Srinagar, Apr 06 (KNO): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that funds under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SC) are being disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with release of central share linked to data submission by States and Union Territories on the National Scholarship Portal.
As per official figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a decline in central assistance and the number of beneficiaries under the SC Post-Matric Scholarship scheme over the past three financial years. The UT received ₹5.43 crore in 2022-23, benefiting 10,097 students, ₹4.68 crore in 2023-24, benefiting 7,370 students, and ₹4.09 crore in 2024-25, benefiting 6,567 students.
Officials said that the scheme is demand-driven and open-ended, covering eligible students across recognised institutions, with funds shared between the Centre and States/UTs in a 60:40 ratio.
They added that release of funds depends on the timely submission of utilisation data by States and UTs, while disbursement is made directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through DBT mode.
Meanwhile, under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes (ST), implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, J&K received ₹6.84 crore in 2022-23, benefiting 10,430 students. No funds were released in 2023-24, while ₹9.95 crore were released in 2024-25, benefiting 15,309 students.
The government said that several steps have been taken to streamline the process, including onboarding of schemes on the National Scholarship Portal, periodic review meetings and workshops with States and UTs—(KNO)