SHREYAS scheme for SC students

The umbrella scheme of "SHREYAS" which comprises 4 central sector sub-schemes namely

• Top Class Education for SCs
• Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs
• National Overseas Scheme for SCs
• National Fellowship for SCs

Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

• The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them appear in competitive and entrance examinations for obtaining appropriate jobs in Public/Private Sector as well as for securing admission in reputed technical and professional higher education institutions.
• The ceiling of the total family income under the scheme is 8 lakhs per annum. 3500 slots are allotted per annum.
• The ratio of SC: OBC students is 70:30 and 30% slots are reserved for females in each category. In case of non-availability of the adequate number of candidates in SC category the Ministry can relax this ratio. However, in no case, a less than 50% SC students shall be permitted.

Top Class Education for SCs

• 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 scholarship, once awarded, will continue till the completion of the course, subject to satisfactory performance of the student.
• The ceiling of the total family income under the scheme is 8 lakhs per annum.
• Presently, 266 higher education institutes which includes Government institutes and private institutes such as all the IIMs, IITs, NITs, IIITs, AIIMS, NIFTs, NIDs, NLUs, IHMs, CUs and institutes of national importance, NAAC A++ accredited institutes and top 100 National Institutional ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking institutes.
• The overall number of scholarship would be capped at. 21,500 for the period of 2021-22 to 2025-26 (4100 for 2021-22, 4200 for 2022-23, 4300 for 2023-24, 4400 for 2024-25 and 4500 for 2025-26).
• Under the scheme,
  • full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (there will be a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum per student for private sector institutions
  • Academic allowance of Rs. 86,000 in the first year of study and Rs. 41,000 in every subsequent year, to take care of living and other expenses is provided.

National Overseas Scheme for SCs

• Under this scheme financial assistance is provided to the selected students from SCs (115 slots); De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (6 slots); landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisan categories (4 slots), for pursuing masters and Ph.D. level courses abroad.
• Presently, 125 slots are allotted under the scheme.
• Eligibility
  • Total family income including the candidate is less than Rs. 8 lakhs per annum
  • Have more than 60% marks in the qualifying examination
  • Below 35 years of age
  • Secured admission in top 500 QS ranking foreign Institutes/ Universities.
• Under the scheme, total tuition fee, maintenance and contingency allowance, visa fee, to and fro air passage etc. are provided to the awardees.

National Fellowship for SC Students

• Under the scheme fellowship is provided to Scheduled Castes students for pursuing higher education leading to M.Phil/ Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences in Indian Universities/Institutions/ Colleges recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC).
• The scheme provides for 2000 new slots per year (500 for science stream and 1500 for Humanities and Social Sciences) who have qualified the National Eligibility Test- Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC and Junior Research Fellows for Science stream qualifying UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) Joint Test.
• The rates of fellowship including HRA is as under:

Source : Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment