India has many welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes.
Each one fixes a different gap, from school fees to a safe job.
This lesson covers the constitutional base, PM-AJAY and hostels and the scheme for manual scavengers. It also covers scholarships and digital delivery and SHREYAS and the fellowships.
- Base: Article 46 asks the State to promote the interests of weaker sections.
- Commissions: Article 338 for SCs and 338A for STs.
- PM-AJAY: merges PMAGY, SCA to SCSP and BJRCY; the Centre pays 100%.
- SRMS: Rs 40,000 one-time help and skill training for manual scavengers.
- Scholarships: Pre-Matric and Post-Matric, paid by DBT.
- Higher study: SHREYAS and the NFSC and NFST fellowships.
Contents
1. What do these welfare schemes aim to do?
India runs welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes.
1.1 Who runs them?
The Social Justice Ministry works through scholarships, hostels, overseas study help, fellowships, coaching and digital reforms. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs run these schemes.
1.2 What is the main aim?
The main aim is to cut financial barriers so students can stay in school. The groups include SCs, OBCs, EBCs and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
2. What is the constitutional base?
Article 46 tells the State to promote the educational and economic interests of weaker sections.
2.1 Who is named?
It names the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in particular. The State must also protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
2.2 Is this idea old?
The idea was in the 1948 Draft Constitution as Article 37.
2.3 Who guards their rights?
Article 338 creates the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Article 338A creates the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
2.4 Who sits on them?
Each Commission has a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members. The President appoints them.
3. How does PM-AJAY build model villages and hostels?
PM-AJAY began in FY 2021-22. It aims at the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes.
3.1 What did it merge?
It merges three older schemes: PMAGY (Adarsh Gram), SCA to SCSP and BJRCY (hostels).
3.2 Who pays?
The Centre funds 100% of the scheme. States may add funds if they wish.
3.3 What is an Adarsh Gram?
An Adarsh Gram is a model village. Its people can reach drinking water, sanitation, education and nutrition.
3.4 Which villages qualify?
Villages with 50% or more SC population are eligible for infrastructure grants.
3.5 How many are done?
Till March 2025, more than 11,000 villages were declared Adarsh Grams.
3.6 What does BJRCY do?
BJRCY funds hostels for SC students. Money goes to new buildings, expansion and repair.
3.7 How many hostels now?
Under PM-AJAY, 891 hostels are sanctioned. They cover 69,212 beneficiaries.
Think it through: why pair hostels with scholarships?
A scholarship pays fees. It does not give a place to live. A student from a remote village may still drop out. A hostel near the school fixes that gap. The two together keep the student in class.
4. How does the scheme for manual scavengers work?
SRMS is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
4.1 When did it start?
It began in January 2007. It was revised in 2013 and again in 2020-21.
4.2 What is manual scavenging?
Manual scavenging means manually cleaning or handling human excreta in an insanitary latrine.
4.3 Is it banned?
The MS Act, 2013 bans it from 6 December 2013. A person who breaks the ban can face up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
4.4 What help does SRMS give?
SRMS gives one-time cash help of Rs 40,000 to each identified manual scavenger.
4.5 Is there training?
Training can last up to two years. A stipend of Rs 3,000 a month is paid.
4.6 How is the subsidy paid?
Since April 2021 the capital subsidy is paid upfront, not at the end.
4.7 Who runs it?
The National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation implements it. It was formed in 1997.
5. How do the scholarships and digital delivery work?
The Pre-Matric Scholarship is a centrally sponsored scheme. It aims to promote literacy and cut dropout rates.
5.1 Who is covered?
It supports SC children and children of parents in unclean and hazardous occupations.
5.2 How much was released?
From FY 2014-15 to 2025-26, Rs 4,893.03 crore was released under it.
5.3 What about higher study?
The Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students is a flagship scheme. It cuts money barriers in higher education.
5.4 How much was released?
In the same period, Rs 46,581.54 crore was released under Post-Matric.
5.5 How is money paid?
Since FY 2021-22 Post-Matric money goes by DBT into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. Other reforms include de-duplication, biometric and e-KYC checks, DigiLocker and API SETU links and One-Time Registration.
5.6 What does one state get?
In three years the Centre released Rs 1,178.20 crore to Karnataka for Post-Matric: Rs 421.08 crore, Rs 422.90 crore and Rs 334.22 crore.
Think it through: why pay scholarships by DBT?
Money sent through many hands can leak or arrive late. DBT sends it straight to the student's own bank account. De-duplication and e-KYC checks remove fake names. So more of the money reaches real students.
6. What do SHREYAS and the national fellowships offer?
SHREYAS stands for Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme. It serves SC and OBC students.
6.1 What does it include?
It supports free coaching, premier institutions, overseas study and research fellowships.
6.2 How much was spent?
From 2014-15 to 2025-26, spending was about Rs 3,509.39 crore. It reached 1,18,248 beneficiaries.
6.3 What is NFSC?
The National Fellowship Scheme for SC Students (NFSC) is for PhD scholars. They need UGC-NET (JRF) and admission to a UGC-recognised institution.
6.4 Is there an age limit?
NFSC has no age limit. Its ST sister scheme NFST has a maximum age of 36 years.
6.5 How many slots?
NFSC has 2,000 slots a year. 1,500 are for UGC-NET (humanities) and 500 for joint CSIR-UGC NET (science).
6.6 How is it paid?
Fellowships are paid by DBT through the Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal.
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