Centre Releases Updated Scholarship Guidelines for SC Students
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has released updated guidelines for the Top Class Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students for the 2024–25 academic cycle, according to a PTI report.
The revised framework expands financial assistance, restructures eligibility rules, and intensifies scrutiny of participating institutions. The changes come at a time when the government is seeking greater efficiency in student support schemes and higher accountability among funded institutions. With enhanced monitoring provisions and capped allocations, the ministry aims to ensure that benefits reach deserving SC students enrolled in India’s leading colleges and universities.
Expanded financial norms
Under the new guidelines, the Centre will directly transfer full tuition fees and all non-refundable charges to students via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. For private institutions, this support will be capped at ₹2 lakh per year. In addition to fee coverage, beneficiaries will receive an academic allowance of ₹86,000 in the first year and ₹41,000 in each subsequent year to meet living expenses, purchase books, and fund laptops or study materials.
Students receiving assistance from similar central or state scholarships will be deemed ineligible.
Eligibility thresholds and institutional criteria
The scheme remains open to Scheduled Caste students with an annual family income not exceeding ₹8 lakh. Only candidates admitted to notified institutions, including IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NITs, National Law Universities, NIFT, NID, IHMs, and accredited universities, will qualify. Fresh scholarships will be restricted to first-year entrants, while renewals will continue annually based on satisfactory academic performance.
Students who shift institutions after selection will lose eligibility.
Allocation caps and gender-based distribution
For 2024–25, the
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