New Delhi— The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued revised guidelines for the ‘Top Class Scholarship Scheme for SC Students’ for the 2024–25 academic year, introducing enhanced financial support and stricter compliance norms for institutions. The scheme aims to strengthen access to quality higher education for Scheduled Caste students across premier institutions in India.
Under the updated financial structure, the government will transfer full tuition fees and non-refundable charges directly to students via DBT, with a maximum cap of ₹2 lakh per year for private institutions. In addition, students will receive an academic allowance of ₹86,000 in the first year and ₹41,000 in subsequent years to meet living costs, purchase books, and acquire laptops. Beneficiaries will be prohibited from availing similar scholarships under any other Central or State scheme.
Eligibility has been restricted to SC students with an annual family income of up to ₹8 lakh who secure admission in notified institutions such as IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NITs, National Law Universities, NIFT, NID, IHMs, and other recognised colleges. Only first-year students may apply for fresh scholarships, while renewals will continue based on academic performance until the completion of the course.
For 2024–25, the ministry has set aside 4,400 fresh scholarship slots, within the larger ceiling of 21,500 slots for 2021–22 to 2025–26. Thirty percent of these will be reserved for eligible SC girl students, though institutions may reallocate unused girl slots to boys if necessary.
Institutions must verify caste and income certificates, publicise the scheme in their admission documents, and monitor students’ academic progress. They are also expected to provide support systems such as bridge courses and mentoring for academically weaker students. Failure to comply with guidelines may result in de-notification, though current beneficiaries will continue receiving funds until they finish their studies.
New provisions mandate social audits, tighter monitoring by a steering committee, and removal of institutions that do not apply for three consecutive years or lack essential AISHE codes and KYC verification on the National Scholarship Portal. The guidelines also restrict benefits to a maximum of two siblings per family, and students who change institutions after selection will lose eligibility.
