Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - "Educational Empowerment" Component
State: Central
Ministry: Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Department: Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Category: Social welfare & Empowerment, Education & Learning
Beneficiary Type: Individual

The scheme aims to provide good coaching quality for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations. Provides free coaching and stipend support to students from these marginalized communities.

Benefits:
##### ***Financial Assistance***

- ***Free Coaching Fees:*** Actual course fee of the institute or the prescribed course fee by the Ministry as per Annexure, whichever is less, subject to the limits for fees and duration laid down in the Annexure.- ***Monthly Stipend for Local Students:*** ₹1,500/- per month for students attending coaching within their locality.- ***Monthly Stipend for Outstation Students:*** ₹3,000/- per month for students attending coaching outside their locality.- ***Special Allowance for Students with Disabilities:*** ₹2,000/- per month towards reader allowance, escort allowance, helper allowance for students having valid disability certificate with 40% or more disability.
##### ***Coaching Coverage***

- Union Public Service Commission Group A and B examinations.
- Staff Selection Commission examinations.
- Railway Recruitment Boards examinations.
- State Public Service Commission Group A and B examinations.
- Officers Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertakings.
- Premier Entrance Examinations for Engineering (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination), Medical (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), Management (Common Admission Test), Law (Common Law Admission Test).
- Eligibility tests like Scholastic Assessment Test, Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admission Test and Test of English as a Foreign Language.
- Combined Pilot Licence courses, National Defense Academy and Combined Defense Services entrance examinations.

##### ***Disbursement***

- Direct Benefit Transfer mode into beneficiary&#39;s bank account linked with Aadhaar.
- Course fee released in two installments (50% each), Monthly stipend and special allowances paid monthly.
- Stipend paid till duration of course or for one year, whichever is less.
- Benefits available to a student maximum twice in their lifetime.

##### ***Conditions***

- _The candidate must join the selected course within 6 months of receiving the first installment._
- _The candidate must deposit the first installment amount to the selected coaching institute._
- _The candidate must join an institute empanelled by the Ministry under Free Coaching Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes students._
- _If first installment is not paid to selected institute within 6 months, amount must be returned to Government and second installment will not be provided._
- _The candidate must submit affidavit that they will take admission in coaching institute within six months of receiving first installment._
- _The candidate must provide admission confirmation from the coaching institute on the online portal._

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Eligibility:
- The applicant must belong to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes communities.
- The applicant must have total family income from all sources of ₹2,50,000/- or less per annum.
- The applicant must not be availing any such benefits from similar Scheme of Centre Government or the State Government.
- The applicant must have secured minimum marks in the qualifying examination of the competitive exam for which coaching is sought, as prescribed in guidelines of the said competitive exam.
- The applicant must have passed Class 12th or be studying in Class 12th for competitive exams requiring Class 12th qualification.
- The applicant must have completed bachelor level course or be studying in final year of bachelor degree course for competitive exams requiring graduation qualification.

##### ***Priority***

- The applicant will receive priority in selection if they have qualified preliminary examination at least once for examinations conducted in two parts (Preliminary and Mains).
- The applicant will be selected based on decreasing order of marks obtained in qualifying exams when eligible applications exceed available slots.

##### ***Special Provisions***

- The applicant with disabilities having valid disability certificate (equal to or more than 40% disability) is eligible for Special Allowance.
- The applicant is entitled for free coaching up to two times each for Preliminary and Main examinations for competitive examinations conducted in two stages.
- The applicant has no restriction in number of chances for coaching for Interview if selected for interview.

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_*The applicant can avail benefits under the scheme maximum twice in their lifetime, irrespective of number of chances entitled for a particular competitive examination._
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Application Process:
[Online]
(The applicants are advised to monitor the portal during the two annual application windows - July and January, as the portal remains open for one month twice a year specifically during these months for receiving applications)
Step 1: Portal Access and Registration
Access the official portal. On the homepage, click on "Registration" or click here. You will be taken to the registration page. Fill in all the mandatory fields and register. If required, verify your Email ID and Mobile Number via OTP.
Step 3: Online Application Submission
Use the credentials you created during registration to log in. Navigate to the online form of the scheme. In the form, fill in all the mandatory fields and upload all the mandatory documents in the specified format and size.
Step 5: Review & Submit
Carefully review all the information provided and the documents uploaded. Make any necessary corrections. Click the "Submit" button to submit your application. You'll receive a confirmation message.
Screening ProcessesStep 1: Application Review and Merit List
Wait for the closure of application portal after which separate merit lists will be drawn up by the Information Technology system for both levels of competitive exams based on marks obtained in qualifying examinations in decreasing order.
Step 2: Screening Committee Evaluation
Applications will be scrutinized by the Screening Committee set up by Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities in order of merit for ascertaining eligibility and credentials verification.
Step 3: Selection Notification
Check the merit list uploaded on the Ministry website to confirm your selection, with 625 candidates provided assistance in each of the two phases annually.
Step 4: Open Assurance Letter Receipt
Receive the Open Assurance Letter stating your name, rank number, and fee amount eligible under the scheme after selection and credential verification process completion.
Next StepsStep 1: Coaching Institute Selection and Admission
Contact and secure admission in your preferred coaching institute using the Open Assurance Letter, ensuring the institute is empanelled under the Free Coaching Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes students.
Step 2: Admission Confirmation Upload
Upload the admission confirmation or assurance letter received from your selected coaching institute on the online portal for processing of first installment release.
Step 3: First Installment Receipt
Receive 50% of eligible coaching fee amount through Direct Benefit Transfer mode directly into your Aadhaar-linked bank account immediately after uploading admission confirmation.
Step 4: Course Joining and Fee Deposit
Join the selected coaching course within 6 months of receiving first installment and deposit the received amount to the coaching institute, obtaining proper receipt for the same.
Step 5: Final Installment Processing
Submit proof of joining the coaching institute and deposit receipt of first installment to receive the remaining 50% course fee along with monthly stipend payments through Direct Benefit Transfer.

Documents Required:
For ApplicationIncome Certificate From Revenue Officer Not Below Rank Of Tehsildar (for self-employed parents/guardians).
Income Certificate From Employer (for employed parents/guardians).
Consolidated Income Certificate From Revenue Officer (for employed parents/guardians with additional income sources).
Community Certificate Proving De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Status.
Educational Qualification Certificates (Class 12th marksheet or Degree certificate as applicable).
Disability Certificate Issued By Competent Authority (for students with disabilities, showing 40% or more disability).
Aadhaar Card.
Bank Account Details Linked With Aadhaar.
Affidavit Stating Not Taken Benefit More Than Twice Under The Scheme.
Affidavit Stating Not Availing Scholarship From Any Other Similar Scheme Of Centre Or State Government.
Preliminary Examination Qualification Certificate (if applicable, for priority consideration).
For Benefit DisbursalAdmission Confirmation Letter From Coaching Institute.
Proof Of Joining The Selected Coaching Institute.
Receipt Of First Installment Deposit To The Coaching Institute.