The Gujarat government has given the green light to an Rs 18 crore scholarship program aimed at providing Post Matric Scholarship benefits to Scheduled Caste male students from middle-income families. This move expands the eligibility criteria, enabling around 3,000 more students to receive financial aid for the academic year 2026–27. The scheme, which was already in place for Scheduled Caste female students, has now been extended to include male students as well.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Pradyuman Vaja, the decision to approve the scheme was made. The revised scheme raises the annual family income limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs six lakh, allowing students from households within this income range to access state-supported educational assistance for the first time in this category.
Officials highlighted that the previous framework restricted eligibility for the centrally sponsored Post Matric Scholarship scheme to Scheduled Caste students from families earning up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually. With the updated provision, students from families with incomes ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs six lakh will now be covered through state funding, addressing a gap in support for lower-middle-income groups.
The scholarship scheme will offer an academic allowance and reimburse approved non-refundable fees. All financial aid will be directly transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism to ensure transparency and minimize disbursement delays. Eligibility requirements mandate that students pursuing diploma courses after Class 10 or Class 12 must have secured a minimum of 50 per cent marks in their qualifying exams.
For undergraduate programs, a minimum of 50 per cent marks in Class 12 is a prerequisite. Additionally, students continuing their studies at the degree or diploma level must maintain a minimum of 50 per cent marks to remain eligible for the scholarship. The implementation of the scheme will adhere to the guidelines of the centrally sponsored Post Matric Scholarship program, with the entire process, from application submission to approval, set to take place online.
Monitoring of the scheme’s progress will be conducted through the DBT portal and the Chief Minister’s Dashboard to ensure compliance and track advancements. Any necessary equipment or kits will be procured exclusively through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). The scheme, capped at 3,000 beneficiaries and operating within the allocated budget, will be overseen by the Director of Scheduled Caste Welfare. To enhance accountability, the department has incorporated provisions for periodic social audits and third-party verification, with reports to be submitted to the state government for evaluation.
