Central Government Strengthens Access to Higher Education for SC Students through POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME
Issued by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 12th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The Central Government is implementing the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) Scheme to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio of Scheduled Caste (SC) students in higher education. The scheme provides financial assistance to students from households with an annual income of up to ₹2.5 lakh through a demand-driven, open-ended model. Between the 2021-22 and 2025-26 financial years, the program significantly expanded, providing over ₹203 crore in central assistance to states like Chhattisgarh alone.
Key Points / Main Content
Scheme Objectives and Scope
- Aims to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of SC students in higher education.
- Focuses specifically on students from the poorest households.
- Operates as an open-ended and demand-driven scheme for students in all recognized institutions nationwide.
Eligibility Criteria
- Targeted at SC students at the post-matriculation or post-secondary stage.
- Restricted to students whose parents or guardians have an annual income from all sources not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh.
Implementation and Funding Mechanism
- States and Union Territories (UTs) serve as the primary implementing agencies.
- States/UTs must submit Annual Action Plans to the Central Government.
- The release of the Central share of funds is contingent upon States/UTs paying their share and transmitting verified data to the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Case Study: Chhattisgarh (2021-2026)
- A total of ₹203.70 crore in Central Assistance was released over five years.
- Beneficiary numbers grew from 87,464 students in 2021-22 to 96,839 students in 2025-26.
- The total number of beneficiaries in the state over this period reached 4,47,482.
Impact Analysis
Scheduled Caste (SC) Students
- Impact: Eligible students receive financial support to overcome economic barriers, enabling them to pursue and complete higher education.
- Action Required: Ensure they are enrolled in recognized institutions and provide proof of household income below the ₹2.5 lakh threshold.
State and Union Territory Governments
- Impact: They act as the critical link in the scholarship delivery chain, responsible for verifying data and co-funding the scheme.
- Action Required: Prepare and submit Annual Action Plans, disburse the State/UT share of the scholarship, and upload verified student data onto the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to trigger the release of Central funds.
Recognized Educational Institutions
- Impact: The scheme facilitates the enrollment of SC students who might otherwise be unable to afford post-secondary education.
- Action Required: Maintain recognized status to ensure students remain eligible for the demand-driven scholarship.
Key Entities Referenced
Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students: A centrally-implemented, demand-driven scheme providing financial assistance to SC students from households with an annual income below ₹2.5 lakh to pursue higher education.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: The primary central ministry responsible for the implementation, funding, and oversight of the scholarship scheme.
National Scholarship Portal (NSP): The centralized digital platform used for transmitting verified student data and facilitating the disbursement of the Central share of the scholarship.
Chhattisgarh: A key state highlighted for receiving ₹203.70 crore in central assistance under the scheme, benefiting approximately 4.47 lakh students over a five-year period.
Shri Ramdas Athawale: The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who officially presented the implementation status and financial details of the scheme in the Rajya Sabha.
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Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Central Government Strengthens Access to
Higher Education for SC Students through POST-
MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME
Scheme Aims to INCREASE GROSS ENROLLMENT RATIO
OF SC STUDENTS in Higher Education with Focus on
Students from Poorest Households
प्रव तथ: 12 AUG 2026 4:58PM by PIB Delhi
The Central Government is implementing the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) Scheme for Scheduled
Caste (SC) students with the objective of appreciably increasing the GROSS ENROLLMENT RATIO OF
SC students in higher education, with a focus on students from the poorest households. The scheme
provides financial assistance at the post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable eligible students
to complete their education.
In a written reply to Shri Brij Lal, Smt. Laxmi Verma and Shri Ryaga Krishnaiah in the Rajya Sabha, the
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale stated that the Post-
Matric Scholarship Scheme is open-ended and demand-driven for eligible students studying in all
recognized institutions across the country.
He stated that Annual Action Plans under the scheme are obtained from States and Union Territories,
which are the implementing agencies. The release of the Central share is contingent upon States and UTs
transmitting their State/UT share-paid, finally verified data on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for
disbursement of the Central share.
Under the scheme, the scholarship is paid to students whose parents or guardians have an annual
income from all sources not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh. The income eligibility criterion ensures that financial
assistance is targeted towards eligible students requiring support to pursue and complete their post-matric
and higher education.The Government also provided details of Central Assistance released to Chhattisgarh under the Post-
Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC students during the last five financial years. In 2021-22, ₹29.00 crore
was released, benefiting 87,464 students. In 2022-23, ₹45.00 crore was released, benefiting 96,267
students. During 2023-24, ₹36.14 crore was released for 79,237 beneficiaries, while ₹39.96 crore was
released in 2024-25, benefiting 87,675 students. In 2025-26, Central Assistance increased to ₹53.60 crore,
benefiting 96,839 students.
During the five-year period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, a total Central Assistance of ₹203.70 crore was
released to Chhattisgarh under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC students, benefiting 4,47,482
students.
The Government's response highlights the demand-driven nature of the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
and its focus on enabling eligible SC students, particularly those from the poorest households, to pursue
and complete higher education.
PR-69-TAR-KV-GA
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