Date: 2026-04-29Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment increased spending to ₹2042.08 crore in FY 2025–26, with significant growth across scholarship and “Top Class Education” schemes for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.
**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment announced a significant increase in expenditure to ₹2042.08 crore for FY 2025–26 to support educational schemes for OBC, EBC, and DNT students. Announced on April 29, 2026, these initiatives aim to expand access to quality education and improve academic progression for disadvantaged communities. The department is focused on strengthening delivery and outreach to ensure benefits reach eligible beneficiaries in a timely manner.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Financial Allocation and Growth**
* Total expenditure for educational empowerment schemes reached ₹2042.08 crore in FY 2025–26.
* Spending on OBC welfare schemes increased by 36.96% compared to FY 2024–25.
**Scholarship Scheme Increases**
* **Pre-Matric Scholarship:** Expenditure increased by 59.13% for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.
* **Post-Matric Scholarship:** Expenditure rose by 27.18% over the previous financial year.
**"Top Class Education" Scheme Growth**
* **Schools:** Funding for Top Class Education in schools saw a 154% increase.
* **Colleges:** Funding for Top Class Education in colleges grew by 105.80%.
**Strategic Objectives**
* Expand access to quality education for socially and educationally disadvantaged communities.
* Improve academic progression and targeted welfare delivery.
* Enhance outreach efforts to ensure effective and timely distribution of benefits.
**Impact Analysis**
**Students (OBC, EBC, and DNT communities)**
**Impact**
Eligible students receive significantly higher financial support for various levels of education, from school to college, reducing financial barriers to academic progression.
**Action Required**
Students should identify relevant schemes and ensure they meet eligibility criteria to apply for scholarships and educational assistance.
**Department of Social Justice & Empowerment**
**Impact**
The department is responsible for managing a substantially increased budget and must handle a higher volume of disbursements.
**Action Required**
The department must strengthen its delivery mechanisms, improve outreach, and ensure that the increased funds are disbursed to eligible beneficiaries effectively and on time.
**Educational Institutions (Schools and Colleges)**
**Impact**
Institutions will likely see an increase in enrollment and financial support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds due to the massive growth in "Top Class Education" funding.
**Action Required**
Institutions should prepare to facilitate the administrative requirements of these schemes and support the academic progression of the beneficiaries.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment: The primary department responsible for implementing educational empowerment schemes and disbursing funds for disadvantaged communities.
Top Class Education Scheme: An initiative providing financial assistance for quality education in schools and colleges for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.
Post-Matric Scholarship: A scheme designed to support the academic progression of students from socially and educationally disadvantaged communities pursuing higher education.
Pre-Matric Scholarship: A financial assistance program aimed at supporting school-level students from OBC, EBC, and DNT categories.
Dr. Virendra Kumar: The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment who announced the significant increase in expenditure for welfare initiatives.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
The Department of Social Justice &
Empowerment increased spending to ₹2042.08
crore in FY 2025–26, with significant growth
across scholarship and “Top Class Education”
schemes for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.
According to Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, the initiatives
aim to expand access to quality education and improve
academic progression for socially and educationally
disadvantaged communities.
Posted On: 29 APR 2026 6:36PM by PIB Delhi
As part of its continuing efforts towards educational empowerment, the Department of Social Justice &
Empowerment is implementing a range of schemes for students belonging to Other Backward Classes
(OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes
(DNTs).
Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar has said these interventions seek to improve access to quality
education and support academic progression among students from these communities. During the financial
year 2025-2026, an amount of Rs. 2042.08 crore has been disbursed under these initiatives, he stated.
The expenditure under OBC welfare schemes has registered a substantial increase of 36.96 per cent in
financial year 2025-26 over the financial year 2024-25. This reflects the sustained emphasis being placed
on educational assistance and targeted welfare delivery for eligible beneficiaries.
Scheme-wise, expenditure has increased by 59.13 per cent under the Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBCs,
EBCs and DNTs; 27.18 per cent under the Post-Matric Scholarship; 154 per cent under Top Class
Education in Schools for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; and 105.80 per cent under Top Class Education in
Colleges for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs, as compared to FY 2024-25.
The increase in expenditure under these schemes reflects the Government of India’s continued
commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students from socially and educationally
disadvantaged communities. The Department remains focused on strengthening delivery, improving
outreach and ensuring that the intended benefits reach eligible students in a timely and effective manner.
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