The Central Government has stated that the implementation of the PM-YASASVI umbrella Scheme in Maharashtra is regularly reviewed through monthly video conferences as well as regional and national-level conferences.

The written reply was provided by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri B L Verma in response to questions by Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Smt Supriya Sule, Prof Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh and Dr Amol Ramsing Kolhe in the Lok Lok Sabha.

The PM-YASASVI umbrella Scheme comprises the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBCs and others, the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBCs and others, Top Class Education in Schools for OBCs and others, and Top Class Education in Colleges for OBCs and others.

The Minister said that for the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes, the Central Government provides funds to the implementing States and Union Territories on the basis of approved notional allocation, while selection, verification and disbursement of scholarships to eligible beneficiaries are carried out by the respective States and Union Territories.

Shri Verma stated that Maharashtra was onboarded on the National Scholarship Portal for both the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric OBC Scholarship Schemes from the Academic Year 2025-26 onwards.

As per the information provided, during FY 2025-26, 1,079 applications were received under the PM-YASASVI Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBC, EBC and DNT students in Maharashtra. Of these, 1,072 applications were Aadhaar verified and 575 applications were verified.

Under the PM-YASASVI Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBC, EBC and DNT students, 1,971 applications were received during FY 2025-26. Of these, 1,965 were Aadhaar verified and 576 applications were verified.

The Minister further stated that the Government released ₹555.74 lakh to the State Government of Maharashtra under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBC, EBC and DNT students during 2024-25, increasing to ₹1,940 lakh during 2025-26. No proposal was received from the State in FY 2023-24 and, therefore, no funds were released during that year.

For the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, no Central Assistance was released during the last three financial years. The reply stated that this was due to non-receipt of proposals in FY 2023-24, pending unutilised balance in the State's SNA account in FY 2024-25, and a technical issue in disbursing funds by the State Government of Maharashtra during FY 2025-26.

Under the Top Class Education in Schools Scheme for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs, 3,470 fresh applications were received in 2023-24, of which 2,324 were finally verified. In 2024-25, 2,192 fresh applications were received, with 1,195 finally verified. In 2025-26, 8,402 fresh applications were received, of which 4,533 were finally verified.

Funds released to Maharashtra under the Top Class Education in Schools Scheme increased from ₹52.31 lakh in 2023-24 to ₹258.55 lakh in 2024-25 and ₹509.37 lakh in 2025-26.

Under the Top Class Education in Colleges Scheme for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs, 363 fresh applications were received and 342 were finally verified in 2023-24. In 2024-25, 731 fresh applications were received, with 611 finally verified.

Funds released under the Top Class Education in Colleges Scheme increased from ₹1,000.39 lakh in 2023-24 to ₹2,712.14 lakh in 2024-25 and ₹2,857.95 lakh in 2025-26.

The Minister stated that necessary corrective measures have been undertaken to address the issue of low scholarship coverage in Maharashtra. These include creating awareness about the Scheme among eligible beneficiaries, coordinating closely with educational institutions and district authorities to improve outreach, and regularly monitoring the application and verification process to ensure timely and accurate disbursal.

The Government has also stated that delays in disbursal mainly arise from incomplete proposals submitted by States/Union Territories, non-submission of Utilisation Certificates against funds already released, non-onboarding of certain States/Union Territories on the SNA-SPARSH platform and non-seeding of bank accounts with Aadhaar. States and Union Territories have been mandated to onboard the SNA-SPARSH platform to improve efficiency and transparency in fund disbursal through real-time, utilisation-based tracking of funds.

The Government continues to pursue timely submission of proposals and Utilisation Certificates through regional and national-level review meetings and video conferences, with a focus on improving outreach, verification and timely scholarship disbursal under PM-YASASVI in Maharashtra.

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PR-63-TAR-KV-GA

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