Lok Sabha Question No. 4604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Tribe-specific Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †4604

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 21/0/.2025

## "TRIBE-SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR GIRL STUDENTS"

† 4604. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Government proposes to implement a localised tribe-specific scholarship scheme to ensure continuity and inclusion of tribal girls in secondary education in the tribal and remote regions such as the Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh; and
- (b)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a)  &  (b): Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  implementing  the  following  Scholarship  Schemes  to promote and encourage basic and higher education amongst ST population in the country including the tribal girls and also the remote regions like Madhya Pradesh's Vindhya region:-
- i)     Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)
- ii)    Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)
- iii)    National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.
- iv)    National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class)
- v)     National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

Out  of  the  schemes  mentioned  above,  the  scholarship  schemes  at  Sr.  No.  (i)  to  (ii)  are Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  and  implemented  through  respective  State/UT.  Both  Pre&  Post Matric Scholarship Schemes are open ended Schemes wherein scholarships are given to all eligible students  including  girls  for  pursuing  studies  from  class  9th  to  Post-Graduation  courses  whose parental income is not more than Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum.

The  inviting  of  applications,  verification,  selection  of  beneficiaries  and  disbursement  of scholarship amount is the responsibility of the respective State/UT. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, releases  central  share  funds  to  States/UTs  based  on  proposals  submitted  by  them  and  after examining financial and physical progress.  State Governments/Union Territory Administrations disburse the scholarship amount to all the eligible ST Student's bank account through DBT mode.

The scheme of National Fellowship at Sr. No. (iii) is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to grant fellowship to meritorious ST students for pursuing Ph.D in India after completion of Master degree. The total number of fresh fellowships for Ph.D every year is 750. ST students with a minimum of 55% marks in Master Degree up to the age of 36 years are eligible to apply for fellowship under the Scheme. The value of fellowship is at par with UGC rates.  Under this Scheme 30% slots (i.e. 225 out of total 750) is reserved for Women.

The scheme of National Scholarship at Sr. No. (iv) is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs.  Under  this  Scheme,  Scholarship  is  provided  for  pursuing Graduate/Post  Graduate  courses  in  the  selected  top-class  Government  and  Non-Government Institutes  in  professional  fields  such  as  Management,  Medicine,  Engineering,  Information Technology, Law etc. All the ST students, with annual parental income is not exceeding Rs. 6 lakhs and studying in the 265 notified institutes by the Ministry, are eligible to receive scholarship. This is an open ended scheme where all eligible Girl ST students are covered.

The scheme of National Overseas Scholarship at Sr. No. (v) is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded  by  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  under  which  scholarships  are  given  to  the  meritorious Schedule Tribe (ST) students for pursuing higher education in top 1000 ranked (as per latest QS world  ranking)  Institutes/Universities  abroad.  The  Scheme  is  implemented  through  the  Indian Embassies/Missions abroad, Ministry of External Affairs. Twenty awards are given every year. ST students with annual family income not exceeding Rs. 6 lakhs are eligible to apply for the Scholarship under the Scheme. Under this scheme 30% slots (i.e. 6 out of total 20) is reserved for Women.

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