The Central government has launched a scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students pursuing studies beyond Class 12. The Top Class Scholarship for SC Students 2025-26 aims to promote quality education among students from the reserved category. The scheme operates in institutions notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the financial year 2024-25 to 2025-26. Once granted, the scholarship continues until course completion if the student maintains satisfactory performance. Eligible students must belong to families with total annual income up to ₹8 lakh from all sources. Only first-year students securing admission in full-time prescribed courses at notified institutions qualify. The scheme reserves 30% of allotted slots for eligible SC girl students based on their merit. If sufficient girl candidates are unavailable, these slots transfer to boy students. The scholarship is available in IIMs, IITs, AIIMs, NITs, and other institutions meeting specific accreditation criteria.
Eligibility Criteria and Key Conditions
SC students with total annual family income up to ₹8 lakh from all sources are eligible. Self-employed parents or guardians must provide an income certificate issued by a revenue officer not below Tehsildar rank. The scholarship applies only to first-year students admitted to full-time prescribed courses in notified institutions. Students in second, third, or fourth year cannot apply. A maximum of two siblings per family can receive this benefit. The scheme terminates if a student fails to get promoted but resumes automatically upon promotion. Institutions must select students based on inter-se merit when eligible applicants exceed available slots. Girl students receive 30% reservation in allotted slots based on merit, excluding those selected through the overall merit list.
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