The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has informed a parliamentary committee that major reforms are being planned for the Post‑Matric Scholarship (PMS) for students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. These changes include raising the annual family income ceiling and placing a cap on the tuition and course fees covered under the scholarship, with implementation slated from 2026‑27.
PMS Scheme to Expand Income Eligibility and Fee Support
Under the existing framework, the PMS Scheme for SC students provides financial assistance — covering tuition fees, academic allowance, and maintenance allowance — to students whose family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. The scholarship is administered through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and state portals. The government has proposed increasing the income eligibility limit to Rs 4.5 lakh, a significant rise intended to include more economically disadvantaged SC families in the support net. In addition, the plan includes the introduction of a cap on tuition and course fees that the scholarship will reimburse, a revision aimed at controlling costs and making the scheme more sustainable. Other proposed modifications include raising the disability allowance, revising funding patterns for states and Union Territories, and introducing dedicated funds for information, education and communication (IEC) activities to increase awareness about the scheme.
Committee Raises Concerns on Implementation and Funding
During the review by the parliamentary standing committee on social justice and empowerment, headed by a senior MP, lawmakers expressed concerns about persistent issues with fund utilisation and beneficiary reach. Reports presented in Parliament indicate that scholarship expenditures amounted to Rs 5,476.22 crore in 2023‑24, Rs 5,581.52 crore in 2024‑25, and about Rs 4,934.67 crore in 2025‑26 up to March 24, 2026. Correspondingly, the number of beneficiaries fell from 48.04 lakh in 2024‑25 to 36.07 lakh in 2025‑26. The panel noted that the scheme’s target of 76.55 lakh beneficiaries was far from being met, and recommended that the ministry undertake stronger publicity and feedback mechanisms to improve reach and uptake. It also pointed out that while targets may not be fixed from 2026‑27 onwards, ensuring an adequately enhanced annual budget is crucial if scholarships are to be offered to all eligible students. The proposed budget for 2026‑27 stands at Rs 120 crore, which the committee suggested may be insufficient without further enhancement.
Additional Proposed Reforms and Future Directions
Reforms under discussion also touch on complementary support schemes, such as free coaching slots and fellowship enhancements. For example, the scheme for free coaching relevant to SC students is also under evaluation, although the panel noted that changes have not been recommended for fellowship numbers yet, even as demand grows. The committee also raised questions about related schemes like the National Overseas Scholarship, particularly regarding the increase in slots despite historical challenges in utilisation.