Education Budget 2023 Analysis: 41% cut in pre-matric scholarships for OBC, EBC, DNT

NEW DELHI: The post-matric scholarships scheme for Scheduled Caste students – one of the largest scholarship schemes and managed by the ministry of social justice and empowerment – has been allocated Rs 6,359.14 crore in the Union Budget 2023, up from Rs 5,660 crore, in 2022. The pre-matric scholarship for SCs and others has been earmarked the same funds -- Rs 500 crore.

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Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech for 2023 emphasised on inclusivity but the allocations toward the education of historically-margined castes has seen only slight changes, and in some cases, cuts. The Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs – other backward classes, extremely backward classes and denotified tribes – has seen a 41% cut in allocation. Rs 281 crore has been earmarked for the scheme, down from Rs 478 crore BE in 2022.

Pre-matric scholarships across categories have seen cut-backs with the government arguing that the needs of children in Classes 1 to 8 – even those of some of the poorest, most marginalised children – are met by the Right to Education Act 2009 which offers free public education till Class 8.

Post-matric scholarships – to cover education beyond Class 10 – for the communities as well as hostels and other programmes have seen minor increases.

Education Budget 2023: Scholarships for SCs, OBCs and others

Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) for Scheduled Castes (SCs) SCs has received Rs 371 crore for the next financial year, up from Rs 364 crore in the current year. However, the central government has reduced the funding for the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (SCs) from Rs 173 crore in FY 2022-23 to Rs 163 crore in FY 2023-24.

Education Budget 2023: Scholarships and fellowships

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The union budget 2023 document shows that there has been an increase in the budgetary allocations in every scholarship scheme except two - Pre Matric Scholarship for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs and National Fellowship for SCs.

Of the Rs 300 crore allocated for National Fellowships for SC Students (NFSC), the government released Rs 122.43 crore only in 2021-22 - only 59%. The central government allocated Rs 173 crore in FY 2022-23 but released Rs 85 crore (or 50.8%) as on December 12, 2022, according to year-end review 2022 of the MoSJE.