- Why in news
- On 15 September 2026, the Social Justice Minister Dr Virendra Kumar gave figures on SHREYAS: about Rs 3,509.39 crore spent on four components from 2014-15 to 2025-26, reaching 1,18,248 SC and OBC students.
- What it is
- SHREYAS is a Centrally run umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for SC and OBC students in higher education. It bundles four components: Free Coaching, Top Class Education, National Overseas Scholarship and National Fellowship for SC Students. It aims to cut financial barriers from exam preparation to research.
- Total spending
- About Rs 3,509.39 crore was spent under the four components from 2014-15 to 2025-26.
- Free Coaching
- Gives financial help for coaching in competitive and professional exams to economically disadvantaged SC and OBC students.
- Top Class Education
- Supports meritorious SC students studying in premier institutions; it is for SC students only.
- National Overseas Scholarship
- Helps eligible SC students study abroad; 764 beneficiaries went abroad over the period, peaking at 114 in 2023-24.
- National Fellowship for SC Students
- Largest component by spending (about Rs 2,199.28 crore, 59,039 beneficiaries); supports SC scholars in higher education and research.
Don’t confuse with SHREYAS vs PM-AJAY: PM-AJAY is a separate Social Justice Ministry scheme for SC-dominated villages, hostels and income generation, not scholarships for higher education.
Don’t confuse with Post-Matric Scholarship for SCs: This is a separate large scholarship scheme for SC students after Class 10. SHREYAS components cover coaching, top institutions, overseas study and fellowships.
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
- Reduces financial barriers to higher education for SC and OBC students.
- Covers the full path from exam coaching to research, supporting social mobility.
Problems
- Overseas scholarship numbers are small and fell from 114 in 2023-24 to 67 in 2025-26.
- Free Coaching beneficiaries and spending dropped in 2025-26 relative to 2024-25.
Way forward
- Widen outreach and simplify application and disbursal so eligible students are not left out.
- Track outcomes such as admissions, jobs and research output, not only spending.
Put in your answer
Scheme spending data: About Rs 3,509.39 crore spent and 1,18,248 beneficiaries under SHREYAS, 2014-15 to 2025-26.
Top Class Education growth: Annual spending rose from Rs 19.37 crore for 1,568 beneficiaries in 2014-15 to Rs 117.19 crore for 4,742 in 2025-26.
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Evaluate restructured centrally sponsored schemes for vulnerable sections' welfare.
- 2024Mains GS1 · Q18Why underprivileged sections don't get full affirmative action benefits; comment.
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: Central scheme for SC and OBC students with four components; schemes are 16% of news-linked Prelims questions, but this release is a data reply with little new.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.