- Why in news
- On 16 September 2026, the Social Justice Minister gave figures on PM-YASASVI: Rs 15,555.53 crore released from 2014-15 to 2025-26 for OBC, EBC and DNT students.
- What it is
- PM-YASASVI is a umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for OBC, EBC and DNT students. It combines Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarships, hostels for OBC boys and girls, and Top Class Education in schools and colleges. It aims to keep students in school and widen access to higher education.
- Target groups
- The scheme covers OBC, EBC and DNT (Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes) students.
- Components
- Four parts: Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarships, OBC hostel construction, and Top Class Education at school and college levels.
- Top Class Education in Colleges
- Started in 2023-24; helps meritorious students in identified premier colleges and institutions.
- Post-Matric share
- Post-Matric is the largest component: Rs 12,118.75 crore released, 425.66 lakh beneficiaries, 2014-15 to 2025-26.
- Hostels
- Rs 346.79 crore released for 28,865 hostel seats from 2014-15 to 2025-26.
- Full name
- PM-YASASVI stands for Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India.
- Beneficiaries
- Eligible students from OBC, EBC and DNT communities.
- Implementing ministry
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs the scheme.
Don’t confuse with PM-YASASVI vs PM-AJAY: PM-YASASVI serves OBC, EBC and DNT students; PM-AJAY targets Scheduled Castes villages and livelihoods.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Scholarships and hostels reduce dropouts and widen access to higher education for backward groups.
- Reduces financial barriers and helps keep OBC, EBC and DNT students in school and higher education.
Problems
- Beneficiary data lags, as States compile actuals late, which weakens monitoring.
- Delays in disbursal and uneven awareness can leave eligible students out.
Way forward
- Speed up data reporting by States and track outcomes such as retention and completion.
- Use direct benefit transfer with timely disbursal and wider outreach to eligible families.
Put in your answer
Post-Matric release: Rs 12,118.75 crore released, 425.66 lakh students, 2014-15 to 2025-26.
Top Class Schools growth: Coverage rose from 1,275 beneficiaries in 2022-23 to 27,007 in 2025-26.
Scheme structure: PM-YASASVI merges four scholarship components for OBC, EBC and DNT students, covering school to college.
- 2019Mains GS2 · Q18Discuss why welfare schemes for vulnerable sections are ineffective without awareness and involvement.
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- 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Critically evaluate restructuring centrally sponsored schemes for vulnerable sections' welfare
- 2006Prelims Q118What is Nirmal Gram Puraskar, an incentive scholarship scheme for girls?
- 2011Prelims Q30Which statements about Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana's eligibility and scholarship provisions are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The Top Class Education in Schools component of PM-YASASVI was implemented from 2023-24.
- 2.Between 2014-15 and 2025-26, the Post-Matric Scholarship component received more funds than the Pre-Matric Scholarship component under PM-YASASVI.
- 3.PM-YASASVI includes construction of hostels for OBC boys and girls.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.PM-YASASVI covers students from OBC, EBC and DNT communities.
True. The scheme targets OBC, EBC and DNT students.
2.The scheme includes construction of hostels for OBC boys and girls.
True. Hostel construction for OBC boys and girls is a component.
3.The Top Class Education in Colleges component supports meritorious students in identified premier institutions.
True. It assists meritorious students in identified premier colleges and institutions.
4.The Pre-Matric component has received more funds than the Post-Matric component from 2014-15 to 2025-26.
False. Post-Matric got Rs 12,118.75 crore against Rs 2,163.15 crore for Pre-Matric.
5.The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
True. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs it.
6.The 2025-26 beneficiary figures for Pre-Matric and Post-Matric components are final audited data.
False. They are provisional; States and UTs are still compiling actual data.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.