Now Reading: Post-matric scholarship outlay for SC students rises to Rs 6,000 crore
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Post-matric scholarship outlay for SC students rises to Rs 6,000 crore
The government has increased the budget for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste students, with the Revised Budget Estimate rising from Rs 5,400 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 6,000 crore in 2025-26. Actual expenditure has also exceeded estimates, reaching Rs 6,208.08 crore in 2025-26.
Central assistance released to states and Union Territories stood at Rs 5,475.43 crore in 2023-24, Rs 5,562.26 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 6,186.95 crore in 2025-26. The scheme is demand-driven, with releases based on verified beneficiary data submitted by implementing authorities.
Since 2021-22, the central share of the scholarship has been transferred directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of students via Direct Benefit Transfer, which the government says has improved transparency and speed of fund flow. States and UTs are responsible for implementation, and delays are reviewed regularly.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The scheme covers about 60 lakh SC students annually, making it one of the largest targeted scholarship programmes in the country. The steady rise in both budget and actual spending suggests growing enrolment in post-matric education among SC students. However, the DBT model means students are entirely dependent on states releasing their matching share on time. Several states have historically delayed their contribution, causing months-long gaps in payments. The next data point to watch is the pending disbursal status for 2025-26, especially in states with high SC populations such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated Rs 6,208 crore for the scheme, exceeding the revised estimate by Rs 208 crore. This marks a 15% increase over the 2023-24 allocation.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
