The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment gave out revised guidelines for the Top Class Scholarship Scheme 2024 to 2025 for the SC students to increase the funding options and also put more strict rules for the control of the institutions by the Ministry for this year’s academic session. Through the cover of tuition and a maintenance grant at the best Indian institutes, this measure constitutes the SC students' access to the best tier graduate education in India.
The tuition and a non-refundable fee limited to INR 2 lakh per year in private colleges will be given to students directly through the direct benefit transfer. First-year beneficiaries will receive INR 86,000 as an academic allowance for the purchase of essentials like accommodation, textbooks and electronic devices, which will be INR 41,000 from next year. There will be no simultaneous central or state scholarships.
Top Class Scholarship Scheme 2024-25: Eligibility Criteria
The SC candidates with a family income of INR 8 lakh per annum and who are admitted to IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NITs, National Law Universities, NIFT, NID, IHMs and colleges that meet the criteria are eligible for the scheme. The new scholarships will be provided only for first-year students, and renewals depend on satisfactory progress in the studies until the degree is completed.
Quota and Duties of Institutions for Top Class Scholarship Scheme 2024-25
The number of the newly granted scholarships for the academic year 2024-25 is 4,400, which is a part of the 21,500 slots for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, out of which 30% will be used for the girls.
As a part of the duties, the colleges are expected to verify documents, publicise the scheme, monitor the progress, and if there are any students who are struggling, they should try to help them by providing them with remedial classes or by giving them guidance and counselling.
The schools will have social audits along with the meetings of the management committee for the review of the penalties in case of repeated offences, like missing AISHE codes or portal KYC. There will be no benefits for more than two siblings per family, and a change of course will result in the forfeiture of claims.
