Over 1.44 crore Scheduled Caste students supported with scholarships amounting to Rs 12,773 crore

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment reported that over 1.44 crore Scheduled Caste (SC) students have been supported through Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes with disbursements totaling Rs 12,773 crore. Additionally, more than 1.01 crore OBC and EBC students received scholarship assistance amounting to Rs 2,445.05 crore. The Ministry also introduced key administrative and process reforms under schemes such as SHRESHTA, the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, and the National Fellowship for SC Students Scheme. These reforms include advancing the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) schedule, on-the-spot verification of income and caste certificates directly from issuing authorities, and establishing a mandatory seven-day grievance-submission window.