SHREYAS Scheme 

Syllabus: GS2/Education

In News

• The government shared the progress made under the SHREYAS Scheme. 

About

• It is an umbrella scheme which comprises 4 central sector sub-schemes namely “Top Class Education for SCs”, “Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs”, “National Overseas Scheme for SCs” and “National Fellowship for SCs”. 
• From 2014-15 till 2022-23 a total of 1628.89 crore rupees have been released to benefit 21326 beneficiaries.

Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

• Objective: To provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them appear in competitive and entrance examinations. 
• Income Ceiling: Total family income is 8 lakhs per annum. 
• The ratio of SC: OBC students is 70:30 and 30% slots are reserved for females in each category.
  • In no case, a less than 50% SC students shall be permitted.

Top-Class Education for SCs

• Aim: Recognizing and promoting quality education amongst students belonging to SCs, by providing full financial support. 
• The Scheme will cover SC students for pursuing studies beyond 12th class. 
• The scholarship, once awarded, will continue till the completion of the course, subject to satisfactory performance of the student. 
• Income Ceiling: Total family income is 8 lakhs per annum. 
• Under the scheme:
  • full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (there will be a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum per student for private sector institutions),
  • Academic allowance of Rs. 86,000 in the first year of study and Rs. 41,000 in every subsequent year, to take care of living and other expenses is provided.

National Overseas Scheme for SCs

• Objective: Financial assistance is provided to the selected students from SCs; De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes; landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisan categories, for pursuing masters and Ph.D. level courses abroad. 
• Eligibility: Total family income including the candidate is less than Rs. 8 lakhs per annum, who have more than 60% marks in the qualifying examination, is below 35 years of age and secured admission in top 500 QS ranking foreign Institutes/ Universities. 
• Under the scheme, total tuition fee, maintenance and contingency allowance, visa fee, to and fro air passage etc. are provided to the awardees.

National Fellowship for SC Students

• Objective: Fellowship is provided to Scheduled Castes students for pursuing higher education leading to M.Phil/ Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences in Indian Universities/Institutions/ Colleges recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Eligibility: Qualified the National Eligibility Test- Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC and Junior Research Fellows for Science stream qualifying UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) Joint Test.

Source: PIB