Education is central to social empowerment. For students from socially and economically disadvantaged communities, financial assistance can help sustain schooling, open doors to higher education and support ambition in research and professional careers.
Between FY 2014–15 and FY 2025–26, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has pursued these objectives through scholarships, coaching assistance, overseas education support and research fellowships.
The Department’s approach focuses on reducing financial barriers and strengthening educational continuity. Its interventions seek to improve access to opportunities for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). Alongside financial support, reforms in scholarship administration have placed greater emphasis on transparency, beneficiary verification and direct delivery of assistance.
Supporting Education from the School Years
The Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for Scheduled Castes and others support education at an early stage. This Centrally Sponsored Scheme aims to promote literacy, reduce dropout rates and ensure continuity of schooling among Scheduled Caste children and children whose parents or guardians are engaged in unclean and hazardous occupations.
During FY 2014–15 to FY 2025–26, Central Assistance of Rs 4,893 Crore was released under the scheme, with approximately 3 Crore beneficiaries recorded across the period. In FY 2025–26 alone, Rs 562 Crore was released, benefiting nearly 27 lakh students. By addressing financial constraints during school education, the scheme seeks to help disadvantaged children continue their studies.
Support beyond the school stage is provided through the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students. This flagship intervention aims to improve access to post-secondary education, strengthen retention and enhance the participation of SC students in higher education.
The scheme recorded Central Assistance of Rs 46,581 crore during FY 2014–15 to FY 2025–26, with nearly 6.13 crore beneficiaries over this period. In FY 2025–26, the scheme supported 47.53 lakh students.
Strengthening Transparency through Digital Reforms
A significant change in scholarship delivery came with the transition to a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) framework from FY 2021–22. Under this system, scholarship assistance is transferred directly into beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. The reform seeks to strengthen accountability, reduce delays, leakages and improve the delivery of assistance to students.
Digital verification has become another important part of this framework. De-duplication mechanisms help identify fake or duplicate beneficiaries, while biometric authentication and electronic ‘Know Your Customer’ verification strengthen identity checks. Integration with DigiLocker and API SETU supports digital verification of certificates and documents.
One-Time Registration enables the tracking of beneficiaries across schemes and academic years. Connections with educational databases help validate institutional and student records, while linkages with UIDAI, NPCI and the Public Financial Management System support payment processing. Together, these measures strengthen the administrative systems through which scholarship assistance reaches eligible students.
Opening Doors to Higher Education and Research
Beyond pre-matric and post-matric support, the Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme, or SHREYAS, addresses access to coaching, premier institutions, overseas study and research opportunities.
The Free Coaching Scheme for SC and OBC Students provides financial assistance for quality coaching to economically disadvantaged students preparing for competitive and professional examinations. In FY 2025–26, an expenditure of Rs 9.87 crore supported 854 beneficiaries. This assistance seeks to reduce the financial barriers students face when preparing for academic and professional opportunities.
The Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students supports meritorious students studying in premier institutions across the country. Expenditure under the scheme increased nearly 6 times from Rs 19 crore in FY 2014–15 to Rs 117 crore in FY 2025–26. Annual beneficiary coverage rose from 1,568 to 4,742 during the same period, reflecting an expanded support for access to quality higher education.
The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme extends assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste students pursuing higher studies in reputed international institutions. An expenditure of Rs 55 crore was done in FY 2025–26 and 67 beneficiaries went abroad for the corresponding selection year, as on date.
Research support is provided through the National Fellowship for SC Students. In FY 2025–26, expenditure of Rs 213 crore supported 4,218 scholars pursuing higher education and research programmes. Such assistance helps sustain participation in advanced academic study.
Sustaining Educational Opportunity
Across these interventions, educational empowerment is pursued as a continuous process—from supporting school attendance to enabling higher education, competitive examination preparation, overseas study and research. The combination of financial assistance and stronger delivery systems reflects the Department’s focus on making educational opportunities more accessible to priority communities and helping students pursue their academic aspirations.
I assure my countrymen that under the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s unique doctrine ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, the Ministry shall leave no stone unturned to ensure inclusive development of all communities, across the country, to make Bharat Viksit@2047
Courtesy PIB, Srinagar
(The Author is Union Minister of State of Social Justice & Empowerment)
