The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has announced major scholarship support reaching over 1.44 crore Scheduled Caste students with disbursements totalling Rs 12,773 crore. The ministry has also rolled out reforms across multiple schemes to improve transparency, reduce delays and strengthen the verification of applicant eligibility. Beyond SC students, the ministry reports that over 1.01 crore Other Backward Classes and Economically Backward Classes students have received Rs 2,445.05 crore in assistance.
What the schemes cover
The Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes form the backbone of support for SC students, with the funds distributed to help remove financial obstacles to their education.
Three key programmes have seen operational changes:
- SHRESHTA scheme: The annual entrance test (NETS) for this residential education programme has been moved from May to December. This earlier date allows admissions to align with the academic calendar and prevents students from dropping out due to delayed processing.
- National Overseas Scholarship Scheme: From 2024–25, income and caste certificates are now verified directly with issuing authorities on the spot, rather than relying on self-submitted documents. This step aims to prevent fraudulent claims and protect genuine candidates.
- National Fellowship for SC Students Scheme: Starting from 2025–26, students have seven days after results are announced to file complaints or flag discrepancies in the fellowship selection. This window is designed to ensure swift resolution of grievances.
What this means for you
If you belong to a Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Classes or Economically Backward Classes family and are pursuing education, you may be eligible for these scholarship schemes. Students applying for overseas higher education or fellowships should expect stricter document verification to ensure fair selection. Those entering the SHRESHTA residential school programme will now know admission outcomes earlier in the academic year, giving more time to plan and prepare. The new grievance windows mean the selection process is more open to challenge if you believe an error has been made.