Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has criticised the central government for discontinuing the pre-matric scholarship for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students from classes 1 to 8.
He expressed his concerns on social media, questioning the rationale behind depriving underprivileged students of financial aid.
Kharge’s statement is a strong political accusation against the government, highlighting concerns about scholarships for SC, ST, OBC, and minority youth. If true, such a move could significantly impact educational opportunities for students from marginalised communities, exacerbating inequalities.
"Your government has taken away the scholarships of the SC, ST, OBC and minority youth of the country. These shameful government statistics show that the Modi government has not only made massive cuts in the number of beneficiaries across all scholarships, but has also spent 25% less funds on average year after year," Kharge wrote on X.
"Unless the students from weaker sections of the country get opportunities and their skills are encouraged, how will we be able to create jobs for the youth of our country?" Kharge asked.
The Education Budget 2025 has significantly reduced funding for scholarships for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and minority students. The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students faced a 99.9% cut, dropping to just ₹2 lakh from ₹250 crore, reported earlier this month.
According to report, the pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for minorities were also cut by 40% and 63.8%, respectively. However, some OBC scholarships saw increased allocations.
The report said National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students faced a drastic cut, while pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for minorities were also heavily reduced. The budget cuts have sparked criticism over their impact on marginalised communities' access to education.
The Modi government’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ slogan initially emphasised inclusive development, particularly for minority communities.
However, recent budget cuts to scholarship programs for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students have raised concerns about the government’s commitment to this vision.
Critics argue that reducing financial support could hinder efforts to bring marginalised communities into the national mainstream. Meanwhile, the government maintains that resources are being reallocated to ensure better efficiency.
The recent budget cuts to scholarships for minority and marginalised communities have led to criticism that the government is not prioritising their education and development. With nearly 200 million Muslims in India, many argue that these reductions disproportionately impact their access to higher education.
Critics link these policies to the Hindutva ideology of the ruling party, which has historically been accused of viewing Muslims, Christians, and communists as adversaries. However, the government maintains that its policies focus on merit-based and inclusive development.
The government's decision to revise the pre-matric scholarship scheme means that it now covers only students from classes 9 and 10. The rationale provided is that education for classes 1 to 8 is already free under the Right to Education Act, and therefore, additional financial assistance is unnecessary.
It's important to note that while the Pre-Matric Scholarship for younger students has been discontinued, other scholarship programmes for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students pursuing higher education remain operational. For instance, the National Overseas Scholarship continues to support students from these communities in obtaining higher education abroad.
This policy change has sparked debate, with critics arguing that students from marginalised communities still face financial challenges that the scholarship previously helped mitigate. Supporters of the decision contend that resources can be better allocated to higher education levels where schooling isn't free.
