Centre released Rs 1,178 crore to K'taka for SC students' post-matric scholarship scheme in 3 years
New Delhi, Aug 9
The Central government has released a total Central share of Rs 1,178.20 crore to beneficiaries in Karnataka under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students during the last three financial years, according to information tabled in Parliament.
The Central share released under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC students to beneficiaries in Karnataka was Rs 421.08 crore in 2023-24, Rs 422.90 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 334.22 crore in 2025-26, amounting to a total of Rs 1,178.20 crore during the three financial years, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale stated in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment implements the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes (SCs) students as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme through state governments and Union Territory Administrations. The scheme is being implemented through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode with effect from 2021-22.
Under the scheme, release of the Central share of scholarships is contingent upon state governments and Union Territory Administrations sharing the finally verified data of the payments on the National Scholarship Portal. The scheme is open-ended and demand-driven for all eligible students of recognised institutions across India.
About the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC), the government has stated that NITI Aayog issued guidelines in 2017 for earmarking funds under DAPSC. As per these guidelines, each obligated Ministry or Department allocates funds under DAPSC for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes through its respective schemes.
These schemes are implemented by the concerned Ministries or Departments, while allocation of funds to states and Union Territories, including Karnataka, is undertaken by the respective ministries or departments in accordance with the guidelines of their schemes. The funds allocated are reflected in Statement 10A of the Expenditure Profile of the Union Budget.
The government's response highlights the implementation of scholarship support for eligible Scheduled Caste students in Karnataka through a demand-driven mechanism and a Direct Benefit Transfer-based delivery system.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a decent amount, but let's be honest - is it reaching the right people? I've seen cases where eligible students miss out because of paperwork issues while some ineligible ones get benefits. The state government also needs to step up and release their share on time. It's a joint responsibility, not just the Centre's.
Finally some transparency on this! As someone who benefited from this scheme back in the day, I can say it truly changes lives. My entire post-graduation was funded through this. Happy to see the numbers are going up - ₹1,178 crore is no small change. Hope Karnataka utilises it well for hostel fees and course expenses. 🙏
The DBT system has definitely reduced corruption, but the National Scholarship Portal is a nightmare to navigate. Many students in rural Karnataka don't have proper internet access or digital literacy. We need better support at the taluk level to help them apply. Money is there, but accessibility is still a challenge.
Interesting to see the budgetary allocation pattern - almost consistent over the years. The demand-driven approach makes sense, but it also means that if verification is slow, students suffer. I hope the new education policy framework addresses these implementation bottlenecks. Education is the great equalizer, after all.
This is good news, but let's not just look at the Centre's contribution - what about the state's share? Karnataka is one of the more progressive states, but I've heard stories of students not getting their full amount on time. Transparent tracking and a grievance redressal mechanism at the district level would help a
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.