New Delhi, Oct 31 The government has expanded educational support for students from socially and economically disadvantaged communities through scholarships, coaching assistance, overseas education support and research fellowships over the last 12 years, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B L Verma, said on Saturday.
In an article highlighting the government’s educational empowerment initiatives between 2014-15 and 2025-26, Verma said Rs 4,893 crore was released under the pre-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes and others, with approximately three crore beneficiaries recorded during the period.
“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,” Verma said.
In 2025-26 alone, Rs 562 crore was released under the scheme, benefiting nearly 27 lakh students, he said.
Under the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students, central assistance of Rs 46,581 crore was released during the 12 years, with nearly 6.13 crore beneficiaries recorded. The scheme supported 47.53 lakh students in 2025-26, Verma said.
“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,” he said.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has pursued these objectives through scholarships, coaching assistance, overseas education support and research fellowships for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), the minister said.
Highlighting the reforms in scholarship delivery, Verma said the transition to a direct benefit transfer (DBT) framework from 2021-22 has enabled scholarship assistance to be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts.
“The reform seeks to strengthen accountability, reduce delays, leakages and improve the delivery of assistance to students,” he said.
Digital verification mechanisms, including de-duplication, biometric authentication and electronic ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) verification, along with integration with DigiLocker and API SETU, strengthen the scholarship delivery system.
Verma also highlighted the initiatives under the Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS), which provides support for coaching, education in premier institutions, overseas studies and research.
Under the Free Coaching Scheme for SC and OBC students, an expenditure of Rs 9.87 crore supported 854 beneficiaries in 2025-26, he said.
The Top Class Education Scheme for SC students witnessed a nearly six-fold increase in expenditure, from Rs 19 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 117 crore in 2025-26. Annual beneficiary coverage also increased from 1,568 to 4,742 during the period, he said.
Under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, an expenditure of Rs 55 crore was incurred in 2025-26, while 67 beneficiaries went abroad for the corresponding selection year, as on date, Verma said.
The National Fellowship for SC Students supported 4,218 scholars pursuing higher education and research programmes in 2025-26, with an expenditure of Rs 213 crore, he said.
“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 minister said.
He added that 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.
Verma said the government is committed to ensuring inclusive development of all communities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s doctrine of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ and the vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.
(PTI News)
