**Summary:**
The Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) is an initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment designed to improve educational outcomes for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs). Implemented through two modes, SHRESHTA aims to address service gaps in SC-dominant areas. Mode II provides financial assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to operate residential schools, non-residential schools, and hostels for primary and secondary students. Since the 2021-22 revision, Mode I identifies meritorious SC students nationwide through an entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and places them in top-tier residential high schools. The overarching objectives of SHRESHTA are to broaden the reach of government development interventions, foster an environment conducive to education and socio-economic advancement for SCs, and facilitate access for bright SC students to high-quality education, thereby improving their future prospects. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on August 12, 2025. (Release ID: 2155553).
Key Entities Referenced
SHRESHTA Scheme: Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas, aiming to provide quality residential education and upliftment for Scheduled Castes students.
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the SHRESHTA scheme.
Scheduled Castes: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India, also referred to as SCs, who are the target beneficiaries of the SHRESHTA scheme.
National Testing Agency: The agency (NTA) responsible for conducting the nationwide entrance test for selecting students for the SHRESHTA scheme.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, who provided information regarding the SHRESHTA scheme in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where information about the SHRESHTA scheme was presented.
NGOs: Non-governmental organizations that receive financial assistance under the SHRESHTA scheme to run educational projects for Scheduled Castes students.
Delhi: The location where the press release regarding the SHRESHTA scheme was posted.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
OBJECTIVES OF SHRESHTA SCHEME
Posted On: 12 AUG 2025 4:37PM by PIB Delhi
Under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas
(SHRESHTA) Mode-II, financial assistance is provided to NGOs for running projects related to
education of students belonging to Scheduled Castes. The Scheme broadly covers 3 types of
projects namely (i) Residential Schools (ii) Non Residential Schools and (iii) Hostels, both for
Primary and Secondary Students. The scheme was revised w.e.f 2021-22 as Scheme for
Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) by adding a
new component under Mode-I, under which every year a specified number of meritorious SC
students in the country are selected for quality residential education in top-class residential High
Schools through a nation-wide entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The objectives of “The Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted
Areas (SHRESHTA)” is to enhance the reach of development intervention of the Government and to
fill the gap in service deficient Scheduled Castes (SCs) dominant areas, in the sector of education
through the efforts of grant-in-aid to the institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools
offering high quality education. The Scheme aims to provide environment for education and socio
economic upliftment of the Scheduled Castes (SCs). Further, the Scheme provides easier access to
the bright SC students to study in the best schools in the country, thereby securing their future
opportunities.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
EMPOWERMENT, SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
*****
KV
(Lok Sabha USQ 3746)
(Release ID: 2155553)