Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC Students (Classes IX & X)
Centrally sponsored academic scholarship providing ₹3,500 to ₹7,000 annual financial support to Scheduled Caste students in Class IX and X.
₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown
📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach
₹500 Crore (Union Budget allocation for Pre-Matric SC Scholarships)
Official Budget Document ↗25+ Lakh SC students assisted annually
As of: 2024-03-31PIB / Official Citation ↗Verified Eligibility Criteria
Student must belong to Scheduled Caste (SC). Must be a regular, full-time student studying in Class IX or X in a Government school or school recognized by Government or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education. Total family annual income from all sources must not exceed ₹2,50,000. Scholarship is available for one class only once (repeating the class is not supported).
Required Documents Checklist
- ✓SC Caste Certificate issued by competent revenue authorityMandatory
Mandatory community verification.
- ✓Income Certificate (< ₹2.50 Lakh per annum)Mandatory
Issued by Tehsildar or competent state revenue authority.
- ✓Aadhaar Card of the StudentMandatory
Mandatory for OTR and DBT seeding.
- ✓Previous Class Marksheet (Class 8 or 9 pass)Mandatory
Proof of academic progress.
- ✓Aadhaar-seeded Bank Account Passbook with IFSCMandatory
For scholarship credit via PFMS.
How to Apply
Official Government Application Portal
You will be redirected to the secure official portal: scholarships.gov.in
Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)
Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.
What is the family income ceiling for the Pre-Matric SC Scholarship?
The total annual family income of the parents/guardians from all sources must not exceed ₹2,50,000 per annum.
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗Can a student repeating Class 9 receive the scholarship again?
No. The scholarship is awarded for studying in a particular class only once. If a student fails or repeats the class, the scholarship is discontinued for that academic year.
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗What is the scholarship rate for day scholars versus hostellers?
Day scholars receive ₹3,500 per annum, while hostellers receive ₹7,000 per annum.
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings
Family annual income exceeding ₹2.50 lakh; student studying in class other than IX or X; applicant already availing another central/state scholarship; fake caste documentation.
Editorial Verification & Change Log
| Date | Field | Description / Update | Source Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-16 | initial_verification | Baseline verification of revised Pre-Matric SC scholarship guidelines, ₹2.50 Lakh income ceiling, and NSP OTR protocols. | Official Source ↗ |
Application Window & Deadlines
Annual academic window: typically July through November on NSP
Deadline: 2026-11-30
Related Welfare Programs
Skill certification and vocational training scheme under MSDE offering free industry-relevant job-role training, NSQF certification, and placement support.
National school nutrition programme providing free nutritious hot cooked meals to primary and upper-primary children in government and aided schools.
Premier higher education scholarship covering 100% compulsory non-refundable fees and monthly maintenance allowances for SC students pursuing post-secondary degrees.
Official Helpline & Nodal Offices
Scholarship Division, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110001
Helpline: 0120-6619540 (NSP Helpdesk) / 1800-11-2001
Jurisdiction: National (All-India)Notice a Discrepancy?
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Verification Metadata
Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-09-16 against official government documentation.
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