Policy Update
Arya Ukey
Context
Education has never been a critical step towards ending the chain of inherited social inequality in India. For SCs, formal education has long been precluded by discrimination as well as financial struggles. The expense of pursuing education after matriculation continues to be a significant obstacle. The Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) Scheme for SC students, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, seeks to alter the situation. It motivates students to pursue education beyond the 10th grade. It not only targets economic challenges but also the root cause of unequal access to opportunities.
This centrally sponsored scheme provides financial assistance to SC students continuing education from Class XI up to postgraduate and doctoral levels at approved institutions. The purpose of the scheme is not merely to give access but to bring about equity. It attempts to avoid students from backward communities who are bright talents from dropping out of school or college on financial grounds.
Functioning
The scheme is offered to SC students whose annual family income is below ₹2.5 lakh. On verification and sanction, the scholarship provides payment for a range of costs, such as non-refundable compulsory fees, maintenance allowance, book allowance, and reimbursement of study tour and thesis preparation costs. The maintenance allowance is provided on a monthly basis and depends on the course level and category, from day scholars at higher secondary schools to hostellers at professional colleges.
Students at institutions all over India—government, private recognized, and even distance education—are eligible to avail themselves of this scheme, provided the institutions are up to standard. Applications are made online via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Aadhaar-based identification and bank account linking ensure money reaches the student’s account directly. This eliminates middlemen and streamlines the process of distributing funds.In 2023–24, more than 60 lakh SC students availed the scheme, which is among the largest scholarship schemes in India. Financial assistance ensures that students remain enrolled in school or college and are able to focus on their education without having to worry about fees or living costs.
Performance
The PMS scheme has been successful. SC student dropout rates subsequent to Class X have steadily fallen in states where the scheme is well implemented. In Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh states, the enrollment of SC students in senior secondary and undergraduate courses has substantially gone up. The Ministry’s 2022–23 annual report states that approximately ₹6,000 crore was transferred to state governments for disbursing scholarships.Integration with the NSP platform has enhanced transparency and made it easier for students to apply. The adoption of digital verification has reduced the time taken for approving scholarships. The Union Budget 2023–24 also escalated funds for the PMS scheme, reflecting the government’s consistent support towards educational inclusivity.
Impact
Although figures indicate the outreach of the scheme, its actual impact lies in the lives it has transformed. For example, Manoj is a boy from a Dalit family in Bihar who topped his Class X but could not pursue further studies due to financial constraints. Due to the Post-Matric Scholarship, Manoj pursued a diploma in electrical engineering from a government polytechnic institute, and today he is employed with a well-known company in Delhi.
His achievement has motivated his younger sister to go to school.These are not new stories. In tribal and rural areas of states such as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where vulnerability and casteism intersect, the scholarship is shattering the cycle of poverty. Of greater importance, it enables communities to perceive education as a right, not an elitist luxury.
Emerging Issues
Though well-meaning, the scheme is threatened by a number of challenges. To begin with, state governments delay disbursement of funds, thereby rendering the scheme ineffective. Students often receive maintenance allowances months into the academic year. Secondly, in rural areas, limited awareness of the scheme serves to restrict its coverage—many qualified students either fail to apply or get disqualified through the process due to technical hitches.
Third, the documentation requirements and barriers to digital submissions make it hard for students from less digitally advanced households to complete applications on time. Even though the NSP portal marks progress, students in areas with poor internet access or low digital literacy find it difficult to benefit.
Finally, in the private colleges with high charges, the scholarship can be insufficient to pay for all the fees, so economically backward students are stuck with the remaining amount.
Way Forward
To enhance outcomes and make Post-Matric Scholarship accessible to everyone, we require a multi-pronged strategy. Awareness drives—particularly through school teachers, panchayat networks, and social organisations—must be raised so that every deserving student is aware of the scheme.Apart from that, the monetary ceilings must be constantly checked to align with inflation and increasing tuition fees, especially for professional and technical courses. Having district-level assistance centers, helplines, and offline kiosks would assist first-time students in making the application and verification processes easy to understand.
Lastly, the scheme needs to emphasize not only access but also monitor long-term indicators such as graduation rates, employment placement, and social mobility of the beneficiaries. These measures can realign the scheme towards change-making objectives rather than only administrative ones.
References
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. (n.d.). Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC Students. Government of India. Retrieved from https://socialjustice.gov.in
- National Scholarship Portal. (n.d.). Scholarships for students in India. Retrieved from https://scholarships.gov.in
- Press Information Bureau. (n.d.). Press releases. Government of India. Retrieved from https://pib.gov.in
About the Contributor
Arya Ukey is an IMPRI research intern and is enrolled in Integrated MSc Economics at Dr. BR Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bangalore.
Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.
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