**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Education addresses Lok Sabha question 3564 regarding financial allocations under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for OBC, SC, and ST students, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. The response outlines fund allocation, mechanisms to prevent misuse, budget percentages benefiting these groups, adequacy of funds, and the status of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). The scheme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ensuring equitable and inclusive education.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Financial Allocations:**
* Samagra Shiksha scheme has a universal approach, catering to all sections of society including SCs, STs, and OBCs.
* Funds are earmarked for SC and ST students under the Departmental Allocation for Planned Caste (DAPSC) and Departmental Allocation for Planned Tribe (DAPST).
* Details of Central Share allocation under Samagra Shiksha scheme, including for the State of Uttar Pradesh during the last three financial years and current financial year is as under:
* Financial allocation (Rs. in Crore):
* 2022-23: SC - 7534.96, ST - 4130.55, Overall - 37383.36
* 2023-24: SC - 7534.96, ST - 4130.55, Overall - 37453.47
* 2024-25: SC - 7534.96, ST - 4527.23, Overall - 37500.00
* 2025-26: SC - 8563.49, ST - 5900.00, Overall - 41250.00
* **Prevention of Misuse of Funds:**
* Inbuilt checks, counterchecks, and internal control systems are in place, as prescribed in the Manual on Financial Management and Procurement of Samagra Shiksha.
* Internal, statutory, concurrent audits, and audits by the State Accountant General are conducted.
* The PRABANDH (Project Appraisal, Budgeting Achievements and Data Handling System) system monitors implementation and expenditure.
* Midterm reviews are undertaken with States/UTs.
* **Budget Allocation Percentages:**
* As per NITI Aayog guidelines (2017), the Department of School Education and Literacy must earmark 20% and 10.7% of allocated funds for SC and ST welfare, respectively.
* **Addressing Educational Challenges:**
* Funds support provisions like free textbooks, uniforms, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalayas/Hostels.
* **Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT):**
* DBT ensures timely and transparent delivery of educational benefits.
* Status of DBT for 2025-2026 (Approved Rs in lakhs):
* Stipend for girls with special needs (CwSN): 11,120.52
* Uniform: 4,14,584.89
* Textbook: 2,83,715.78
* Measures to ensure timely disbursement include capacity building workshops and regular review meetings with State and UT Governments.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **OBC, SC, and ST Students:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from targeted financial allocations, scholarships, free resources, and improved educational infrastructure.
* *Action Required:* Be aware of available benefits and ensure accurate information is provided for DBT.
* **State and UT Education Departments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the Samagra Shiksha scheme and ensuring funds reach eligible beneficiaries through DBT.
* *Action Required:* Conduct capacity building workshops, participate in review meetings, and expedite the DBT process.
* **Ministry of Education:**
* *Impact:* Oversees the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, monitors fund utilization, and ensures compliance with NITI Aayog guidelines.
* *Action Required:* Continue to monitor the PRABANDH system, conduct midterm reviews, and address bottlenecks in implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: A school education program in India aimed at improving the quality of education.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of financial allocation under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
OBC: Other Backward Classes, a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are educationally or socially disadvantaged.
SC: Scheduled Castes, officially designated groups of people in India and Nepal.
ST: Scheduled Tribes, officially designated groups of indigenous people in India.
National Education Policy NEP, 2020: A policy document that provides a framework for education from primary to higher education in India.
Direct Benefit Transfer DBT: A mechanism used by the Government of India to transfer subsidies directly to beneficiaries through their bank accounts.
NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No - 3564
ANSWERED ON - 11/08/2025
Financial Allocation under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
†3564. Shri Dharmendra Yadav:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the financial allocation earmarked for the welfare and educational advancement of
OBC, SC and ST students under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in the country particularly in
Uttar Pradesh during the last three years and current years;
(b) the details of the mechanism in place to prevent misuse of these funds;
(c) the percentage of the budget dedicated to schemes and initiatives under Samagra Shiksha
Abhiyan directly benefit OBC, SC and ST students;
(d) whether the allocated funds are adequate to address their specific educational challenges; and
(e) the status of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of various benefits such as uniforms, textbooks and
stipends for girls with special needs to eligible OBC, SC and ST students and the measures taken
to ensure timely disbursement?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): Samagra Shiksha scheme is aligned with the recommendations of the National Education
Policy (NEP), 2020. It aims to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an
equitable and inclusive classroom environment. The scheme has an universal approach and caters to all
the sections of society including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and OBC for full
inclusion. Of the overall financial allocation under Samagra Shiksha, which includes the financial
allocation for the State of Uttar Pradesh, funds are earmarked for SC and ST under DAPSC and
DAPST. Details of Central Share allocation under Samagra Shiksha scheme, including for the State of
Uttar Pradesh during the last three financial years and current financial year is as under:-
(Rs. in Crore)
Financial
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
Year
Category SC ST Overall SC ST Overall SC ST Overall SC ST Overall
Financial 7534.96 4130.55 37383.36 7534.96 4130.55 37453.47 7534.96 4527.23 37500.00 8563.49 5900.00 41250.00
AllocationFor ascertaining and ensuring the judicious use of funds released under Samagra Shiksha there
are inbuilt checks, counter-checks and internal control system as prescribed in the Manual on Financial
Management and Procurement of Samagra Shiksha. Besides, there is an internal audit, statutory audit,
concurrent audit and audit by State Accountant General. The department has PRABANDH (Project
Appraisal, Budgeting Achievements and Data Handling) System to monitor the implementation of
Samagra. One of the important features of the PRABANDH System is updation of Expenditure
incurred under the different interventions of the Samagra Shiksha. In addition, a Midterm review is
also undertaken with the States/UTs to monitor the progress of implementation of the scheme.
As per the guidelines issued by NITI Aayog in 2017, Department of School Education and
Literacy is obligated to earmark 20% and 10.7 % of allocated funds for the welfare of SCs and STs
respectively. The Samagra Shiksha work towards equitable access for children of all categories. Out of
24,80,45,828 children enrolled in schools in 2023-24, 44,74,09,69 children belong to SC, 2,46,06,084
children belong to ST and 11,20,28,198 children to OBC. Thus, funds allocated under Samagra
Shiksha are used to reach out to girls, and children belonging to SEDGs such as SC, ST and OBC
through its various provisions like free textbooks, uniform, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas for
girls, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalayas/Hostels which helps in addressing the specific
educational challenges faced by them.
Under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the Government of India is implementing Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) to ensure the timely and transparent delivery of educational benefits directly into the
bank accounts of beneficiaries through State/UTs Education Department. The status of DBT of various
benefits such as uniforms, textbooks and stipends for girls with special needs to eligible students for
the academic year 2025–2026 are as follows:
Key Component Approved (Rs in lakhs)
Stipend for girls with special needs (CwSN) 11,120.52
Uniform 4,14,584.89
Textbook 2,83,715.78
To Ensure Timely Disbursement, measures such as capacity building workshops for field
officials, regular review meetings with State and UT Governments are undertaken to address
bottlenecks to expedite implementation.
******