- Why in news
- On 7 September 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment said it has strengthened delivery, monitoring and accountability of the Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Castes through DBT and the National Scholarship Portal.
- What it is
- The Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes and the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes and Others are Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. They give financial help to eligible students of recognised institutions. States and Union Territories implement them, and the Centre shares the cost.
- Scheme type
- Both are Centrally Sponsored Schemes, implemented through State Governments and UT Administrations.
- Nature of funding
- The scholarships are open-ended and demand-driven, so eligible students are not limited by a fixed quota.
- DBT start years
- Post-Matric moved to DBT from 2021-22 and Pre-Matric from 2022-23. The Central share goes to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of applicants.
- Release condition
- The Central share is released only after States and UTs transmit data on payment of their own share on the National Scholarship Portal.
- Review mechanism
- Reviews are held at National, Regional and State levels, with field visits, national conferences and Chintan Shivirs.
Don’t confuse with Post-Matric vs Pre-Matric: Post-Matric covers students after Class 10 for Scheduled Castes. Pre-Matric covers earlier classes and is for Scheduled Castes and Others, and it started DBT a year later.
Don’t confuse with Centrally Sponsored vs Central Sector scheme: In a Centrally Sponsored Scheme the Centre and States share costs and States implement. A Central Sector scheme is fully funded by the Centre.
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
- DBT to Aadhaar-seeded accounts cuts leakage and delay, and helps disadvantaged students stay in education.
- A traceable chain from sanction to receipt improves accountability.
Problems
- Delivery depends on States paying and reporting their share, so delays at State level slow the Central release.
- Complaints go back to the State, which is also the implementing agency, so independent redress is limited.
Way forward
- Speed up State data uploads on the National Scholarship Portal and link release to clear timelines.
- Strengthen independent grievance redress and social audit of scholarship delivery.
Put in your answer
DBT and portal-based delivery: Use as an example of technology-enabled welfare delivery that reduces diversion of funds.
Cooperative federalism in welfare: Use as an example of Centre-State cost sharing where the Centre's release depends on State compliance.
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Whether restructured centrally sponsored schemes help states better serve vulnerable sections
- 2019Mains GS2 · Q18Why welfare schemes for vulnerable sections underperform without awareness and involvement
- 2026Prelims Q59Composition and appointment of Parliament's Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting centrally sponsored scheme with DBT features; mostly a routine delivery note, so no practice question this time.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.