The Government has informed the Rajya Sabha that a total Central share of ₹1,178.20 crore was released to beneficiaries in Karnataka under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students during the last three financial years.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale shared these details in reply to Unstarred Question No. 2050 in the Rajya Sabha regarding Central funds for Scheduled Caste welfare in Karnataka.

The Central share released under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC students to beneficiaries in Karnataka was ₹421.08 crore in 2023-24, ₹422.90 crore in 2024-25 and ₹334.22 crore in 2025-26, amounting to a total of ₹1,178.20 crore during the three financial years.

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment implements the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes (SCs) students as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme through State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The scheme is being implemented through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode with effect from 2021-22.

Under the scheme, release of the Central share of scholarship is contingent upon the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations sharing the finally verified State/UT-paid data on the National Scholarship Portal. The scheme is open-ended and demand-driven for all eligible students of recognized institutions across India.

With regard to the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC), the Government stated that NITI Aayog issued guidelines in 2017 for earmarking funds under DAPSC. As per these guidelines, each obligated Ministry/Department allocates funds under DAPSC for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes through its respective schemes.

These schemes are implemented by the concerned Ministries/Departments, while allocation of funds to States and Union Territories, including Karnataka, is undertaken by the respective Ministries/Departments in accordance with the guidelines of their schemes. The funds allocated by obligated Ministries/Departments under DAPSC are reflected in Statement 10A of the Expenditure Profile of the Union Budget.

The Government's response highlights the implementation of scholarship support for eligible Scheduled Caste students in Karnataka through a demand-driven mechanism and Direct Benefit Transfer-based delivery system.

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PR-62-TAR-KV-GA

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