Centre updates scholarship guidelines for scheduled caste students

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has released updated guidelines for the ‘Top Class Scholarship Scheme for SC Students’, expanding financial support and tightening institutional accountability for the 2024–25 academic year. The scheme aims to promote quality higher education for Scheduled Caste students by covering full tuition fees and providing academic allowances across India’s premier institutions.

Under the revised financial norms, the Centre will directly transfer full tuition fees and non-refundable charges to students through DBT, capped at Rs 2 lakh per year for private institutions. Students will also receive an academic allowance of Rs 86,000 in the first year and Rs 41,000 in subsequent years to cover living expenses, books and laptops.

Beneficiaries will be barred from availing similar scholarships from other Central or State schemes. The scholarship will be available to SC students with an annual family income of up to Rs 8 lakh who secure admission in notified institutions, including IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NITs, National Law Universities, NIFT, NID, IHMs and other accredited colleges.

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First-year students eligible for awards

Only first-year students will be eligible for fresh awards, while renewals will continue till completion of the course, subject to performance. The ministry has capped total scholarships at 4,400 fresh slots for 2024–25 out of the scheme’s overall limit of 21,500 slots for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26. Of the allocated slots, 30% will be reserved for eligible SC girl students, with institutions authorised to fill unused girl slots with boys if adequate female candidates are not available.

Institutions have been tasked with verifying caste and income certificates, publicising the scheme in their prospectus, and monitoring academic performance, including support for weaker students through bridge courses or mentoring.

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Funding until course completion

Those violating guidelines risk being de-notified, though existing beneficiaries will continue to receive funding until they complete their courses. The ministry has also introduced provisions for social audits, stronger monitoring by a steering committee, and the removal of institutions that fail to apply for three consecutive years or lack mandatory AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) codes or KYC compliance on the National Scholarship Portal.

The scheme will not extend benefits to more than two siblings from the same family, and any student changing institutions after selection will lose eligibility.