Post Matric Scholarship for SC & ST Students

The Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students is a premier centrally sponsored initiative administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in partnership with State Governments. The scheme ensures that no meritorious SC/ST student is forced to discontinue their post-secondary education due to financial hardship, covering 100% of non-refundable tuition fees and providing handsome monthly living allowances.

Operating across all Indian States and Union Territories via the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and dedicated State Scholarship portals, the scheme supports students studying in Class 11th, 12th, ITI, Polytechnic, undergraduate courses (BA, B.Sc, B.Com, B.Tech, MBBS, BDS, BBA, BCA, LLB), post-graduate degrees, and doctoral programs. The funding is shared between the Central and State Governments (60:40 ratio; 90:10 in NE states), with benefits credited directly into the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Financial entitlements under the Post Matric SC/ST Scholarship are categorized into fee waivers and living allowances: 1. Complete Fee Reimbursement: 100% of mandatory academic tuition fees, enrollment charges, lab fees, union fees, library fees, and university examination fees are paid directly to the institution or student account. 2. Annual Maintenance Allowance (Categorized by Course Group): • Group 1 (Professional Degree Courses: Medical, Engineering, MBA, Law, Agriculture): ₹13,500 per year for Hostellers | ₹7,000 per year for Day Scholars. • Group 2 (Professional PG/UG & Diplomas: Pharmacy, Nursing, B.Ed, Hotel Management, Polytechnic): ₹9,500 per year for Hostellers | ₹6,500 per year for Day Scholars. • Group 3 (General Graduate & PG Degrees: BA, B.Sc, B.Com, MA, M.Sc, M.Com): ₹6,000 per year for Hostellers | ₹3,000 per year for Day Scholars. • Group 4 (Class 11, 12, ITI & Vocational Courses): ₹4,000 per year for Hostellers | ₹2,500 per year for Day Scholars. 3. Disability Allowance: Additional ₹2,000 to ₹4,000/year for Divyangjan students (transport, reader, escort allowance). 4. Thesis & Book Bank Grants: Special grants for Ph.D. scholars and specialized technical book banks.

To qualify for the Post Matric SC/ST Scholarship, applicants must satisfy these requirements: • Social Category: The student must belong to a recognized Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. • Family Income Limit: Total annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹2,50,000 (₹2.50 Lakh per annum). • Educational Stage: The student must have passed Class 10th (Matriculation) and be enrolled in a recognized post-matric course (Class 11, 12, ITI, Diploma, Graduation, Post-Graduation, or Ph.D.). • Mode of Study: Must be studying as a regular, full-time student in a government-recognized school, college, or university. • Single Central Scholarship Rule: The student should not hold any other central government scholarship concurrently.

Keep digital scans ready for upload on the scholarship portal: 1. Student's Aadhaar Card (mandatory for eKYC). 2. SC or ST Caste Certificate issued by an authorized Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Tehsildar, or District Magistrate. 3. Current Family Income Certificate (issued within the current financial year by a competent authority, showing annual income <= ₹2.5 Lakh). 4. Marksheet of previous passing examination (Class 10th/12th/Semester marksheets). 5. Current Year College Admission Fee Receipt and Bonafide Student Certificate. 6. Active Bank Account Passbook in the student's own name (must be Aadhaar-seeded for DBT). 7. Hostel Residence Certificate (issued by Hostel Warden/Principal, if claiming hosteller rates).

• Aadhaar Card of the student (linked with bank account for DBT)
• Valid SC / ST Caste Certificate issued by competent revenue authority (SDM/Tehsildar)
• Current Family Income Certificate (Annual family income not exceeding ₹2.50 Lakh)
• Previous Class / Semester Marksheet
• Current Year College/School Admission Fee Receipt & Bonafide Certificate
• Student's Active Bank Account Passbook (Aadhaar-seeded)
• Hostel Certificate (if claiming higher hosteller maintenance allowance)

Applying for the Post Matric Scholarship is done online via NSP or State Portals: Step 1 — One-Time Registration (OTR): Visit scholarships.gov.in (or your state scholarship portal such as UP Scholarship, MahaDBT, SSP Karnataka, Medhasoft Bihar). Complete OTR using your Aadhaar number and mobile OTP. Step 2 — Fill Application Form: Log in using your Application ID, select 'Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment' or 'Ministry of Tribal Affairs', and select 'Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST'. Step 3 — Enter Academic & Fee Details: Fill in your course name, college name, university enrollment number, annual tuition fee, and upload caste/income certificates and fee receipts. Step 4 — Institutional Verification: Submit the form online. Your college/institute scholarship nodal officer verifies your enrollment and fee schedule digitally on the portal. Step 5 — District Approval & DBT Credit: The District Welfare Officer approves the file, and tuition fees and maintenance allowances are credited directly into your Aadhaar-linked bank account via PFMS.

The National Scholarship Portal generally opens for fresh and renewal applications in July–August and closes around October–November each academic year. Renewal students must apply each year to maintain funding.

• Submitting an expired Income Certificate (income certificates must be current and strictly within the ₹2.50 Lakh threshold). • Submitting a joint bank account with parents (scholarship payments require an active savings account in the student's individual name). • Failing to complete the mandatory Aadhaar-NPCI bank mapping (DBT payments fail if the bank account is not linked to NPCI mapper). • Missing the institutional verification deadline (students should track their application status and ensure the college clerk approves the file before the cutoff date).

Ensure your caste and income certificates are digitally signed and verifiable online. Check with your bank branch that your savings account is DBT-enabled on the NPCI mapper before applying.

The Post Matric Scholarship for SC & ST Students is an indispensable educational equalizer. By guaranteeing full fee reimbursement and living allowances, it empowers students from underprivileged backgrounds to graduate from top colleges and achieve rewarding careers.

Facts on this page are based on the official documents and portals below. Rules can change, so confirm the latest position on the official source before applying.

1. Centrally Sponsored Post Matric Scholarship Scheme Guidelines — Ministry of Social Justice & Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2024-06-01)