Lok Sabha Question No. 454 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Nalin Soren, Shri Manish Jaiswal

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

STARRED QUESTION NO. 454 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2026

## POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP FOR SC STUDENTS

## *454. SHRI MANISH JAISWAL: SHRI NALIN SOREN:

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

- (a) the details and number of   beneficiaries covered under the  revamped Post-Matric Scholarship  Scheme for SC students  during the last three years, State and district-wise, including Rajasthan; Uttar Pradesh; Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh particulary  Hazaribagh,  Ramgarh districts of   Jharkhand;  Sheopur,  Morena, Dewas and Shajapur  districts  of Madhya Pradesh; Bheem and Khubhalghar areas of Rajsmand Lok Sabha Constituency of Rajasthan;
- (6) whether the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) architecture has reduced delays in scholarship disbursement, particularly for students in rural and semi-urban areas, if s0, the details thereof and average time taken for scholarship release, State-wise including the above said places;
- whether Aadhaar-based verification has minimised duplication and ghost beneficiaries, if sO, the details thereof; State and district-wise including the above said places;
- whether Aadhaar-based verification has   helped minimise   duplication and ghost beneficiaries under the scheme, if the details thereof; State and district-wise including the above said places; SO,
- (e) whether any assessment has been undertaken regarding changes in dropout rates among SC students at higher secondary and tertiary levels have declined post-reform and if s0, the details of the decline thereof; State-wise including in the above said places;
- (f) the   impact scheme on improving higher  education participation  among SC students; and
- g) the total amount provided by Central Government to the State Governments for postmatric and pre-matric students to SC community during such period, State-wise including Jharkhand?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) to (g): A statement is laid on the table of the house.

*****

Statement   referred to in parts (a) to (g) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.454* for answer on 24.03.2026 regarding Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes(SCs) Students' asked by Shri Manish Jaiswal and Shri Nalin Soren:

(a):   Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes students across the Country including State of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand;, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh: The details of number of beneficiaries State/UT-wise   including   Hazaribagh; Ramgarh district of Jharkhand;   Sheopur, Morena, Dewas and Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh; Rajsmand district including Bhim and Kumbhalgarh areas of Rajsmand Lok Sabha Constituency of Rajasthan under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric  Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes during the last three Financial Years is at Annexure I.

(b): Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) was   started in the financial year 2021-22 under the revised Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes students for   directly transferring the scholarship funds to the eligible applicants It has led to simpler and faster flow of funds and has ensured accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication and reduction of misuse of funds which has resulted in increased efficiency, effectiveness and transparency. Aadhaar seeded bank validations streamlined processes and reduced delays in scholarship disbursement, including for beneficiaries in rural and semi-urban areas. The disbursal of Central share of the scholarship amount is contingent upon States/UTs disbursing their share and pushing the State/UT share data to the National Scholarship Portal. paid

The average turnaround time taken for disbursement of the Central share of scholarship after the State/UT share data has been received ranges from four to five weeks The details of average time taken for   scholarship release of central share, State/UT-wise   including Dewas  and Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh; Rajsamand district including Bhim and Kumbhalgarh areas of Rajsmand Lok Sabha Constituency of Rajasthan are at Annexure-II: paid

(d): Aadhaar-based verification and de-duplication measures implemented under the scheme have   significantly minimised   duplication: The State-wise details   including all Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh; Rajsamand district including Bhim and Kumbhalgarh areas of Rajsamand Lok Sabha Constituency of Rajasthan for the last three years are at Annexure-III:

(e) & (f: Assessment regarding changes in dropout rates at higher secondary and tertiary levels among Scheduled Caste (SCs) students has not been done by this Department, Though, as per the evaluation   report schemes   by  NITI AAYOG, undertaken for Post-Matric  Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes students, the studies have recommended that the scheme is built on the strong foundation of   promoting educational equity for Scheduled Castes by alleviating financial burdens and focussing o disadvantaged regions  The number of beneficiaries under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs) students are increasing since the introduction of DBT from 202122.

(g): The central share of scholarship amount is disbursed directly into the Aadhar seeded bank accounts of the eligible applicants through DBT. The State/UT wise details, including Jharkhand, under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes'and Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes & Others' during the last three financial years are at Annexure-IV.

Annexure referred to in Part (a) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No 454* for answer on 24.03.2026 regarding Post Matric scholarship for SC students asked by Shri

The details of number  of beneficiaries, StateMUT-wise including all   districts, under  the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes' the last three financial years during

| Financial Year   | Financial Year   | 2022-23                 | 2023-24                 | 2024-25                 |
|------------------|------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| SI No.           | StatelUT         | Number of beneficiaries | Number of beneficiaries | Number of beneficiaries |
| 1                | Andhra Pradesh   | 2,38,915                | 1,95,269                | 3,03,298                |
| 2                | Assam            | 11,140                  | 8,426                   | 12,073                  |
| 3                | Bihar            | 1,36,340                | 68,975                  | 73,615                  |
| 4                | IChandigarh      | 876                     | 287                     | 1,253                   |
| 5                | IChhattisgarh    | 96,267                  | 79,237                  | 87,675                  |
| 6                | DDeDNH           | 98                      | 0.00                    | 0.00                    |
| 7                | Delhi            | 7,531                   | 3,160                   | 4,692                   |
| 8                | Goa              |                         | 34                      | 58                      |
| 9                | IGujarat         | 1,13,531                | 1,79,116                | 1,57,584                |
| 10               | HHaryana         | 87,913                  | 70,464                  | 55,444                  |
| 11               | Himachal Pradesh | 21,502                  | 23,959                  | 33,149                  |
| 12               | IJammu & Kashmir | 10,097                  | 7,370                   | 6,567                   |
| 13               | IJharkhand       | 33,922                  | 44,610                  | 57,784                  |
| 14               | Karnataka        | 4,58,548                | 4,03,965                | 4,04,008                |
| 15               | Kerala           | 42,521                  | 1,55,319                | 1,47,531                |
| 16               | IMadhya Pradesh  | 4,45,319                | 3,46,289                | 6,36,303                |
| 17               | Maharashtra      | 1,48,573                | 7,49,317                | 3,62,808                |
| 18               | Manipur          | 8,988                   | 2,125                   | 7,938                   |
| 19               | JMeghalaya       | 0.00                    | 0.00                    | 25                      |
| 20               | Odisha           | 2,99,369                | 1,43,861                | 1,91,873                |
| 21               | Puducherry       | 3,904                   | 2,564                   | 2,694                   |
| 22               |                  | 40,708                  | 1,99,508                | 2,94,284                |
| 23               | Rajasthan        | 3,03,252                | 1,51,922                | 2,29,002                |
| 24               | ISikkim          | 448                     | 216                     | 172                     |
| 25               | Tamil Nadu       | 5,43,772                | 6,43,761                | 9,34,793                |
| 26               | [Telangana       | 0.00                    | 0.00                    | 0.00#                   |
| 27               | Tripura          | 22,278                  | 16,858                  | 19,849                  |
| 28               | UUttar Pradesh   | 12,69,634               | 9,49,934                | 6,44,827                |
| 29               | UUttarakhand     | 27,735                  | 23,804                  | 26,216                  |
| 30               | West Bengal      | 2,73,953                | 2,68,228                | 1,08,693                |
|                  | Total            | 46,47,135               | 47,38,578               | 48,04,208               |

Annexure referred to in Part (a) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No 454* for answer on 24.03.2026 regarding Post Matric scholarship for SC students asked by Shri Manish Jaiswal and Shri Nalin Soren:

The details of number of beneficiaries,  particularly to Hazaribagh, Ramgarh  district of Jharkhand; Sheopur, Morena, Dewas and Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh; Rajsmand district including Bhim and Kumbhalgarh areas

|            |            | Financial Year          | Financial Year          | Financial Year          |
|------------|------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| State Name | District   | 2022-23                 | 2023-24                 | 2024-25                 |
|            | Name       | Number of Beneficiaries | Number of Beneficiaries | Number of Beneficiaries |
|            | Hazaribag  |                         | 5605                    | 6365                    |
| Jharkhand  | RRamgarh   |                         | 1344                    | 1556                    |
| Madhya     | Dewas      | 289                     | 7025                    | 18325                   |
| Madhya     | JMorena    | 66                      | 7070                    | 19668                   |
|            | [Shajapur  | 579                     | 4770                    | 13746                   |
| Pradesh    | (Sheopur   | 11                      | 1978                    | 4844                    |
| Rajasthan  | IRajsamand | 1511                    | 854                     | 1136                    |
| Total      | Total      | 2,456                   | 28,646                  | 65,640                  |

Source: National Scholarship Portal

Annexure referred to in Part (b) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.454* for answer on 24.03.2026 regarding Post Matric scholarship for SC students asked by Shri Manish Jaiswal and Shri Nalin Soren.

State-wise, Academic Year (AY) wise Average Turn Around Time

|   SNo | State Name       |            | AY 2023-24   | AY 2024-25   |
|-------|------------------|------------|--------------|--------------|
|     1 | Andhra Pradesh   | 4-5 Week   | 7-8 Week     | 4-5 Week     |
|     2 | Assam            | 7-8 Week   | 8-9 Week     |              |
|     3 | Bihar            | 10-11 Week | 9-10 Week    |              |
|     4 | IChandigarh      | 2-3 Week   | 10-11 Week   | 7-8 Week     |
|     5 | Chhattisgarh_    | 4-5 Week   | 4-5 Week     | 4-5 Week     |
|     6 | Delhi            | 7-8 Week   | 12-13 Week   | 14-15 Week   |
|     7 | Goa              | 51-52 Week | 4-5 Week     | **           |
|     8 | Gujarat          | 5-6 Week   | 4-5 Week     | 4-5 Week     |
|     9 | [Haryana         | 4-5 Week   | 11-12 Week   | 5-6 Week     |
|    10 | Himachal Pradesh | 22-23 Week | 6-7 Week     | 7-8 Week     |
|    11 | IJammu & Kashmir | 10-11 Week | 7-8 Week     | 6-7 Week     |
|    12 | (Jharkhand       | 4-5 Week   | 7-8 Week     | 6-7 Week     |
|    13 | Karnataka        | 3-4 Week   | 6-7 Week     | 5-6 Week     |
|    14 | Kerala           | 6-7 Week   | 6-7 Week     | 5-6 Week     |
|    15 | Madhya Pradesh   | 7-8 Week   | 6-7 Week     | 6-7 Week     |
|    16 | Maharashtra      | 4-5 Week   | 8-9 Week     | 7-8 Week     |
|    17 | Manipur          | 5-6 Week   | 8-9 Week     | 6-7 Week     |
|    18 | Meghalaya        | ***        | 37-38 Week   | 6-7 Week     |
|    19 | Odisha           |            | 5-6 Week     | 5-6 Week     |
|    20 | Puducherry       | 9-10 Week  | 12-13 Week   | 5-6 Week     |
|    21 | [Punjab          | 7-8 Week   | 7-8 Week     | 4-5 Week     |
|    22 | Rajasthan        | 10-11 Week | 7-8 Week     | 5-6 Week     |
|    23 | Sikkim           | 11-12 Week | 9-10 Week    | 12-13 Week   |
|    24 | Tamil Nadu       | 4-5 Week   | 6-7 Week     | 4-5 Week     |
|    25 | Telangana        | ****       |              | 6-7 Week     |
|    26 | Tripura          | 4 Week     | 11-12 Week   | 8-9 Week     |
|    27 | Uttar Pradesh    | 2-3 Week   | 3-4 Week     | 5-6 Week     |
|    28 | Uttarakhand      | 11-12 Week | 6-7 Week     | 8-9 Week     |
|    29 | West Bengal      | 4-5 Week   | 4-5 Week     | 6-7 Week     |

Source: National Scholarship Portal

AY 2024-25 during the FY 2025-26. State Govt pushed the data for central share disbursement for AY 2024-25 in the month of February 2026 i.e end of the FY 2025-26.

2**: Goa: No data has been pushed by Goa for AY 2024-25

4****Telangana: State of Telangana has been on-boarded since 2024-25 and no State share paid data has been received from the State of Telangana on the Central Portal during the financial year 2024-25.

3***: State of Meghalaya on boarded on Nation Scholarship Portal during the Financial Year 2023-24. No data was pushed by Meghalaya during AY 2022-23.

Annexure referred to in Part (c) & (d) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No: 454* for answer on 24.03.2026 regarding Post Matric scholarship for SC students asked by Shri Manish Jaiswal and Shri Nalin Soren:

State-wise de-duplication details, including all districts

| S. No.   | State Name     | Academic Year   | Academic Year   | Academic Year   |
|----------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| S. No.   | State Name     | 2022-23         | 2023-24         | 2024-25         |
|          | Andhra Pradesh | 19              | 768             | 116             |
| 2        | Bihar          | 328             | 1,207           |                 |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh   |                 | 110             | 51              |
| 4        | Delhi          |                 | 16              | 5               |
| 5        | Gujarat        | 2               | 505             | 205             |
| 6        | Haryana        |                 | 219             | 132             |
| 7        | Jharkhand      |                 | 38              | 44              |
| 8        | Karnataka      | 14              | 3,158           | 1,104           |
| 9        | Kerala         | 2               | 1,654           | 1,206           |
| 10       | Madhya Pradesh | 799             | 3,418           | 2,261           |
| 11       | Maharashtra    |                 | 1,710           | 738             |
| 12       | Odisha         |                 | 1,982           | 1,104           |
| 13       | Puducherry     |                 |                 |                 |
| 14       | Punjab         |                 | 120             | 140             |
| 15       | Rajasthan      | 809             | 1,049           | 1,191           |
| 16       | Tamil Nadu     | 33              | 4,450           | 1,873           |
| 17       | Telangana      |                 |                 | 436             |
| 18       | Tripura        | 2               |                 |                 |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh  | 15              | 1,312           | 1,148           |
|          | West Bengal    | 33              | 2,073           | 1,317           |
|          | Grand Total    | 2,060           | 23,789          | 13,071          |

Source: National Scholarship Portal

Annexure referred to in Part (g) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 454* for answer on 24.03.2026 regarding Post Matric scholarship for SC students asked by Shri Manish Jaiswal and Shri Nalin Soren.

The details of Central Assistance (CA) released (amount disbursed) State/UT-wise under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs) during the last three Financial Years(FYs)

in Rs. crore

| SL:   | Statel UT                                  | Central Assistance released under Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs & Others Financial Year   | Central Assistance released under Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs & Others Financial Year   | Central Assistance released under Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs & Others Financial Year   | Central Assistance released under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs Financial Year   | Central Assistance released under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs Financial Year   | Central Assistance released under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs Financial Year   |
|-------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SL:   | Statel UT                                  | 2022-23                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                           | 2024-25                                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                                   |                                                                                           | 2024-25                                                                                   |
| 1     | Andhra Pradesh                             | 0.00                                                                                              | 56.14                                                                                             | 0.03                                                                                              | 372.59                                                                                    | 200.50                                                                                    | 605.71                                                                                    |
| 2     | Assam                                      | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.70                                                                                              | 9.20                                                                                      | 13.90                                                                                     | 8.74                                                                                      |
| 3     | Bihar                                      | 14.27                                                                                             | 15.76                                                                                             | 3.35                                                                                              | 37.54                                                                                     | 21.29                                                                                     | 23.97                                                                                     |
| 4     | Chandigarh                                 | 0.46                                                                                              | 0.38                                                                                              | 0.31                                                                                              | 2.42                                                                                      | 0.59                                                                                      | 2.70                                                                                      |
| 5     | IChhattisgarh                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 8.88                                                                                              | 5.04                                                                                              | 45.01                                                                                     | 36.14                                                                                     |                                                                                           |
| 6     | Dadra and IHaveli and Daman land Diu Nagar | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.20                                                                                      | 0.00                                                                                      | 0.00                                                                                      |
| 7     | Delhi                                      | 0.11                                                                                              | 0.16                                                                                              | 0.19                                                                                              | 13.67                                                                                     | 9.97                                                                                      | 22.19                                                                                     |
| 8     | IGoa                                       | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                      | 0.04                                                                                      | 0.08                                                                                      |
| 9     | Gujarat                                    | 16.43                                                                                             | 57.59                                                                                             | 42.82                                                                                             | 220.26                                                                                    | 384.23                                                                                    | 399.93                                                                                    |
|       | 10 [Haryana                                | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 131.58                                                                                    | 120.59                                                                                    | 94.89                                                                                     |
| 11    | Himachal Pradesh                           | 0.00                                                                                              | 7.70                                                                                              | 2.85                                                                                              | 17.60                                                                                     | 22.41                                                                                     | 35.64                                                                                     |
|       | 12 |Jammu &Kashmir                    | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.54                                                                                              |                                                                                                   | 5.43                                                                                      | 4.68                                                                                      | 4.09                                                                                      |
|       | 13 |Jharkhand                         | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 14.30                                                                                             | 18.18                                                                                     | 31.39                                                                                     | 45.04                                                                                     |
| 14    | Karnataka                                  | 42.02                                                                                             | 49.21                                                                                             | 58.31                                                                                             | 342.00                                                                                    | 421.09                                                                                    | 422.90                                                                                    |
| 15    | Kerala                                     | 8.91                                                                                              | 2.56                                                                                              |                                                                                                   | 56.82                                                                                     | 119.17                                                                                    | 160.70                                                                                    |
|       | 16 Madhya Pradesh                          | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 81.00                                                                                             | 335.05                                                                                    | 366.81                                                                                    | 486.74                                                                                    |
| 17    | Maharashtra                                | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.11                                                                                              | 359.42                                                                                    | 1652.98                                                                                   | 929.92                                                                                    |
|       | 18 Manipur                                 | 0.00                                                                                              |                                                                                                   | 0.30                                                                                              | 7.34                                                                                      | 1.94                                                                                      | 6.76                                                                                      |
|       | 19 Meghalaya                               | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                      | 0.00                                                                                      | 0.10                                                                                      |
| 20    | Odisha                                     | 6.46                                                                                              | 7.08                                                                                              |                                                                                                   | 338.33                                                                                    | 127.44                                                                                    | 181.51                                                                                    |
| 21    | Puducherry                                 | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.15                                                                                              | 0.14                                                                                              | 3.61                                                                                      | 2.86                                                                                      | 3.20                                                                                      |
|       | 22 [Punjab                                 | 19.50                                                                                             | 21.65                                                                                             | 8.78                                                                                              | 62.81                                                                                     | 284.87                                                                                    | 410.42                                                                                    |
|       | 23 [Rajasthan                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 28.23                                                                                             | 8.66                                                                                              |                                                                                           | 147.13                                                                                    | 180.59                                                                                    |
|       | 24 ISikkim                                 | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.76                                                                                      | 0.52                                                                                      | 0.44                                                                                      |
| 25    | Tamil Nadu                                 | 22.12                                                                                             | 70.56                                                                                             | 109.45                                                                                            | 726.25                                                                                    | 713.70                                                                                    | 1032.09                                                                                   |
|       | 26 [Telangana                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                              | 0.00                                                                                      | 0.00                                                                                      | 0.00#                                                                                     |
| 27    | Tripura                                    | 1.30                                                                                              | 0.67                                                                                              | 1.93                                                                                              | 38.92                                                                                     | 40.93                                                                                     | 51.61                                                                                     |
| 28    | Uttar Pradesh                              | 60.10                                                                                             | 79.66                                                                                             | 62.80                                                                                             | 926.00                                                                                    | 674.83                                                                                    | 366.02                                                                                    |
|       | 29  Uttarakhand                            | 0.00                                                                                              | 3.12                                                                                              | 3.12                                                                                              | 12.59                                                                                     | 12.94                                                                                     | 19.69                                                                                     |
| 30    | West Bengal                                | 16.24                                                                                             | 36.36                                                                                             | 19.48                                                                                             | 63.36                                                                                     | 62.48                                                                                     | 26.63                                                                                     |
| Total | Total                                      | 207.92                                                                                            | 446.66                                                                                            | 460.90                                                                                            | 4388.32                                                                                   | 5475.43                                                                                   | 5562.26                                                                                   |

# State of Telangana has been on-boarded since 2024-25 and no State share data has been received from the State of Telangana o the Central Portal during the financial year 2024-25. paid

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