Replying to an un-starred question today in Rajya Sabha the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the following Scholarship Schemes to ensure that tribal communities have greater access to quality education across the country:

i) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)

ii) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)

iii) National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.

iv) National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class)

v) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

The total number of Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who have received scholarships under the above-mentioned schemes during the last five years, year-wise and scheme-wise are as follows:

The scholarship disbursement for the year 2023-24 and 2024-25 in some states/UTs for the Pre-Matric and Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students is still ongoing. Due to this, the number of beneficiaries is on lower side.

The total amount of funds allocated and disbursed by the Ministry for these scholarships over the same period, year-wise is enclosed at Annexure- I.

As far as scholarship schemes implemented by Ministry of Tribal Affairs is concerned, there is no significant reduction of beneficiaries. Under the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students, the scholarship disbursement for the year 2023-24 and 2024-25 is still ongoing in some states/UTs. Due to this, the no. of beneficiaries showing lesser for these years.

Annexure I

The year-wise and scheme-wise figures (including Budget Estimate, Revised Estimate, Final Allocation, and Actual Expenditure) for all five Scholarship schemes under the Scholarship Division, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25, are as follows:

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