The Bihar government has approved a new education support policy under which it will pay the full tuition and associated fees for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students enrolled in top central and state‑run institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP). This announcement was made by the SC and ST Welfare Department Minister Lakhendra Kumar Roshan during a press briefing, with approval from the cabinet led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Under the revised Post‑Matric Scholarship Scheme, the state will now cover 100 per cent of fees with no upper limit, ensuring SC/ST students pursuing higher education in these institutions do not face financial barriers. Previously, the government provided annual scholarship amounts ranging from INR 70,000 to INR 90,000 for students in similar institutions.
Expanded Scholarship Support for Other Courses
In addition to fee reimbursement for premier institutions, the state has increased financial assistance for SC/ST students in other educational pathways:
- ITI students: Up to INR 7,500 per year (previously INR 5,000)
- Diploma/Polytechnic and similar courses: Up to INR 15,000 per year (previously INR 10,000)
- Other professional courses: Up to INR 25,000 per year (previously INR 15,000)
This expanded support covers tuition and all related academic fees, making vocational and professional training more accessible for students from marginalized communities.
Aims and Broader Welfare Goals
Officials have described this initiative as part of a larger effort to remove economic hurdles and support aspirational students from SC and ST backgrounds. The decision is expected to improve access to quality higher education for these communities and strengthen educational equity in the state. This policy aligns with recent state efforts to increase pre‑matric scholarship amounts for millions of young learners and enhance hostel and scholarship infrastructure, further supporting educational participation across Bihar.