“Uttar Pradesh launches a ₹200 crore scholarship initiative to support SC students, aiming to boost higher education access. Over 3.14 lakh students across nine states, including UP, will benefit. The program ensures financial aid for meritorious students, with funds disbursed via DBT through the National Scholarship Portal, enhancing educational opportunities for underprivileged communities.”
Uttar Pradesh Bolsters Education with ₹200 Crore Scholarship Scheme
In a significant push to enhance educational access for Scheduled Caste (SC) students, the Uttar Pradesh government has aligned with a central initiative to disburse over ₹200 crore in scholarships. This ambitious program, highlighted in recent reports, targets 3.14 lakh SC students across nine states, with Uttar Pradesh and Punjab being key beneficiaries. The scheme, part of an ongoing central effort, focuses on providing financial aid to meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education.
The scholarship drive, which required approval from the Election Commission due to the model code of conduct during elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, underscores the government’s commitment to inclusive education. In Uttar Pradesh alone, 2.85 lakh SC students are slated to receive financial assistance, with funds channeled through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The portal, accessible at scholarships.gov.in, facilitates direct benefit transfers (DBT) to ensure seamless and transparent disbursement of funds to students’ bank accounts.
Eligibility for the scholarships is based on academic merit and financial need, targeting students with a family income below ₹4.5 lakh per annum. The scheme supports students pursuing regular courses in recognized colleges and universities, provided they rank above the 80th percentile in their Class 12 board exams and are not availing other scholarships. The financial aid covers tuition fees and provides a maintenance allowance, with rates varying by course: ₹12,000 per annum for the first three years of undergraduate studies, ₹20,000 per annum for the fourth and fifth years, and up to ₹3 lakh for medical and engineering courses.
The initiative also ties into broader national efforts, such as the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme (CSSS), which annually supports 82,000 students (41,000 boys and 41,000 girls) nationwide. In Uttar Pradesh, the state’s integration with the NSP ensures efficient processing, with deadlines for applications set for October 31, 2025, and institute-level verifications concluding by November 15, 2025. The use of the One Time Registration (OTR) system, linked to Aadhaar, simplifies the application process, making it easier for students to apply and track disbursements.
This scholarship drive is part of a larger framework to empower marginalized communities through education. By leveraging DBT and digital platforms like the NSP, the government aims to reduce administrative bottlenecks and ensure timely support. The program’s focus on SC students aligns with national goals of social equity, aiming to bridge the gap in higher education access for underprivileged groups. As of December 2021, over 61.3 lakh SC students were identified for scholarships nationwide, with 23.2 lakh verified and 4.09 lakh already receiving funds, reflecting the scale of this transformative effort.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information sourced from government portals, including the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and reports from The Economic Times. Data is accurate as of the latest available updates, but readers are advised to verify deadlines and eligibility criteria through official channels.