The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has implemented significant educational empowerment initiatives through scholarship programs and digital reforms targeting Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
Financial Disbursements
From FY 2014-15 to FY 2025-26, the Ministry released a total of ₹4,893.03 crore under the Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for Scheduled Castes and Others, benefiting approximately 299.66 lakh students cumulatively. In FY 2025-26 alone, ₹562.36 crore was released benefiting 26.79 lakh students. For the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students, the Ministry disbursed ₹46,581.54 crore during the same period, with cumulative beneficiary figures reaching 612.98 lakh students. In FY 2025-26, ₹6,186.95 crore was released benefiting 47.53 lakh students.
Digital Reforms and Transparency Measures
The Department transitioned the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme to a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-enabled framework from FY 2021-22 onwards, facilitating direct transfer of scholarship assistance into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. This reform has strengthened accountability, reduced delays and leakages, and improved last-mile delivery. Additional digital measures include de-duplication mechanisms to identify and eliminate fake and duplicate beneficiaries, biometric authentication, e-KYC-based verification of beneficiaries and officials, integration with DigiLocker and API SETU for digital verification of certificates and documents, and One-Time Registration to enable tracking of beneficiaries across schemes and academic years.
The system also integrates with AISHE, UDISE, NCVT, and SCVT databases to validate institutional and student records, while multi-layered checks help minimize discrepancies and duplication. Linkages with UIDAI, NPCI, and PFMS support seamless processing and direct disbursement of scholarship assistance, strengthening beneficiary authentication and improving fund-flow management.
Program Objectives
The Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at promoting literacy, reducing dropout rates, and ensuring continuity of education at the pre-matric level for children belonging to Scheduled Castes and children of parents or guardians engaged in unclean and hazardous occupations. The Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme is designed to improve access to higher education among students from economically disadvantaged SC households, reduce financial barriers in post-secondary education, strengthen retention, and enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio of SC students in higher education institutions.