Current Scenario

• Income Limit:
  • Present parental annual income limit: ₹2.5 lakh for SC, ST, OBC, DNT students to avail pre-matric and post-matric scholarships.
• Coverage:
  • Pre-matric scholarships:
    • SC: Classes 1–10 (only for children of parents in “unclean/hazardous” occupations).
    • ST/OBC/DNT: Classes 9–10.
  • Post-matric scholarships: After Class 10, for Indian nationals in recognized institutions.

Proposed Changes

• Income Limit Increase:
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Raise limit to ₹4.5 lakh for ST pre- and post-matric scholarships.
  • Ministry of Social Justice: Similar revision for SC, OBC, DNT scholarships.
• OBC/DNT Expansion: Possible revision for school and college scholarships.
• Recommendation: Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of OBCs suggests doubling the limit for OBCs; start pre-matric coverage from Class 5 (instead of Class 9).

Funding Pattern

• Centrally Sponsored Schemes:
  • Union:State ratio — 60:40 (except Northeast: 90:10).
• Budget Allocation (FY 2025–26):
  • Social Justice Ministry: ₹13,611 crore; scholarships = 66.7%.
  • Tribal Affairs Ministry: ₹14,925.81 crore; scholarships = 18.6%.

Beneficiary Trends

• Falling Numbers:
  • SC pre-matric: ↓ 30.63% (2020–21 to 2024–25).
  • SC post-matric: ↓ 4.22%.
  • OBC/EBC/DNT pre-matric: from 58.62 lakh (2021–22) to 20.25 lakh (2023–24).
  • OBC/EBC/DNT post-matric: from 43.34 lakh to 38.42 lakh.
  • ST pre-matric: ↓ 4.63 lakh; post-matric: ↓ 3.52 lakh.

Parliamentary Panel Observations

• Concerns:
  • Existing limit too low; excludes needy families.
  • Narrow coverage (e.g., OBC pre-matric restricted to Classes 9–10).
• Suggestions:
  • Raise income ceiling significantly.
  • Extend coverage to more classes and students

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