Certificates: Awarded to all who complete Round 2 successfully.
8.2 Payment Method
All cash awards will be disbursed by cheque in the winner’s name, within 30 days of formal declaration of results.
The Organizer will deduct relevant TDS under the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961.
8.3 Travel & Virtual Opportunities
The U.S. visit and virtual project opportunities are optional add-ons, not cash equivalents.
If a winner cannot or chooses not to participate in these opportunities, they will forfeit them without compensation. The cash award remains payable.
The Awards are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and may not be substituted by any other benefit except as determined by the Organizer at its sole discretion.
9. Disqualification
9.1 A Participant may be disqualified at any time for:
Giving false or misleading information.
Multiple registrations, impersonation, or identity fraud.
Cheating, plagiarism, use of unfair means, or unauthorized assistance.
Collusion with test results, interview marks, or public voting.
Violation of these Rules or Terms & Conditions.
Final Interview Panel Confirmed
The Final Interview will be conducted by a panel of esteemed judges, composed of experts from academia and industry. These members are already confirmed, with more to be announced soon.
Dr. Sagil James
Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University FullertonHe received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. His primary research areas are Advanced Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing, Biomanufacturing, Digital Manufacturing, and Renewable/Clean Energy Solutions.
Dr. Lata Gawade
Professor, Department of Microbiology, Goa UniversityShe specializes in marine microbiology, climate change impacts, and biogeochemistry. Her research has earned the ‘Pradnyawant Puraskar’ Award and fellowships at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Germany. She has also received international fellowships from the American Geophysical Union, ECSA, and ISEB, presenting her work in the USA, Australia, and Europe.
Eduardo Luis Santos
Software Engineer, Microsoft, USAHe specializes in distributed systems and AI/ML infrastructure, building orchestration layers that scale to millions of users. He also worked at Google and IBM, shaping services that balance performance, security, and cost at hyperscale. His toolkit spans Python, C#, Rust, Go, and the Kubernetes ecosystem.
Joseph Teja
Senior Consultant, Ex- NITI Aayog, Government of IndiaHe is a public policy specialist with over 13 years of experience in climate finance, infrastructure, and sustainable transport. At NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s apex policy think tank, he helped design the country’s ₹14,000 crore electric mobility programs, e-FAST India, and led EV partnerships with the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Smarter India Logical Reasoning & Aptitude Scholarship?
The Smarter India Scholarship is a national Indian merit scholarship that recognizes talented candidates for having sound logical reasoning, analytical thought process, and problem-solving abilities. It not only provides financial assistance but also imparts competitive exam preparation, on-campus placement, and real-life problem-solving to the participants. The process of selection includes an online logical ability test, an advanced-level second test, and online interviews before a panel of experts.
Who can apply for this scholarship?
Any Indian national between 13 and 45 years of age is eligible; you don’t have to be a current student. Graduates, working professionals, and individuals who aspire to write competitive examinations are all invited. No minimum percentage required in academics, and anyone with any educational background or course of study can be a part.
How do I apply for this India-based merit scholarship?
You can apply by filling out the form above by clicking on the “Apply Now” button before the registration deadline mentioned above. Fill in your details correctly in the online application, and you will receive instructions for the Round 1 online test of aptitude. Remember that in case of equal marks with another individual, the earlier registered individual will get preference. Therefore, apply early to enhance your chances.
Is there an application fee for the Smarter India Scholarship?
No. Registration is completely free, and there is no surprise fee at any stage.
What is the Award of this scholarship?
₹1,00,000 – 1 Top Scholar
₹50,000 – 2 Scholars (2nd and 3rd place)
₹10,000 – 20 Scholars
Total scholarship award: ₹4 lakhs
What does the Top Winner’s 3-day U.S. visit include?
The grand winner will receive a sponsored 3-day tour of the world’s leading U.S. universities and innovation hubs, including UCSD, UCLA, USC, UC Riverside, and Cal State Fullerton.
The tour will include:
• Campus and lab tours
• Opportunity to work on innovative projects in industry and lab
• Career presentations by faculty or researchers in your field of interest.
Accommodation, meals, and transport in the U.S. will be provided. Flight tickets, visas, and any personal expenses are the winner’s responsibility.
What are the Top 3 winners’ virtual shadowing / mini-project?
The top 3 winners will be provided an opportunity to virtually shadow or work on a brief, short-term mini-project with a lab, research team, or industry sponsor in the United States from our network. The experience is designed to give global exposure, hands-on skills, and real-world knowledge. Participants will be issued an international recommendation letter or completion certificate upon successful completion, which can be used to strengthen applications for jobs or scholarships in academia in the future.
Will the non-winners be acknowledged at all?
Yes. All those who successfully complete Round 2 will be awarded a Completion Certificate, which can be used for job applications, LinkedIn profiles, or further studies. More importantly, by joining, you will actually experience a hands-on competitive exam experience, the kind held in all government recruitments, private companies, and campus placements, where logical reasoning is the first level of shortlisting. In these tests, your previous marks or diploma are considered only after you pass the reasoning and aptitude round. That means that you have nothing to lose when you take the test; you sharpen your skills, prepare for actual job tests in real life, and take one step closer to becoming wiser and employable. That is the actual goal of the Smarter India Scholarship.
What if I win but cannot go on the U.S. visit or virtual project?
If you are a winner who is eligible for the 3-day U.S. visit or virtual project with a U.S. lab/research group but cannot attend for personal, professional, travel, or visa reasons, you will still receive your scholarship cash award in full. But the experience component (trip to the U.S. or virtual project) will be lost and cannot be transferred to another person. We encourage winners to do their best to attend, since the experience opportunities are designed to provide international exposure and career enhancement far beyond the cash award.
How are winners selected?
The selection process is divided into four open phases, all on our website:
• Round 1: Online Aptitude Test (1 hour) – Assesses logical reasoning and analytical skill. Top 30% proceed to Round 2.
• Round 2: Advanced Online Aptitude Test (1 hour) – The top 50 performers who score 40+ (40 is the cutoff) out of 50 proceed to the Shortlisting Interview.
• Shortlisting Interview: Personal interview to select the final 6 candidates.
• Final Interview: Personal expert panel interview to identify the top 3 winners.
Tie-breakers will be settled in the following order:
1. Less time taken to complete the online test.
2. Earlier registration time and date.
Is there a minimum score I need to score in Round 1 or Round 2 to qualify?
There is no minimum score required for Round 1; you are selected based on percentile rank, and your selection will be based on how well you do in comparison to the other candidates. In Round 2, participants must score 40+ (40 is the cutoff) out of 50 and be ranked within the top 50 to qualify for the Shortlisting Interview stage.
In Round 1, only 30% of the top scorers will get through to Round 2
For example, if 1,000 individuals sit for Round 1, only the top 300 scorers will go through to Round 2 – even though the 300th individual scored 42/50 and the next individual scored 41/50.
In Round 2, only the top 50 performers scoring 40 or more out of 50 will be eligible to proceed to the Shortlisting Interview.
For instance, if 300 individuals sit for Round 2, only the highest-scoring 50 candidates who score 40+ will proceed to the interview round. If only 18 candidates score 40+, then only those 18 advance, and the interview will be conducted with 18 participants. If no participant scores 40+, the cycle ends at Round 2, and no interview round takes place.
This provides a fair competition where it’s not a matter of achieving a specific score, but achieving to be one of the best performers who also meet the qualification/cutoff standard in each round. The cutoff in round 2 also makes sure candidates put real effort into their studies, improving speed and accuracy.
What is the syllabus covered in the scholarship test?
The scholarship test is designed to exhibit real competitive exam aptitude sections. Below are the details of the syllabus for better understanding:
Verbal Reasoning Section: Statements & Assumptions, Statements & Arguments, Statements & Conclusions, Cause & Effect, Course of Action.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Section: Classification, Analogy, Series Completion, Mirror & Water Images, Paper Folding & Cutting, Embedded Figures
Analytical Reasoning Section: Number Series, Letter Series, Mixed Series, Coding & Decoding (Letter, Number, Mixed, Sentence Coding), Blood Relations, Directions & Distance, Syllogisms, Linear & Circular Seating Arrangements, Puzzle Problems, Matrix and Mixed logic puzzles.
Data Interpretation & Analytical Ability Section: Data Sufficiency, Logical Deductions, Coded Inequalities, Critical Thinking & Decision Making
Clocks & Calendars Section: Clocks (angles, overlaps, opposite times), Calendars (odd days, leap years, day calculation)
What do I study with to prepare for this scholarship?
You may use any study materials you prefer. However, we highly recommend this optional study guide that covers all topics in the syllabus, so that you can develop your skills with systematic practice through motivating 2D animation whiteboard-style lessons.
Can I guess my way to pass the test without studying?
As with any serious exam, if you are not prepared, you will fail 100% of the time. This is a merit scholarship, and performance matters.
What will the test consist of?
Round 1 and Round 2 will be computer-based online exams with MCQs, each with 4 potential answer options. The interview will be conducted online, so you can take it from the comfort of your home.
For how many days do I have to study? Is it tough?
You can study for the scholarship exam in 10 to 15 days by studying 2 to 3 hours a day, using the right study material. It will be as tough as usual recruitment tests in India since the basic motive of the scholarship is to provide Indian youth with a brighter future. Even though you may study from whatever resources you prefer, studying from this optional study guide and dealing with everything at one time is usually more effective and saves time compared to utilizing discontinuous resources, which are time-consuming and confusing. Ultimately, it is up to every individual how and how much they study in order to be ready and comfortable.
How do you ensure fairness and prevent cheating on the scholarship?
Our website and online examinations operate under strict security controls and advanced fraud-detection algorithms. These algorithms will eventually identify the user’s pattern and blacklist:
• Multiple sign-ups by the same person, even if various names, email addresses, IP addresses, or VPNs are used.
• Any type of malicious activity to cheat the registration, test, or voting process.
Any cheating will result in immediate and final disqualification, with no appeal. We also conduct additional, undisclosed security screening to prevent exploitation. And even in theory, if a candidate managed to bypass the first two stages of shortlisting (which is almost impossible), the interviews, on the same topics, logical reasoning, and analytical skills, would render them incapable of getting through without genuine ability. In short, there is simply no hope of getting a scholarship without sincere effort and preparation. Those who work hard with sincerity will always have the best chance to succeed. Instead of thinking about any manipulative methods, spend your time on studies.
When will the results be announced?
Results will be announced 7 days after the final interviews. The winners will be contacted by our official email and on the site.
How will the award amount be paid?
Scholarship prize money will only be disbursed by cheque in the name of the recipient only after verification within 30 days. This means that you will never be asked to give banking information or any type of personal financial information at any time during the process.
How can I prevent myself from being scammed?
We will never contact you by phone, through email, or otherwise, requesting banking details, personal information, or money. The entire scholarship process, as mentioned before, is free, and payment is made through cheque, so it is not worth sharing any sensitive information with anyone. Be cautious regarding this and do not fall prey to cheats. All the announcements will be made only on our website, official WhatsApp number +918007200759, and from our official email address [email protected] or [email protected]