NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR SCHEDULED CASTES

The data in respect of beneficiaries and expenditure during the last three years, as given below, under the Scheme of National Fellowship for scheduled caste students reveals that the number of beneficiaries is increasing every year except a slight decrease in the year 2024-25 whereas the expenditure is continuously increasing. Financial Year Beneficiaries Expenditure (Rs in crore) 2022-23 3608 134.07 2023-24 4166 199.82 2024-25 4143 209.50 To make this Scheme more attractive, the Government has undertaken several measures such as implementation of the Scheme through a dedicated online Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal, disbursement of fellowships through Direct Benefit Transfer, streamlining of verification process and dissemination of information through the websites and outreach activities to ensure wider awareness and coverage among eligible students by the Department, by the implementing organization the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation and also by the University Grants Commission. This information is given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale , in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.