Scheme for Top class education for SC students

The Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was approved in 2007 and was subsequently revised in January, 2012 and June 2016 and in 2021.

Objectives and Coverage

The Scheme aims at recognizing and promoting quality education amongst students belonging to SCs, by providing full financial support. The Scheme will cover SC students for pursuing studies beyond 12th class.

The Scheme will operate in all the institutions notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Financial Assistance

The SC students, who secure admission in the notified institutions, will be awarded scholarship to meet the requirements for

• full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (there will be a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakhs per annum per student for private sector institutions and Rs.3.72 lakhs per annum per student for the private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot Training and Type Rating Courses)
• Academic allowance of Rs. 86,000 in the first year of study and Rs. 41,000 in every subsequent year, to take care of living expenses, books and stationery, computer/laptop of reputed brand with accessories like UPS and printer, etc.

The scholarship, once awarded, will continue till the completion of the course, subject to satisfactory performance of the student.

Eligibility

• Those SC students having total annual family income from all sources up to Rs. 8.00 lakh and having secured admission in a full-time course in any of the notified institutions according to the general selection criteria prescribed by the concerned institution, will be eligible for scholarship under the Scheme to the extent of the number of scholarships (slots) allocated to the institution for the course.
• In case the number of eligible students admitted exceeds the number of slots allotted to the institution, the scholarship will be restricted to the top students in the inter-se merit list based on the admission criteria for the course. 
• Thirty percent (30%) of slots allotted to the Institution shall be reserved for eligible SC girl students as per their inter-se merit. In the absence of sufficient number of girl students, the slots may be transferred to eligible boy students as per their inter-se merit.
• However, the 30% slots as mentioned above will not include those girl students who are selected on the basis of their performance in the overall merit list of students of the Institution.
• The benefit of the Scheme will not be provided to more than 2 siblings in a family. The students will submit an affidavit in the Institution to certify that he/she is not the third sibling of the family who is availing benefit under the Scheme.
• The scholarship will be terminated if the student fails to pass the final examination of each year or any terminal examination or semester examination prescribed. He will, however, remain eligible for the Post-Matric Scholarship.

Institutions covered and scholarship slots

• All the IIMs / IITs/ IITS / AIIMSs/ NITS/NlFTs/ NIDs/ Indian Institutes of Hotel Management, National Law Universities and other Central Government Institutions will be eligible to be included in the Scheme, subject to their applying for being included in the Scheme. If an institution is not in any of the above categories, it has to be included in the current list of
• National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) A++ and A+ Accredited Institutions or
• Top 100 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Institutions or
• Institutions of National Importance as per lists issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) from time to time.

• For Commercial Pilot Training Course and Type Rating Courses all Government/CPSE run institutes approved by Director General of Civil Aviation shall be eligible for employment under the Scheme.

The overall number of fresh scholarships per year would be capped as follows.

Funding Pattern & Mode of Payment

• The Scheme will be funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 100% basis.
• In respect of those institutions in which fee has been waived for SC students, the other four components, namely - other non refundable charges, boarding and lodging, books and stationery and computer/laptop and accessories may be reimbursed under the scheme.
• The scholarship will become payable immediately after a student has secured admission and has started attending the classes.
• The payment of tuition fee and other non-refundable charges will be made directly to the institution by the Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
• Similarly, the payment of living expenses, books & stationery and computer/laptop with accessories will be made directly to the student by the Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.

Application process

• The students can apply online at https://scholarships.gov.in/
• The window of application process every year is around mid August to October. 

List of institutes notified under the scheme

To access the list of notified institutes. the scholarship slots allotted and the complete guidelines, click here.

Source : Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment