Revision of Parental Income Limits for Scholarships

The Union government is contemplating revising the parental income thresholds for post- and pre-matric scholarships offered to marginalized castes and tribes for the financial cycle FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.

Current and Proposed Income Limits

• Presently, candidates must have a parental annual income below ₹2.5 lakh to qualify.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs proposes raising this limit to ₹4.5 lakh for Scheduled Tribes (ST) scholarships.
• The Social Justice Ministry is also deliberating on revising limits for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Castes (OBCs), and Denotified Tribes (DNTs).

Scholarships Overview

• Post- and Pre-Matric Scholarships: Central sponsored schemes funded by the Union and State governments at a 60:40 ratio, except in Northeast States (90:10).
• Eligibility: Indian nationals pursuing post-matric education (after 10th grade) and pre-matric education (grades IX and X). SC pre-matric scholarships cover grades 1-10 for those with parents in "unclean or hazardous" jobs.

Parliamentary Committee Recommendations

• Committees have recommended doubling the income limit for OBC scholarships.
• They have suggested expanding pre-matric scholarships for OBCs to start from Class V onwards.
• Emphasized the need for revising parental income limits for ST scholarships.

The panels have highlighted that the low parental income limit restricts access for many needy families and have advocated for increasing these limits to widen scholarship coverage.