Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students for Class IX and X (All States) 2023

This is one of the best and the most beneficial scholarship programs for students from economically weaker sections. The pre-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students is an opportunity for them to pursue their education and help them in becoming a part of society. This program is implemented by many states to support the academic aspirations of Scheduled Caste students who aspire to continue their secondary education by pursuing their Class IX or Class X curriculum.

The state government provides financial assistance in two installments, once at the beginning of each academic session. Students who wish to avail of this scholarship program must be a citizen of India, belong to the SC category, and reside in that particular state/UT as per their Aadhaar card or voter ID card. Students should also have a qualifying exam score (10th standard), as well as meet residence and age criteria, among others.

Highlights

What is the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students?

Basically, the pre-matric scholarship is a form of financial assistance provided by the state governments to students belonging to the scheduled caste category. Under this scheme, the government will pay the entire tuition fee, including the examination fee and other school-related expenses.

Students who wish to avail of this scholarship program must be a citizen of India, belong to the SC category and reside in that particular state/UT as per their Aadhaar card or voter ID card. Students should also have a qualifying exam score (10th standard), as well as meet residence and age criteria, among others. The scholarship amount is calculated on the basis of the number of students who have opted for it, the average income/family income of SC students and, the total number of seats available for SC students.

Eligibility Criteria

i) Students must be members of a scheduled caste

ii) The parent (s) or guardian (s) of the child should not earn more than Rs. 2.50 lakh annually.

He/she should not be receiving any further Centrally-Funded Pre-Matric Scholarships.

iii) However, recipients of the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC children may also be eligible for benefits under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Program of the Department of School Education.

iv) In accordance with the requirements of Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act 2016, a student must provide documentation proving they have an Aadhaar or submit to Aadhaar authentication. Students are expected to submit an application for Aadhaar enrolment if they have not already done so.

v) She or he must be a regular, full-time student enrolled in a government school, a school accredited by the government, or a school that is recognised by a Central or State Board of Secondary Education.

vi) Scholarships for taking any class will only be offered for a single academic year. A student who needs to repeat a class will not be eligible for a scholarship for that class in the following year.

Scholarship Value

For the whole period of the course, the following are included in the value of the scholarship:

i) scholarships and other grants;
ii) a special allowance for kids with disabilities enrolled in accredited private schools but receiving no government assistance.

Here are the specifics:

The following rates will apply to grants and other scholarships:

(iii) Supplemental Allowances for SC Disabled Students Attending Private Unaided Schools –

Financial aid is already being provided to students with disabilities enrolled in government, local authority, and government-aided secondary schools under the Centrally-sponsored Scheme of “Inclusive Education of the Disabled at Secondary Stage” (IEDSS) being carried out by the M/o HRD.

IEDSS does not, however, apply to pupils in schools without outside assistance.

Therefore, the following allowances will be available to SC children with disabilities enrolled in classes IX and X of private, independent, recognised schools under this Scheme:

Application Procedure

Step 1:

If a State or UT scholarship site is accessible, applicants may submit their applications online; if not, they must do so in writing. The paperwork can be scanned and uploaded if you’re applying online. In accordance with the portal’s requirements, a hard copy of the application will be submitted.

The following must be included in every application, whether it be submitted online or on a paper copy of the scholarship application in the required format.

• A single photo the size of a passport bearing the student’s signature (for fresh scholarship).

• A single self-attested copy of each certificate, diploma, degree, etc. for all exams passed.

• A caste certificate that has been properly signed by an authorised revenue officer with at least the Tehsildar rank.

• Income declaration for parents or guardians who are self-employed should be made on a certificate from a revenue officer with at least the Tehsildar rank. Parents and guardians who are employed must have an income certificate from their employment. For any other additional sources of income, employed parents or guardians should get a consolidated certificate from the revenue officer.

• In accordance with Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016, students are expected to provide documentation proving their Aadhaar ownership or submit to Aadhaar authentication. Students must submit an application for Aadhaar enrolment if they haven’t already.

• Students must submit their scholarship applications by November 30th of the academic year in which they are enrolled, though state officials may extend the deadline if necessary.

(Note: When submitting a hard copy, all copies must be self-attested.)

Step 2:

Applications that are complete in every way must be submitted to the head of the institution or school that the candidates are currently enrolled in or last attended. The head of the institution will review the applications and forward them along with his recommendation to the sanctioning authority.

Duration and Renewal of Scholarship

• During an academic year, the scholarship will be paid for 10 months.

• The award, once given, is subject to continued good behaviour and attendance consistency. After the student completes Class IX, it will be reissued for Class X.

Payment of Scholarship

i) Scholarships are paid from April 1st or, if later, from the month of admission to the month in which exams are finished, at the conclusion of the academic year (including holidays). However, if a scholar is admitted after the twentieth day of a given month, the amount will be paid from the month following the month of admission.

ii) If a scholarship is renewed, it will begin to be paid in the month that comes after the month that it was in the prior year.

iii) The scholarship funds will be awarded to the chosen students by the State/ Union Territory Administration, to which they belong, in accordance with the guidelines they have established in this respect.

Terms and Conditions

• The scholarship for taking any class will only be offered for a single academic year. A student would not be eligible for the scholarship the following year if they repeated their course.
• The Public Finance Management System (PFMS), which uses DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), will be used to process the scholarship payment.
• The Government of India reserves the right to alter the terms of this scheme at any time.
• Students who were not advanced to the following class/level will not be given any scholarships.
• There won’t be any room for changing your study plan.
• The award has a two- to three-year tenure rather than being valid for a lengthy period of study, depending on how long the postgraduate course lasts.
• The scholarship provided under the program will be extended for the duration of the first year of the postgraduate course, provided that the student maintains good behavior and maintains the required attendance.
• The scholarship will be renewed for the following academic year upon receipt of an annual progress report, which will be granted by the administrative head of the university, institution, or college.
• If a student drops out of school for personal reasons or provides false information on their online scholarship application, their scholarship will be revoked.
• Students who reside in one State or the District of Columbia but have SC certificates from another State or District may apply for scholarships in the State or District where the SC certificates were issued.