The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is continuously strengthening the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scholarship Schemes to ensure equitable access to quality education for Scheduled Caste (SC) students across the country. Through technology-enabled service delivery, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and sustained awareness initiatives, the Ministry is ensuring timely financial assistance, enhanced transparency and efficient delivery of scholarship benefits to eligible students.

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale in a written reply to Dr. K Sudhakar in the Lok Sabha.

The Minister informed the House that the Department is implementing three major scholarship schemes for Scheduled Caste students, namely the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes (PMS-SC), the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes and Others, and the SHREYAS – Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme for Scheduled Castes. These schemes aim to reduce financial barriers and promote access to quality education among Scheduled Caste students.

During the Academic Year 2025–26, 8,460 students from Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka benefited under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, while 5,090 students received assistance under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, taking the total number of beneficiaries to 13,550. No beneficiary from the district availed assistance under the SHREYAS-SC Scheme during the same period.

The Minister further informed that the Ministry introduced the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme in 2021–22 and under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme in 2022–23. The DBT system has significantly improved scholarship delivery by ensuring direct transfer of funds into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of beneficiaries, eliminating duplication, reducing delays and enhancing transparency in fund disbursement. The technology-driven system has particularly benefited students residing in rural and semi-urban areas by ensuring timely receipt of financial assistance.

To ensure that eligible students are fully aware of the available scholarship schemes, the Department has undertaken extensive awareness and outreach activities across the country. These include advertisements in national and regional newspapers, social media campaigns, continuous engagement with States and Union Territories, regular monitoring through National Chintan Shivirs, regional review meetings and national conferences with State Governments and other stakeholders to improve coverage and implementation of the schemes.

The written reply further stated that while the Department has not independently assessed changes in dropout rates among Scheduled Caste students at the higher secondary and graduation levels, an evaluation conducted by NITI Aayog has observed that the scholarship schemes have played a significant role in promoting educational equity by reducing financial constraints and encouraging continuation of higher education among students belonging to disadvantaged communities. The evaluation also noted an improvement in scholarship disbursement following the introduction of the DBT system.

Regarding revision of maintenance allowance under the scholarship schemes, the Minister informed the House that any revision is undertaken in consultation with all concerned stakeholders in accordance with the prescribed Government procedures.

The Government remains committed to empowering Scheduled Caste students through inclusive and transparent scholarship programmes that promote educational opportunities, reduce financial barriers and strengthen social justice. Through sustained reforms, digital governance and continuous engagement with States and stakeholders, the Ministry continues to ensure that no eligible student is deprived of educational assistance due to financial constraints.

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