Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST and EWS Students
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. D Ravi Kumar

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.356 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025

## POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP FOR SC/ST AND EWS STUDENTS

## 356. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government continue the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme after 2025-26 and details of its role in supporting SC/ST students' education, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the current income ceiling for SC/ST students under the scheme is 2.5 lakh per annum, which was set many years ago in contrast, the income limit for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) is eight lakh per annum and the steps taken by the Government to revise the income limit for SC/ST students, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether under the revised fund-sharing formula, the State Governments are required to release their 40% share first, causing delays in the disbursement of the Central Government's. 60% share. Will the government consider revising this process, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the budgetary allocation to ensure that all eligible SC/ST students can benefit from the scheme without financial constraints, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is implementing Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students which provide financial assistance to postmatriculation or post- secondary eligible SC students to complete their education. The objective of Scheme is to appreciably increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of SC students in higher education. There is no proposal to discontinue the Scheme after financial year 2025-26.

Similarly, there is no proposal for discontinuing the Post Matric Scholarship scheme for ST students by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) which provide financial assistance enabling the Scheduled Tribes (STs) students to achieve higher education and reduce the dropout rate among the tribal students in higher education.

(b) to (d): Post Matric scholarship scheme for SC & ST students, the current income criteria and funding pattern in the scheme guidelines, as per the approval of Expenditure Finance Committee and Cabinet, is valid from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26.

The funding pattern (sharing ratio between Centre and State/UT) under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students is 60:40 (90:10 in case of for North Eastern States). Only after the verified 40% State share has been disbursed and received through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), Government of India, after necessary approvals as per prescribed procedure releases its 60% central share through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the Aadhaar seeded bank account of SC students as per the prescribed timeline in the scheme guidelines.

Under the Post Matric scholarship scheme for ST students, present fund sharing ratio is 75:25. MoTA releases 75% of amount to the State Governments/UT Administrations. The respective State Governments /UT Administrations adds its State share of 25% and releases the scholarship amount directly into the bank accounts of the students, through DBT, in a single instalment.

Post Matric scholarship scheme for SC & ST students are open ended schemes and demand driven.

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