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Cumulative expenditure under the four components of SHREYAS from 2014-15 to 2025-26 stands at about Rs 3,509.39 crore.
The cumulative beneficiary count over the same period is 1,18,248 SC and OBC students.
The four components are Free Coaching, Top Class Education for SCs, the National Overseas Scheme and the National Fellowship for SC Students.
The National Fellowship for SC Students is the largest component, at Rs 2,199.28 crore and 59,039 beneficiaries.
Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar described the scheme as a continuum from exam preparation to advanced research.
Give economically disadvantaged SC and OBC candidates good-quality coaching for competitive and entrance examinations.
Key: Aims at admission to reputed technical and professional institutions and at jobs in the public and private sectors; Rs 145.10 crore and 23,208 beneficiaries since 2014-15.
Support meritorious Scheduled Caste students studying in premier institutions in India.
Key: Meets the costs of quality higher education; the fastest-growing component, reaching Rs 117.19 crore for 4,742 students in 2025-26.
Enable Scheduled Caste students to pursue higher studies at reputed institutions abroad.
Key: 764 students sent abroad since 2014-15 at a cost of Rs 461.57 crore; the annual number peaked at 114 in 2023-24.
Fund Scheduled Caste scholars pursuing research degrees and academic careers.
Key: The largest component - Rs 2,199.28 crore and 59,039 scholars since 2014-15 - supporting careers in teaching, research and knowledge-based fields.
Scholarship support for Other Backward Class, Economically Backward Class and De-notified Tribe students.
Key: Launched in 2021-22 by the same ministry for families with annual income up to Rs 2.50 lakh; it subsumed the Dr Ambedkar post-matric scholarship for EBCs and the pre-matric and post-matric schemes for DNTs.
Implements SHREYAS and PM-YASASVI as central sector schemes for SCs, OBCs, EBCs and De-notified Tribes
Examines complaints and welfare measures relating to socially and educationally backward classes; a constitutional body since the 102nd Amendment
Inserted Articles 338B, 342A and 366(26C); it gave the National Commission for Backward Classes constitutional status and repealed the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
Constitutes the National Commission for Backward Classes and empowers it to investigate and monitor safeguards for socially and educationally backward classes.
A Directive Principle requiring the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections - the basis on which schemes of this kind rest.
Permit special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, SCs and STs, including in admission to educational institutions.
GS Paper 2 > Social Justice > Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
General Awareness > Government Schemes and Indian Polity
A scheme fully funded and implemented by the Union Government, as all four SHREYAS components are - distinct from a centrally sponsored scheme, where states share the cost.
The category defined by Article 366(26C), inserted by the 102nd Amendment, over which the NCBC exercises its mandate.
The SHREYAS component that funds Scheduled Caste students for higher studies abroad; 764 students since 2014-15.