Key Points
- Rs 51,474 crore released for SC student scholarships between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26
- Over 912 lakh students benefited from pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes
- DBT-enabled Aadhaar-linked payments introduced from FY 2021-22 to reduce leakages
The Centre has released Rs 51,474.57 crore in scholarship assistance for Scheduled Caste students over the past 12 financial years, benefiting over 912 lakh students through pre-matric and post-matric schemes, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said on 14 September.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has undertaken digital reforms including direct benefit transfer, a system that deposits funds directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, and Aadhaar-based authentication to improve transparency in scholarship delivery, Sudhansh Pant, secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said.
Under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes, the Centre released Rs 4,893.03 crore between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26, with approximately 299.66 lakh students reported as beneficiaries during this period. In FY 2025-26 alone, Rs 562.36 crore was released, benefiting 26.79 lakh students.
The Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, described by the ministry as a flagship intervention, received Rs 46,581.54 crore in central assistance over the same period, with 612.98 lakh reported beneficiaries. During FY 2025-26, the Centre released Rs 6,186.95 crore under this scheme, benefiting 47.53 lakh students.
Digital reforms
From FY 2021-22, the department transitioned the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme to a DBT-enabled framework, facilitating direct transfer of scholarship assistance into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. The ministry said this reform has reduced delays and leakages in fund disbursement.
The department has introduced de-duplication mechanisms to identify and eliminate fake and duplicate beneficiaries. Biometric authentication and e-KYC, an electronic verification process that validates identity documents digitally, have been implemented for verifying beneficiaries and officials.
Integration with DigiLocker, a government platform for storing and sharing documents digitally, and API SETU, a system that allows different government databases to share information, facilitates digital verification of certificates and documents, Pant said.
The ministry has introduced One-Time Registration to enable tracking of beneficiaries across schemes and academic years. Integration with AISHE, the All India Survey on Higher Education database, UDISE, the Unified District Information System for Education, and NCVT and SCVT databases supports validation of institutional and student records.
By the numbers
Key figures from this story- Rs 51,474 crore
- Total SC scholarship releases over 12 years
- 912 lakh
- Students benefited from both schemes
- Rs 6,186 crore
- Post-matric scholarship release in FY 2025-26
Linkages with UIDAI, the agency that manages Aadhaar, NPCI, the National Payments Corporation of India, and PFMS, the Public Financial Management System, support processing and direct disbursement of scholarship assistance, the ministry said.
Scheme coverage
The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme that supports children belonging to Scheduled Castes and children of parents or guardians engaged in what the ministry terms unclean and hazardous occupations. The scheme aims to promote literacy, reduce dropout rates and ensure continuity of education at the pre-matric level.
The Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme targets students from economically disadvantaged SC households pursuing post-secondary education. The ministry said the scheme seeks to reduce financial barriers in higher education, strengthen retention and enhance the gross enrolment ratio of SC students in higher education institutions.
The department also supports educational access for Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes through scholarships, residential infrastructure, overseas education assistance, fellowships and coaching initiatives, according to the ministry statement.
Your Questions, Answered
How much has the Centre released for SC scholarships since 2014?
The Centre released Rs 51,474.57 crore between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26, comprising Rs 4,893.03 crore for pre-matric scholarships and Rs 46,581.54 crore for post-matric scholarships.
How many students have benefited from SC scholarship schemes?
Approximately 912.64 lakh students have benefited, with 299.66 lakh under the pre-matric scheme and 612.98 lakh under the post-matric scheme over the 12-year period.
What digital reforms have been introduced for scholarship delivery?
The ministry introduced DBT-enabled payments to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts from FY 2021-22, along with de-duplication mechanisms, biometric authentication, e-KYC verification and integration with DigiLocker and API SETU.
Who is eligible for the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme?
The scheme supports children belonging to Scheduled Castes and children of parents or guardians engaged in what the ministry terms unclean and hazardous occupations, aiming to reduce dropout rates at the pre-matric level.
