The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has provided updated figures on the Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers (SHREYAS) scheme, aimed at Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and persons with disabilities (Divyangjan). The scholarships are part of central sector umbrella schemes and include multiple sub-schemes to support higher education for marginalized communities.
The SHREYAS for SCs includes scholarships under the Top Class Education for SC students (TCS), National Fellowship for SC students (NFSC), and National Overseas Scholarship (NOS). Similarly, the SHREYAS for OBCs covers National Fellowship for OBCs and Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies.
Additionally, the Department of Persons with Disabilities administers a Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (Divyangjan), which consists of six sub-schemes, including pre-matric, post-matric, and top-class education support.
Beneficiaries and Financial Expenditure
The following tables outline the expenditure and number of beneficiaries under the respective schemes for the last five years:
SHREYAS for Scheduled Castes (SCs)
| Financial Year | Expenditure (in Crore) | Male Beneficiaries | Female Beneficiaries | Total Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 272.3 | 3,938 | 2,450 | 6,388 |
| 2020-21 | 218.89 | 4,778 | 2,372 | 7,150 |
| 2021-22 | 261.64 | 5,720 | 2,628 | 8,348 |
| 2022-23 | 306.33 | 5,320 | 2,557 | 7,877 |
| 2023-24 | 372.22 | 5,470 | 2,779 | 8,249 |
SHREYAS for OBCs
| Financial Year | Expenditure (in Crore) | Male Beneficiaries | Female Beneficiaries | Total Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 52.50 | 582 | 610 | 1,192 |
| 2020-21 | 33.00 | 623 | 610 | 1,233 |
| 2021-22 | 55.55 | 691 | 647 | 1,338 |
| 2022-23 | 51.32 | 846 | 724 | 1,570 |
| 2023-24 | 89.70 | 1,095 | 914 | 2,009 |
Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
| Financial Year | Expenditure (in Crore) | Total Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 114.57 | 42,972 |
| 2020-21 | 91.77 | 26,067 |
| 2021-22 | 131.43 | 42,136 |
| 2022-23 | 131.43 | 44,162 |
| 2023-24 | 145.20 | 29,374 |
Awareness and Outreach Initiatives
To ensure the widespread reach of these scholarship programs, the Ministry has undertaken various initiatives, including advertisements in national and regional newspapers, social media campaigns, and regular follow-ups with States and Union Territories to promote the schemes.
This information was provided by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
