Scheme for Top class education for SC students

The Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was approved in 2007 and was subsequently revised in January, 2012 and June 2016.

Objectives and Coverage

The Scheme aims at recognizing and promoting quality education amongst students belonging to SCs, by providing full financial support. The Scheme will cover SC students for pursuing studies beyond 12th class.

The Scheme will operate in all the institutions notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Financial Assistance

The SC students, who secure admission in the notified institutions, will be awarded scholarship to meet the requirements for

• full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (there will be a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakhs per annum per student for private sector institutions and Rs.3.72 lakhs per annum per student for the private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot Training and Type Rating Courses)
• living expenses to the beneficiary @ Rs. 2220/- per month per student
• books and stationery @ Rs. 3000/- per annum per student and
• a latest computer/laptop of reputed brand with accessories like UPS and printer limited to Rs. 45000/- per student as one time assistance during the course.

The scholarship, once awarded, will continue till the completion of the course, subject to satisfactory performance of the student.

Eligibility

• Those SC students having total annual family income from all sources up to Rs. 6.00 lakh and having secured admission in a full-time course in any of the notified institutions according to the general selection criteria prescribed by the concerned institution, will be eligible for scholarship under the Scheme to the extent of the number of scholarships (slots) allocated to the institution for the course.
• In case the number of eligible students admitted exceeds the number of slots allotted to the institution, the scholarship will be restricted to the top students in the inter-se merit list based on the admission criteria for the course. However, if there is more than one student with equal marks for the last available slot in an institution, preference should be given to the student with the lowest family income. The remaining students from SC category admitted in the institution shall be eligible for the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) administered by this Ministry through State Governments/UT Administrations, provided such students are otherwise eligible under the said scheme.
• In case the institution finds that the number of eligible candidates in the 1st year are less than the number of slots allotted to it, the balance slots may be offered to eligible students studying in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year, etc. on the basis of inter-se merit of previous year’s result giving priority to those with higher number of years left to complete their respective course i.e. 2nd year students are to get priority over the 3rd year students and so on.
• Thirty percent (30%) of slots allotted to the Institution shall be reserved for eligible SC girl students as per their inter-se merit. In the absence of sufficient number of girl students, the slots may be transferred to eligible boy students as per their inter-se merit.
• However, the 30% slots as mentioned above will not include those girl students who are selected on the basis of their performance in the overall merit list of students of the Institution.
• The benefit of the Scheme will not be provided to more than 2 siblings in a family. The students will submit an affidavit in the Institution to certify that he/she is not the third sibling of the family who is availing benefit under the Scheme.
• The scholarship will be terminated if the student fails to pass the final examination of each year or any terminal examination or semester examination prescribed. He will, however, remain eligible for the Post-Matric Scholarship.

Institutions covered and scholarship slots

• All the IIMs / IITs/ IITS / AIIMSs/ NITS/NlFTs/ NIDs/ Indian Institutes of Hotel Management, National Law Universities and other Central Government Institutions will be eligible to be included in the Scheme, subject to their applying for being included in the Scheme. If an institution is not in any of the above categories, it has to be included in the current list of
  • National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) A++ and A+ Accredited Institutions or
  • Top 100 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Institutions or
  • Institutions of National Importance as per lists issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) from time to time.
• For Commercial Pilot Training Course and Type Rating Courses all Government/CPSE run institutes approved by Director General of Civil Aviation shall be eligible for employment under the Scheme.

The overall number of fresh scholarships per year would be capped at 1500.

Funding Pattern & Mode of Payment

• The Scheme will be funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 100% basis.
• In respect of those institutions in which fee has been waived for SC students, the other four components, namely – other non refundable charges, boarding and lodging, books and stationery and computer/laptop and accessories may be reimbursed under the scheme.
• The scholarship will become payable immediately after a student has secured admission and has started attending the classes.
• The payment of tuition fee and other non-refundable charges will be made directly to the institution by the Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
• Similarly, the payment of living expenses, books & stationery and computer/laptop with accessories will be made directly to the student by the Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.

Application process

• With a view to ensure access of all students to the provisions of this Scheme, the institution will incorporate the salient feature of the scheme in their prospectus, in addition to putting the same on the website of the institution.
• The institution will select eligible SC students on the basis of merit and shall forward the applications of the selected students to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in prescribed format along with income certificate, caste certificate, bank account details of the student and institution, proof of admission, scorecard of entrance exam where applicable, fee structure and fee charged etc. to claim the scholarship.
• In case of renewals, the institution will send to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment the progress report including result of the student for the Previous year, Student’s bank account details, fee structure and fee charged for current academic year, duly filled application formand Utilisation Certificate (UC) in the prescribed proforma.
• Normally, the student should purchase the computer/laptop including accessories in the first year he/she is awarded the scholarship. The student will submit the bill for purchase of the same while applying for the scholarship in the subsequent year. If the amount of purchase is less than the amount released to him/her under this head, the difference will be adjusted against the admissible grant to the student.
• The performance of the SC students covered under the Scheme shall be monitored regularly by the Head of the respective institution and the same shall be reported, through a report card, to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at the end of each academic year.
• In the event of denotification/deletion of any institution, the scholarship will continue to be available to the SC students already admitted under the Scheme, if otherwise eligible, till the completion of the course. However, no fresh seats will be allotted and funds released to such denotified institutions.

List of institutes notified under the scheme

To access the list of notified institutes. the scholarship slots allotted and the complete guidelines, click here.

Source : Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment