The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, hosted the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award Ceremony 2025 in New Delhi. The event recognized meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who achieved top positions in Class 10, and meritorious SC students who excelled in Class 12 examinations conducted by 29 recognized State/Central Boards and Councils for the academic years 2021-22 and 2022-23.
For the 2021-22 session, 367 Class 10 students (22 toppers) and 563 Class 12 students (49 toppers) were awarded. In the 2022-23 session, 198 Class 10 students (17 toppers) and 362 Class 12 students (29 toppers) received awards.
The Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award Scheme provides a one-time grant to the top three SC/ST students in each recognized secondary education board and to SC students in senior secondary education boards: ₹60,000 for the highest marks, ₹50,000 for the second highest, and ₹40,000 for the third highest. A special award of ₹60,000 is also given to the highest-scoring girl student if no girl is among the top three.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Hon'ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and Chairman of the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Shri Ramdas Athawale, Shri B.L. Verma, Shri Amit Yadav, Secretary, SJE, Shri V. Apparao, Member Secretary, DAF, Smt. Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh, Additional Secretary, SJE and Shri Manoj Tiwari, Director DAF, along with other dignitaries, awardees, parents, teachers, and educationists. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continue organizing such initiatives annually to promote an equitable and inclusive society through education and empowerment.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and empowerment of disadvantaged communities.
Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Awards: A merit-based award scheme to felicitate meritorious students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Scheduled Caste: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India recognized by the government for special protections and considerations.
Scheduled Tribe: A group of historically disadvantaged indigenous communities in India recognized by the government for special protections and considerations.
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that organizes the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Awards and promotes the ideology of Dr. Ambedkar.
Dr. Virendra Kumar: The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and Chairman of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation.
New Delhi: The location where the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award Ceremony was held.
Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar: An Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
DR. AMBEDKAR NATIONAL MERIT AWARDS
CEREMONY 2025
Posted On: 02 SEP 2025 4:10PM by PIB Delhi
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Autonomous body of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has
successfully organized Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award Ceremony today at New Delhi. The ceremony
was organized to felicitate meritorious Students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)
who have secured top positions in the class 10th and meritorious Students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)
who have secured top positions in the class 12th Examinations conducted by recognized State/Central Boards
and Councils.
Total 29 State/Central Boards and Councils were taken into consideration for the years 2021-22& 2022-23. A
total of 367 students was awarded from class 10th, out of which 22 were toppers and a total of 563 students
were awarded from class 12th, out of which 49 were toppers, during the session 2021-22. However, for the
Session 2022-23, a total of 198 students were awarded from class 10th, out of which 17 were toppers and a
total of 362 students were awarded from class 12th, out of which 29 were toppers.
Dr. Virendra Kumar, Hon'ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment & Chairman, Dr. Ambedkar
Foundation, graced the occasion by his presence. In his address, Dr. Virendra Kumar highlighted the
contribution of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar in the field of education and social
justice, and reiterated the Government's commitment to the empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes and other disadvantaged communities through education, scholarships, fellowships, and welfare
schemes.
Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri B.L. Verma, lauded the achievements of the awardees and emphasised the
pro-people initiatives of the Government in ensuring access to quality education for all sections of society,
especially the marginalized. They urged the students to carry forward the values of equality, fraternity, dignity
and social justice enshrined by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar.
Under the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award Scheme, the Foundation conferred awards to the top three SC
and ST students of each recognized category for secondary education Board and SC Students in senior
secondary education Board.The award was given one time grant as per the following
I. Student securing highest marks Rs. 60,000/-
II. Student securing 2nd highest marks Rs. 50,000/-
III. Student securing 3rd highest marks Rs. 40,000/-
In addition, a special award was given to the highest-scoring girl student in cases where no girl featured among
the top three. The awards comprised one-time cash prize of Rs.60,000/- as a token of recognition and
encouragement.
Shri Amit Yadav, Secretary, SJ&E, spoke on the role of the Ministry in implementing key scholarship and
empowerment schemes, while Shri V. Apparao, Member Secretary, DAF, welcomed the guests and awardee
students. Shri Manoj Tiwari, Director DAF, extended the vote of thanks and congratulated the awardees, their
parents and teachers. Smt. Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh, Additional Secretary, SJ&E, and other senior
officials from MoSJ&E & DAF and other departments were also attended the ceremony.
This year's ceremony witnessed the participation of awardees, parents, teachers, educationists and dignitaries
from across the country. The Ministry reaffirmed that such initiatives will continue to be organized every year,
as part of the Government's vision to create an equitable and inclusive society through education and
empowerment.
The event concluded with a resounding message of unity, equality and the pursuit of excellence, echoing
Babasaheb's call: "Educate, Agitate, Organize".
*****
KV
(Release ID: 2163060)