Lok Sabha Question No. 2541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Irregularities  in Pre-matric and Post-matric Scholarships
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Lalji Verma

:

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2541 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2025

## IRREGULARITIES IN PRE-MATRIC AND POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS

$2541. SHRI LALJI VERMA:

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

- (a) whether complaints of massive irregularities and corruption have been received in the prematric and post-matric scholarship schemes run for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe in many States including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar, for the past several years;
- (b) if so, the details of investigated complaints so far and the punitive action taken among these complaints, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to give public representatives a monitoring role in the implementation of these scholarship schemes to ensure transparency and accountability; and
- (d) whether the Government have any data on this matter and the financial loss incurred by the Union Government so far due to irregularities in the said scholarship schemes, Statewise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) implements the Centrally sponsored schemes of Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Others through State Government/Union Territory Administrations on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode w.e.f 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively. Central share is released directly into the Aadhaar seeded bank account of the beneficiaries. The aforementioned schemes are open-ended and demand driven for the eligible students of all the recognised institutions across India. Release of central share is contingent upon States/UTs transmitting their State/UT share paid data to the Central National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

Complaints are received regarding irregularities in implementation of above schemes which are immediately forwarded to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations being the implementing agencies for taking remedial action. States/UTs following due procedure take appropriate administrative actions on such complaints/representations. To eliminate the irregularities and misuse of funds, Government of India introduced Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through which the benefits are released directly to their Aadhar seeded bank accounts.

The schemes have under gone reforms for timely delivery, comprehensive accountability, continuous monitoring and transparency to bring transformative impact on the poorest SC households. Through web-based system, monitoring and disbursement of scholarships at the Centre/State level is done to the Aadhaar seeded bank accounts of the beneficiaries directly through DBT to ensure that misuse of funds is eliminated

Periodic reviews of the aforementioned schemes are conducted through meetings at the National, Regional, and State levels, as well as through field visits. Additionally, various National conferences /Chintan Shivirs are organised to assess the performance of these schemes, which are attended by Union and State Ministers, senior officers, and other officials from both the Centre and the States.

Further, there are no complaints of irregularities and corruption received in implementation of Pre-Matric and Post Matric Scholarship Schemes for Scheduled Tribes (STs).

*****