Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar stated that the Government is committed to inclusive development and social justice through targeted welfare initiatives

In FY 2025–26, ₹7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to over 75 lakh SC beneficiaries, with notable increases across key scholarship schemes. Finance of ₹223 Crore in FY 2025–26 Posted On: 24 APR 2026 10:26AM by PIB Delhi The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment oversees the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, victims of alcoholism and substance abuse, transgender persons, persons engaged in begging, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), manual scavengers, sanitation workers (including waste pickers), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, has said that the Government remains committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiatives. The Department implements a range of schemes focused on the educational empowerment of marginalised students belonging to Scheduled Castes. During the financial year 2025&ndash;26, an amount of ₹7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to more than 75 lakh SC beneficiaries. Expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown a consistent positive growth with an upward trend, with a 21% increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs & Others, an 11.23% increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs, an increase of 13.5% under Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students and a 16% increase under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) Scheme for SCs as compared to the financial year 2024&ndash;25. *** SIRAJ/AJ (Release ID: 2255152) Visitor Counter : 654 Read this release in: Urdu , Marathi , हिन्दी , Manipuri , Bengali , Bengali-TR , Gujarati , Telugu Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar stated that the Government is committed to inclusive development and social justice through targeted welfare initiatives In FY 2025–26, ₹7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to over 75 lakh SC beneficiaries, with notable increases across key scholarship schemes. Finance of ₹223 Crore in FY 2025–26 Posted On: 24 APR 2026 10:26AM by PIB Delhi The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment oversees the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, victims of alcoholism and substance abuse, transgender persons, persons engaged in begging, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), manual scavengers, sanitation workers (including waste pickers), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, has said that the Government remains committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiatives. The Department implements a range of schemes focused on the educational empowerment of marginalised students belonging to Scheduled Castes. During the financial year 2025&ndash;26, an amount of ₹7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to more than 75 lakh SC beneficiaries. Expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown a consistent positive growth with an upward trend, with a 21% increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs & Others, an 11.23% increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs, an increase of 13.5% under Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students and a 16% increase under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) Scheme for SCs as compared to the financial year 2024&ndash;25. *** SIRAJ/AJ (Release ID: 2255152) In FY 2025–26, ₹7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to over 75 lakh SC beneficiaries, with notable increases across key scholarship schemes. Finance of ₹223 Crore in FY 2025–26" /> <span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The Department of Social Justice &amp; Empowerment oversees the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, victims of alcoholism and substance abuse, transgender persons, persons engaged in begging, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), manual scavengers, sanitation workers (including waste pickers), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Union Minister for Social Justice &amp; Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, has said that the Government remains committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiatives.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The Department implements a range of schemes focused on the educational empowerment of marginalised students belonging to Scheduled Castes. During the financial year 2025&ndash;26, an amount of ₹7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to more than 75 lakh SC beneficiaries.<br /> <br /> Expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown a consistent positive growth with an upward trend, with a 21% increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs &amp; Others, an 11.23% increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs, an increase of 13.5% under Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students and a 16% increase under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) Scheme for SCs as compared to the financial year 2024&ndash;25.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:center"><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">***</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">SIRAJ/AJ</span></span></strong></p> " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); 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