If you are a student in Karnataka trying to log into the State Scholarship Portal (SSP) this January, you are likely facing one of two things: a “Site Cannot Be Reached” error or the sinking feeling that you’ve missed the deadline.
As we hit the mid-point of January 2026, the pressure is on. With the introduction of new mandatory steps like the NSP OTR (One-Time Registration) and the Identity Validation Service, the application process has become a bit of a marathon. In this update, we’ll dive into the real-time status of the deadlines and what you should do if you’re stuck.
The Current Official Status: What is the Deadline?
Right now, the official heartbeat of the portal is set to January 31, 2026, for the majority of Post-Matric courses. This includes engineering, medical, degree, and diploma students under the Social Welfare and Minority Welfare departments.
However, the “Last Date” isn’t a single line in the sand. Here is the breakdown:
- SC/ST Students: While the portal remains open, your internal college verification for the first installment is currently at its peak.
- OBC & Minority Students: The hard deadline for professional courses is January 31, 2026.
- Pre-Matric Students: Schools are still processing SATS data, and you generally have until March 31, 2026, but don’t wait—server lag gets worse every week.
Will the Date be Extended? (The Honest Truth)
The question everyone is asking in WhatsApp groups is: “Will the GOK extend the date?”
Based on the current SSP server performance, an extension is highly likely for general degree students. Historically, the Department of Backward Classes Welfare (OBC) and the Minority Welfare Department extend the window into February 15 or 28.
But here is the warning: If you are a professional student (BE, B.Tech, MBBS), the DTE (Department of Technical Education) audits happen early. Waiting for a “theoretical” extension is risky. If the portal closes even for 24 hours for “Maintenance,” you could lose your maintenance allowance for the entire year.
Why the “Server Down” Issue is Real This Year
You aren’t alone if the e-Attestation portal (eattestation.ssp.karnataka.gov.in) isn’t opening. This year, the portal is cross-referencing data with the Kutumba (State Family Database) in real-time. This extra “handshake” between servers is causing the “Connection Timed Out” error.
Pro-Tip for Success: If you can’t get past the login screen during the day, try the “Midnight Window.” Between 11:30 PM and 5:30 AM, the server load drops by nearly 70%. Most successful submissions this week are happening in the early hours of the morning.
“Must-Do” Steps Before You Hit Submit
Don’t just rush to submit to beat the clock. A rejected application is worse than a late one.
- Check your NPCI Seeding: Many students see “Approved” on the portal but never get the money. Why? Because their Aadhaar isn’t mapped to the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) gateway. Use the Aadhaar Status tool on the official site to confirm this before Jan 31.
- The NSP OTR Requirement: For 2026, you cannot finish your SSP form without an NSP OTR Number. If you haven’t registered on the National Scholarship Portal yet, do it today. It takes 24-48 hours for that ID to become active in the SSP system.
- Income Certificate RD Number: Ensure your RD number is valid. If it expired on December 31, the system will auto-reject your application for “Invalid Income Certificate.”
The Final Verdict for January 2026
Do not count on an extension. While we expect a 15-day “grace period” for minorities and OBC Cat-1 students, you should act as if January 31 is the final day. Gather your e-Attestation IDs, get your SATS/University Reg numbers ready, and push through the server lag.
Are you facing a specific error like “Data Mismatch” or “Student ID Not Found”? Leave a comment below, and our team will help you troubleshoot it.