Parliament Question: Enrolment of marginalized students in higher studies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1295 ANSWERED ON 11/02/2026 Enrolment of marginalized students in higher studies 1295 Shri Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is implementing any specially focused scheme to ensure enrolment of more SC/ST students in higher studies including doctoral and oversees courses;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Education, University Grant Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) are implementing various scholarship schemes for the benefit of students, including Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, for pursuing higher studies. These schemes include the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students, Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region

(NER), National scholarship for PG studies, Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme, PRAGATI Scholarship Scheme, SAKSHAM Scholarship Scheme, SWANATH Scholarship Scheme.

Further, the following schemes are implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).

1. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme wherein scholarship is provided to all the SC students, subject to parental income limit of ₹ 2.50 lakh per annum.

2. Top Class Scholarship for SC Students: A Central Sector Scheme for SC students with parental income limit of ₹ 8 lakh per annum.

3. National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students: A Central Sector Scheme for pursuing Masters level courses and Ph.D in foreign Universities for students with parental income of upto ₹ 8 lakh per annum.The following schemes are also being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Afairs (MoTA).

1. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme wherein scholarship is provided to all the ST students, subject to parental income limit of ₹ 2.50 lakh per annum.

2. National Scholarship for Higher Education (Top Class Scholarship) of ST students (MOTA): A Central Sector Scheme for ST students with parental income limit of ₹ 6 lakh per annum.

3. National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe Students: A Central Sector Scheme for pursuing Masters level courses and Ph.D in foreign Universities for students with parental income of upto ₹ 6 lakh per annum.

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