From the year 2021-22, it has been decided to provide scholarships to students only from classes 9 and 10 under the Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme for OBCs. Under the scheme of Pre-Matric scholarships to Scheduled Castes (SC) and others, Pre-Matric scholarships are being provided only to class 9 and 10 students since the scheme’s launch in 2012-13.
For the Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC, with effect from 2022-23, the Central Share is directly released to the Bank Account of beneficiaries through DBT mode after the States release their share of the amount to the students. Central share for 2022-23 under pre-matric scholarship for SC will be released only after receiving the verified data from the respective State Govt./UTs. The pre-Matric OBC Scheme is being implemented through the respective State Governments/ UTs. Every financial year, funds are allocated to all States/UTs from the overall annual outlay of the Scheme.
Class I to VIII enrolment in Government schools has increased in the last 3 (Three) years by about 1 () crore. Further, to incentivize children from these communities to attend school, the Government is providing free education, free uniform, free meal, etc. under different programs/ schemes like Samagrha Shiksha Abhiyan, PM Poshan, etc.
Earlier the students from Economically Weaker sections were not provided Pre-Matric scholarships but in the revised scheme they are also being considered for Pre-Matric scholarships for classes IX and X.
Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Government is committed to providing free and compulsory elementary education (Classes I to VIII) to every child. Under the centrally sponsored scheme- Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for undertaking various activities for the universalization of education, including opening/strengthening of new schools up to senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, setting up and running of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, provision of free uniforms, free textbooks to the eligible students at the elementary level, transport allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives. Further, special training for age-appropriate admission of school children and residential as well as non-residential training for older children, seasonal hostels / residential camps, and special training centers at worksites, are also supported to bring out-of-school children to the formal schooling system. There is also an increase in the enrolment of students in class I to VIII in the last 3 (Three) years by about 1 (One) crore.
From the year 2022-23, the pre-matric scholarship scheme is available for students only in Classes 9 and 10.