In a landmark move for social equity, India’s Central Government has transferred ₹7,981.47 crore to over 75 lakh Scheduled Caste beneficiaries during FY 2025-26. The announcement, made public on Friday, highlights the escalating focus on education as a tool for empowerment among SC communities.
Administered by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, these funds fuel schemes designed to uplift educationally disadvantaged SC students. From pre-matric to postgraduate levels, the allocations prioritize access, retention, and excellence in schooling.
Budgetary hikes paint an optimistic picture: Pre-Matric Scholarships for SC students climbed 21%, Post-Matric by 11.23%, and higher education scholarships by 13.5%. Meanwhile, the Shreshtha residential schooling program for high-achieving SC students from focus districts received a 16% uplift over FY25 figures.
Economic inclusion efforts extended to sanitation workers via NSKFDC, which loaned ₹223.47 crore to 29,448 people in FY25-26—97% women. Average loans hit ₹77,000, up 16.67% year-over-year. Boasting ₹785 crore authorized capital and ₹720 crore paid-up, the corporation has loaned ₹3,340.67 crore total, aiding 6.08 lakh+ lives since 1997.
NSKFDC’s mandate centers on socio-economic advancement for safai workers, ragpickers, and manual scavengers through low-interest financing and skill-building aids.
This disbursement is part of the ministry’s wider mandate, monitoring laws and schemes for OBCs, elders, addicts, transgenders, beggars, DNTs, and EWS. As India strides towards Viksit Bharat, such targeted interventions promise to level the playing field, turning policy into tangible progress for the most vulnerable.
