Lok Sabha Question No. 323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.323 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2025

## PRE-MATRIC AND POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP

## 323. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarship programme is being implemented by the Government for students of scheduled castes and other backward classes;
- (b) if so, the efforts are being made by the Government to ensure that not even a single eligible student is missed out of this scheme so as to make coverage of the scheme 100% for eligible students;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a): The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the following schemes:

## For SCs

- i. Post Matric scholarships to students belonging to scheduled castes for studies in India (PMS-SC)
- ii. Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs & Others

## For OBCs

- i. Post- Matric Scholarships for OBC, EBC and DNT Students Studying in India
- ii. Pre-Matric Scholarships for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

(b) to (c):

## For SCs

Both the Post Matric & Pre Matric Scholarship schemes for SCs are Centrally Sponsored Schemes being implemented through the State Governments/UT Administrations.

With effect from 2021-22, Post-Matric Scholarship scheme for SCs(PMS-SC) and w.e.f 2022-23, Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs are implemented on DBT mode, wherein the Central share of scholarship amount is released directly into the Aadhaar seeded bank account of the beneficiary students after the States/UTs disburse their share of scholarship amount.

To maximize the outreach and to expand the coverage, as per Scheme guidelines regular awareness drive is undertaken by the State Governments/UTs through the Gram Panchayat Notice Boards, school committees, discussions in the parent-teacher association meetings and other public awareness measures.

In addition, Scheme details are uploaded on social media platforms and advertisements are published in National and regional newspapers in Hindi, English and regional languages at regular intervals.

The details of funds released and number of SC students availing the benefits from the Schemes during last year i.e. 2023-24 are as under:

| SI. No.   | Scheme Name                                     |   Fund released during Beneficiary for the year 2023-24 (Rs. in crores) |   2023-24 (No. in lakhs) |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| T.        | Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme for SCs & Others  |                                                                  446.65 |                    21.29 |
| 2.        | Post- Matric Scholarship scheme for SC students |                                                                 5475.42 |                    47.38 |

## For OBCs

Both the Post- Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship schemes for OBC, EBC and DNT Students are being implementing through the State Government/UT Administrations.

The details of funds released and number of OBC students availing the benefits from the Schemes during last year i.e. 2023-24 are as under:

|   SI. No. | Scheme Name                                                               |   Fund released during 2023-24 (Rs. in crores) |   Beneficiary for the year 2023-24 (No. in lakhs) |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Pre-Matric Scholarships for OBC, EBC and DNT Students.                    |                                         195.45 |                                             19.87 |
|         2 | Post- Matric Scholarships for OBC, EBC and DNT Students Studying in India |                                         988.06 |                                             35.73 |

(d) doesn't arise in view of (a) to (c).

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