The 2026 scholarship cycle has made one thing clear: if you don’t have a 14-digit OTR ID, you don’t have a scholarship. The move from the old portal to the mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR) system has left thousands of students stuck at the final hurdle—Face Authentication.
If you have a “Reference Number” but can’t generate your OTR ID, you are likely missing one small technical detail. Here is the fix.
The “Power Couple”: You Need TWO Apps
The biggest mistake students make is only downloading the NSP OTR app. The NSP app does not have a built-in camera; it uses a Google Play plugin.
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App 1: – This is where you enter your Reference Number and OTP.
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App 2: – This is a “headless” app. You cannot open it, and it has no icon. It runs in the background to securely match your face with the UIDAI (Aadhaar) database.
The Step-by-Step “Fail-Safe” Process
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Generate Reference No.: Complete Step 1 on the using your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
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App Setup: Install both apps mentioned above.
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Authentication: Open the NSP OTR App → Select “eKYC with FaceAuth” → Enter your Reference Number → Enter OTP.
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The Capture: When you click “Proceed for Face Authentication,” the Aadhaar Face RD plugin will trigger.
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Keep the camera at eye level.
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Ensure there is a white/plain background.
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Blink your eyes when the app says “Capturing.” The AI uses the blink to prove you are a real person and not a photo.
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Top 3 Errors & How to Fix Them (2026 Edition)
If you’re seeing an error code, don’t panic. These are the human solutions for the most common 2026 glitches:
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Error 9708 (Connection/Timeout): Go to your phone’s Settings > Apps > Aadhaar Face RD. Set Battery/Power usage to “No Restrictions.” The default “Battery Saver” mode often kills the app before it can verify your face.
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“Authentication Failed – Check Credentials”: This usually means your Aadhaar Biometric is Locked. Open the mAdhaar app or UIDAI website and ensure your biometrics are “Unlocked.”
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“No Scheme Available”: If you finish OTR but see no scholarships, your Aadhaar name might not match your school records. Even a missing middle name will cause the “bot-check” to hide your eligible schemes.
Why March 1st is the Real Deadline
While the portal remains open for “Reference Number” generation, the March 1st deadline for many central schemes (like ICAR NTS or Post-Matric for specific states) means your OTR must be fully active by then.
Q: Can I do Face Auth on a laptop?
A: No. The Face RD technology only works on Android devices (6.0 or higher) currently.
Q: My face has changed since my Aadhaar photo. What do I do?
A: If the app fails 3 times, you must visit an Aadhaar Kendra to update your biometric photo before you can finish your OTR.
Q: Is OTR mandatory for Renewals?
A: Yes. Even if you got a scholarship last year, you must convert your old ID to a new OTR ID for the 2025-26/2026-27 cycle.