Udaipur, February 10, 2025 - The Union Budget 2025, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has drastically reduced funds for scholarships meant for Scheduled Tribe (ST) and minority students. The most severe cut was seen in the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students, which received only Rs 2 lakh compared to Rs 165 crore in the current year.

Drastic Cut in ST Scholarships

• National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students: Reduced by 99.9%, from Rs 165 crore to just Rs 2 lakh.

• National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for ST students: Cut by Rs 5.99 crore, leaving it with only Rs 10 lakh.

Sharp Decline in Minority Scholarships

• Pre-matric scholarship for minority students: Reduced by 39.9%, now at Rs 197.50 crore.

• Post-matric scholarship (PMS) for minorities: Budget cut by Rs 731.39 crore, a 63.8% decrease.

• Merit-cum-means (MCM) scholarship for technical and professional courses: Cut by Rs 19.41 crore, now at Rs 33.80 crore.

Increase in OBC and SC Scholarships

While scholarships for ST and minority students faced budget cuts, some scholarships for OBC and SC students saw an increase:

• National Fellowship for OBC students: Increased by 245%, now at Rs 190.13 crore.

• National Overseas Scholarship for SC students: Increased by 36%, now at Rs 130 crore.

• Post-matric scholarships for OBC, EBC, and DNT students: Increased by Rs 329 crore.

Education Budget Allocation

The total budget for the Education Ministry has been increased by 6.65%, now at Rs 1.28 lakh crore.

Funds for Tribal Education Programs

• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Received Rs 7,088.60 crore, a 10% increase. However, revised estimates for the current year and actual spending from last year show reductions.

Government's Justification for Cuts

The government has argued that pre-matric scholarships (for Classes 6-9) have been reduced because these classes are already covered under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan scheme.

This budget reflects a major shift in scholarship funding, with OBC and SC scholarships increasing while minority and ST scholarships face severe cuts.

Source: Media Reports