Centrally Sponsored Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for 9th and 10th Standard Students of SC Category.

   Centrally Sponsored Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for 9th and 10th Standard Students of SC Category

   Cabinet Committee on Economic affair has today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to introduce a new centrally sponsored scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for students belonging to Scheduled Castes studying in Classes IX & X, with effect from 01.07.2012. The Scheme is expected to benefit about 42 lakh SC students. In XII five year plan the expenditure on this Pre-Matric scholarship scheme would be Rs. 6,500 /- crores, approx.

   The main objective of this scheme is to support parents of SC children for education of their wards studying in classes IX and X so that the incidence of drop-out, especially in the transition from the elementary to the secondary stage is minimized. The Scholarship under the Scheme will be available for studies in India only and will be awarded through the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs.

The overall literacy rate, as per 2001 census, is 64.8% and for the Schedules Caste it is 54.7%.  The overall Drop-out rate, for students from 1st to 10th standard is 55.8% and for SC students, it is 66.6%(M/o HRD- 2008).

For being eligible under this Scheme, the student should belong to Scheduled Caste and her/his Parent/Guardian’s income should not exceed Rs. 2 lakh per annum. She/he should not be getting any other Centrally-funded Pre-Matric Scholarship. The beneficiary should be a regular, full time student studying in a Government School or in a School recognized by Govt. or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education.

The value of scholarship includes the following for the duration of the course:-

(i)                 The rates of scholarship and other grants will be as follows:

Item	Day Scholars	Hostellers
Scholarship (Rs.  p.m.) (for 10 months)	150	350
Books and Ad hoc Grant (Rs.  p.a.)	750	1000

(ii)               Additional allowance is also payable for students with disabilities studying in private un-aided recognized Schools.

Source:PIB