Lok Sabha Question No. 4443 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Scholarship for Tribal Students
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi, Shri Ashish Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4443

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026

## Scholarship for Tribal Students

4443. Shri Ashish Dubey:

Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the financing pattern of the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students and the number of beneficiaries covered under it every year so far, year-wise;
- (b) the number of ST students who received scholarships for higher studies abroad during 20232026 and the countries where such studies are being pursued, year-wise; and
- (c) the selection criteria for award of the scholarships, the success rate of the awardees and the plans to expand the range of course subjects under the scheme?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The  Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) implements the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric  Scholarship  for  ST  students.  The  Scheme  is  implemented  through  respective States/UTs and funding pattern is as follows: -

|   S. No. | Scheme                                  | Central Share                                                                                       | State Share   |
|----------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
|        1 | Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students |  100% for Union Territories without legislature.                                                   | Nil           |
|        1 | Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students |  90% for N.E. States and Hilly States of Himachal Pradesh &Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu and Kashmir | 10%           |
|        1 | Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students |  75% for all other States/UTs                                                                      | 25%           |

The number of beneficiaries covered under the Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students for the year 2022-23 to 2024-25 is as follows:

| Details of Beneficiaries under the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students from 2022-23 to 2024-25   | Details of Beneficiaries under the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students from 2022-23 to 2024-25   | Details of Beneficiaries under the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students from 2022-23 to 2024-25   | Details of Beneficiaries under the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students from 2022-23 to 2024-25   | Details of Beneficiaries under the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students from 2022-23 to 2024-25   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | F.Y. 2022-23                                                                                                   | F.Y. 2023-24                                                                                                   | F.Y. 2024-25                                                                                                   |
| Sl. No.                                                                                                        | Name of the Scheme                                                                                             | No. of Beneficiaries                                                                                           | No. of Beneficiaries                                                                                           | No. of Beneficiaries                                                                                           |
| 1                                                                                                              | Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students                                                                        | 2269112                                                                                                        | 2064437                                                                                                        | 1816293                                                                                                        |

- (b) The number of Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who received scholarships for higher studies abroad under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for ST Students during the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 and the countries where such studies are being pursued are given below:

| Countries where studies pursued   | No. of Beneficiary F.Y 2023-24   | No. of Beneficiary F.Y 2024-25   | No. of Beneficiary F.Y 2025-26 (As on date 16.03.2026)   |
|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| Australia                         | 7                                | 5                                | 10                                                       |
| Austria                           |                                  |                                  |                                                          |
| Canada                            | 2                                |                                  | 1                                                        |
| Denmark                           | 1                                |                                  |                                                          |
| Germany                           | 1                                |                                  |                                                          |
| Greece                            |                                  |                                  |                                                          |
| Ireland                           |                                  |                                  | 1                                                        |
| Israel                            |                                  | 1                                |                                                          |
| Japan                             | 1                                | 1                                |                                                          |
| London                            |                                  |                                  |                                                          |
| Malaysia                          | 1                                | 1                                |                                                          |
| Netherlands                       |                                  |                                  |                                                          |
| New Zealand                       |                                  |                                  | 1                                                        |
| Scotland                          |                                  |                                  |                                                          |
| Singapore                         |                                  |                                  |                                                          |
| Sweden                            | 3                                | 2                                | 1                                                        |
| Switzerland                       | 1                                |                                  |                                                          |
| Thailand                          | 1                                | 1                                | 1                                                        |
| United Kingdom                    | 39                               | 35                               | 38                                                       |
| USA                               | 8                                | 9                                | 8                                                        |
| Total                             | 65                               | 55                               | 61                                                       |

The scholarships are awarded for pursuing Master's degree, Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral research in the top 1000 QS World ranking Institutes/Universities.

- (c) The selection Criteria under National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for ST Students is given below: -
-  Student should belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
-  Minimum 55% marks in the relevant degree.
-  Annual family income of  should not exceed ₹6 lakh.
-  Age limit of 32 yrs for master's course, 35 yrs for Ph.D and 38 yrs for Post-Doctoral Course.
-  Only one child per family is eligible

Slots under the NOS scheme: -

| Field of study                                                  |   Number of slots for the field of study |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Pure/Applied Science/ Engineering/Technology/Mathematics (STEM) |                                       10 |
| Management, Economics, Finance, Law                             |                                       04 |
| Agriculture/Medicine                                            |                                       04 |
| Humanities/Social Science/Fine Arts                             |                                       02 |

Further, merit list is prepared based on the QS World Ranking of the University, in which the applicant has taken admission or has offer of admission.

Total 65 ( 5 carry forwarded) Students are selected under the Scheme during the selection years 2023-24 to 2025-26. No instance of failure is reported in completing the course. Master's Degree, Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral courses are covered Under NOS scheme. The Ministry is proposing to increase the number of slots subject to approval of the Department of Expenditure and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

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