SHREYAS Scheme for SC and OBC Students 

20 Sep 2023 SHREYAS Scheme for SC and OBC Students 

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs”, and the topic details “SHREYAS Scheme for SC and OBC Students”. This topic has relevance in the “Social Justice” section of the UPSC CSE exam.

For Prelims:

What is SHREYAS Scheme for SC and OBC Students?

What are its sub-schemes? 

For Mains:

GS2: Social Justice

Why in the news?

The SHREYAS (Scheme for Higher Education and Research Yielding Accelerated Growth of Students) scheme has been instrumental in empowering thousands of students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Since its inception in 2014, the scheme has allocated over 2300 crore rupees to support the education of SC and OBC students.

SHREYAS Scheme for SC and OBC Students Overview

• The SHREYAS scheme is an umbrella scheme that comprises four central sector sub-schemes:

• • Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

• • Top-Class Education for SCs

• • National Overseas Scheme for SCs

• • National Fellowship for SCs

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment scheme aims to provide educational and financial support to economically disadvantaged SC and OBC students to pursue higher education and achieve their academic and career goals.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SHREYAS scheme, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a member of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
• Have a total family income of less than Rs. 8 lakhs per annum
• Meet the specific eligibility criteria for each sub-scheme 

Benefits

• The benefits provided by the SHREYAS scheme vary depending on the sub-scheme. However, all sub-schemes provide financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition, living expenses, and other educational expenses.

Sub-Scheme Details

• Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

• • Objective: To provide free coaching to SC and OBC students for competitive and entrance examinations

• • Eligibility: Students who have passed the 12th class examination are preparing for competitive and entrance examinations such as JEE, NEET, UPSC Civil Services Examination, etc.

• • Benefits: Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges, as well as a monthly stipend to cover living expenses

• Top-Class Education for SCs

• • Objective: To provide full financial support to SC students to pursue higher education at top-ranked institutions in India

• • Eligibility: SC students who have secured admission to a top-ranked institution in India, such as an IIT, NIT, IIM, or AIIMS

• • Benefits: Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges, as well as an academic allowance to cover living expenses

• National Overseas Scheme for SCs

• • Objective: To provide financial assistance to SC students to pursue master’s and Ph.D. level courses abroad

• • Eligibility: SC students who have secured admission to a top-500 QS-ranked foreign university/institution

• • Benefits: Full tuition fee, maintenance and contingency allowance, visa fee, to and fro air passage, etc.

• National Fellowship for SC Students

• • Objective: To provide fellowships to SC students to pursue M.Phil./Ph.D. degrees in Indian universities/institutions/colleges

• • Eligibility: SC students who have qualified for the UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR Joint Test

• • Benefits: Fellowship amount, contingency allowance, and HRA

The SHREYAS scheme is a valuable resource for SC and OBC students pursuing higher education. The scheme provides much-needed financial and educational support to help students achieve their academic and career goals.

Sources: SHREYAS Scheme for SC and OBC Students

Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 20th Sep 2023

Q1. Which of the following options correctly describes the SHREYAS Scheme? 

1. A scheme to provide quality residential education for meritorious Scheduled Castes (SC) students.
2. A scheme to provide quality residential education for meritorious Scheduled Tribes (ST) students.
3. A scheme to provide educational and financial support to economically disadvantaged SC and OBC.
4. A scheme to develop more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools managed by Central Government/State/UT Government/local bodies. 

Answer: (c) 

Q2. Consider the following:

• Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

• National Overseas Scheme for SCs

• Residential Schools for SC and OBCs 

• Scholarship Scheme for OBCs

How many of the above given are sub schemes of SHREYAS scheme?

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) Only three 

(d) All Four 

Answer: (b)

Q3. Enumerate and evaluate the various government initiatives the Government of India took to improve education in SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities. 

Gaurav N