Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment press release · 29 April 2026 · pibtracker filter

The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment increased spending to ₹2042.08 crore in FY 2025–26, with significant growth across scholarship and “Top Class Education” schemes for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.

PRID2256689 MinistryMinistry of Social Justice & Empowerment Released29 April 2026 Reading7 min

According to Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, the initiatives aim to expand access to quality education and improve academic progression for socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. Posted On: 29 APR 2026 6:36PM by PIB Delhi As part of its continuing efforts towards educational empowerment, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing a range of schemes for students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar has said these interventions seek to improve access to quality education and support academic progression among students from these communities. During the financial year 2025-2026, an amount of Rs. 2042.08 crore has been disbursed under these initiatives, he stated. The expenditure under OBC welfare schemes has registered a substantial increase of 36.96 per cent in financial year 2025-26 over the financial year 2024-25. This reflects the sustained emphasis being placed on educational assistance and targeted welfare delivery for eligible beneficiaries. Scheme-wise, expenditure has increased by 59.13 per cent under the Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; 27.18 per cent under the Post-Matric Scholarship; 154 per cent under Top Class Education in Schools for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; and 105.80 per cent under Top Class Education in Colleges for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs, as compared to FY 2024-25. The increase in expenditure under these schemes reflects the Government of India’s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students from socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. The Department remains focused on strengthening delivery, improving outreach and ensuring that the intended benefits reach eligible students in a timely and effective manner. *** SIRAJ/ (Release ID: 2256689) Visitor Counter : 467 Read this release in: Telugu , Urdu , हिन्दी , Manipuri Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment increased spending to ₹2042.08 crore in FY 2025–26, with significant growth across scholarship and “Top Class Education” schemes for OBC, EBC, and DNT students. According to Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, the initiatives aim to expand access to quality education and improve academic progression for socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. Posted On: 29 APR 2026 6:36PM by PIB Delhi As part of its continuing efforts towards educational empowerment, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing a range of schemes for students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar has said these interventions seek to improve access to quality education and support academic progression among students from these communities. During the financial year 2025-2026, an amount of Rs. 2042.08 crore has been disbursed under these initiatives, he stated. The expenditure under OBC welfare schemes has registered a substantial increase of 36.96 per cent in financial year 2025-26 over the financial year 2024-25. This reflects the sustained emphasis being placed on educational assistance and targeted welfare delivery for eligible beneficiaries. Scheme-wise, expenditure has increased by 59.13 per cent under the Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; 27.18 per cent under the Post-Matric Scholarship; 154 per cent under Top Class Education in Schools for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; and 105.80 per cent under Top Class Education in Colleges for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs, as compared to FY 2024-25. The increase in expenditure under these schemes reflects the Government of India’s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students from socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. The Department remains focused on strengthening delivery, improving outreach and ensuring that the intended benefits reach eligible students in a timely and effective manner. *** SIRAJ/ (Release ID: 2256689) According to Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, the initiatives aim to expand access to quality education and improve academic progression for socially and educationally disadvantaged communities." /> As part of its continuing efforts towards educational empowerment, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing a range of schemes for students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar has said these interventions seek to improve access to quality education and support academic progression among students from these communities. During the financial year 2025-2026, an amount of Rs. 2042.08 crore has been disbursed under these initiatives, he stated. The expenditure under OBC welfare schemes has registered a substantial increase of 36.96 per cent in financial year 2025-26 over the financial year 2024-25. This reflects the sustained emphasis being placed on educational assistance and targeted welfare delivery for eligible beneficiaries. Scheme-wise, expenditure has increased by 59.13 per cent under the Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; 27.18 per cent under the Post-Matric Scholarship; 154 per cent under Top Class Education in Schools for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs; and 105.80 per cent under Top Class Education in Colleges for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs, as compared to FY 2024-25. The increase in expenditure under these schemes reflects the Government of India’s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students from socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. The Department remains focused on strengthening delivery, improving outreach and ensuring that the intended benefits reach eligible students in a timely and effective manner. *** SIRAJ/              " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "none"; } //function HandleAudio() { // if (isPlaying == true) { // //Playing already Pause it // pauseAudio(); // } else { // //Play the music // playAudio(); // } //} var synth = window.speechSynthesis; function CleanHtml(html) { html = html.replace(/ /gi, ''); return html; } function stripHtml(html) { let tmp = document.createElement("DIV"); 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font-weight: 600 !important; } } /* === Film Roll Badge Styling(IFFI2025 countdown) === */ .film-roll-badge { position: absolute; top:82%; right: 20px; width: 230px; height: 70px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 18px, #6e2b8b 18px, #6e2b8b 36px ); border-top: 8px solid #9a2375; border-bottom: 8px solid #9a2375; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); animation: moveFilm 8s linear infinite; z-index: 10; } /* film sprocket holes */ .film-roll-badge::before, .film-roll-badge::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 10px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 10px, #fff 10px, #fff 20px ); left: 0; z-index: 2; } .film-roll-badge::before { top: -4px; } .film-roll-badge::after { bottom: -4px; } .film-roll-inner { position: relative; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; animation: flicker 2s infinite ease-in-out; } .countdown-text { font-size: 1.3rem; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; text-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4), 0 0 10px #000; white-space: nowrap; } /* === Animations === */ @keyframes moveFilm { 0% { background-position: 0 0; } 100% { background-position: 120px 0; } } @keyframes flicker { 0%, 100% { opacity: 1; } 50% { opacity: 0.9; } 25% { opacity: 0.95; } 75% { opacity: 0.85; } } /* === Responsive Adjustments === */ @media (max-width: 1500px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 68%; right: 18px; /* width: 220px; */ height: 65px; font-size: 0.85rem; } .press-section { margin-top: 35px; } } @media (max-width: 992px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 52%; right: 10px; width: 200px; height: 60px; } } @media (max-width: 768px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 56%; right: 10px; width: 124px; height: 55px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.9rem; } } @media (max-width: 576px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 59%; right: 5px; /* width: 160px; */ height: 50px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.85rem; } } const festivalStart = new Date("2025-11-20T00:00:00").getTime(); const festivalEnd = new Date("2025-11-28T23:59:59").getTime(); const countdownElement = document.getElementById("countdown"); const interval = setInterval(() => { const now = new Date().getTime(); // BEFORE FESTIVAL — show days + hours left if (now = festivalStart && now el.style.width = "350px"); clearInterval(interval); } }, 1000); //

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The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment increased spending to ₹2042.08 crore in FY 2025–26, with significant growth across scholarship and “Top Class Education” schemes for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.

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