**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), has disbursed ₹62.40 lakh from the President's Discretionary Grant to 832 meritorious Class XII students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across India. This one-time grant of ₹7,500 per student, sanctioned by the President of India, aims to encourage academic excellence among tribal students. The grant was awarded to the top two students from the Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams in each EMRS that participated in the Class XII Board Examinations 2024-25. Recipients were selected based on academic performance, with funds directly transferred to their or their parents' bank accounts. In instances of tied scores, preference was given to female students, and if a tie persisted, Class XI marks were used as a tiebreaker. This initiative reflects the commitment to equitable access to quality education, incentivizing scholastic achievement, and empowering tribal youth to pursue higher education. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Delhi released this information on July 14, 2025, Release ID: 2144647.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and development of tribal communities.
Presidents Discretionary Grant: A financial grant disbursed to meritorious students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).
National Education Society for Tribal Students NESTS: An organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs responsible for managing and supporting Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools EMRSs: Schools established by the Indian government to provide quality education to tribal students.
India: The country where the EMRS schools are located and the grant is being disbursed.
Class XII Board Examinations 202425: The final examinations for secondary education, used as a criterion for selecting grant recipients.
Delhi: Location where the press release was posted by PIB.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
President’s Discretionary Grant of 62.40 Lakh
Disbursed to 832 Meritorious EMRS Students of
Class XII
Posted On: 14 JUL 2025 7:30PM by PIB Delhi
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is proud to
announce the successful disbursement of ₹62.40 lakh under the President’s Discretionary Grant to 832
meritorious Class XII students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across India. This special
financial assistance has been sanctioned by the Hon’ble President of India with the objective of encouraging
academic excellence among tribal students.
Under this initiative, two toppers each from the Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams in every EMRS
that appeared for the Class XII Board Examinations (2024–25) were selected to receive a one-time grant of
₹7,500. The beneficiaries were identified based on their academic performance, and the funds were directly
transferred to their or their parents’ bank accounts to ensure transparency and efficiency in disbursal.
In certain cases where multiple students secured identical marks and ranks, such as 20 students from 10
EMRSs, tie-breaker criteria were applied. Preference was given to girl students, and if a tie still persisted,
Class XI markswere considered determining the final awardees.
This initiative underscores the shared vision of the Hon’ble President of India and NESTS to foster equitable
access to quality education, incentivize scholastic achievement, and empower tribal youth to confidently
pursue higher education and professional aspirations. It celebrates scholastic achievement and firmly
reinforces the government’s commitment to bridging educational disparities and advancing inclusive
development across the nation.
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RN
(Release ID: 2144647)