Post Matric Scholarship Scheme For The Students Belonging To Scheduled Tribe For Studies In India

What is the Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students?

Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe students is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. It helps students from Scheduled Tribes (ST) meet the cost of education beyond Class 10, from Class 11 up to research and professional degrees, so that poverty does not force a capable ST student to drop out after matriculation.

According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the scheme reimburses the compulsory, non-refundable fees charged by recognised institutions and pays a monthly maintenance allowance that varies by course group and by whether the student stays in a hostel or lives at home. Broadly, the maintenance ranges from about Rs 230 to Rs 1,200 per month, with hostellers receiving more than day scholars. Some course groups also carry extra allowances, such as study-tour, thesis-typing and book grants.

The scheme is delivered through the states and union territories and paid by direct benefit transfer into the student's own bank account.

Who is eligible for the Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students?

You can apply if:

• You belong to a notified Scheduled Tribe of the state or union territory.
• You have passed Class 10 (matriculation) and are studying a recognised post-matriculation course in India.
• Your family's annual income from all sources is within the prescribed ceiling, currently Rs 2.5 lakh per year, subject to the year's notification.
• You are studying in a recognised institution, as a day scholar or hosteller.

You cannot apply if:

• You do not belong to a Scheduled Tribe, or cannot produce a valid ST certificate.
• Your family income exceeds the prescribed ceiling.
• You are still in or below Class 10 — the scheme is only for post-matriculation study.
• You are already receiving another scholarship for the same purpose that the rules do not allow to be combined with this one.

The income ceiling and the caste certificate are the two conditions applicants most often need to get right, and both are verified before the scholarship is sanctioned.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Post Matric Scholarship for ST students

1. Check that your course, category and family income meet the scheme's conditions for the current year.
2. Go to the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in), or your state's dedicated scholarship portal if it runs its own, and register.
3. Fill the application form and upload your ST certificate, income certificate, Class 10 certificate, previous marksheet, admission or fee proof and bank details.
4. Submit the application through your institution. The college or school verifies your details online before it goes to the department.
5. Note your application ID and track the status through the portal. On sanction, the scholarship is credited by direct benefit transfer.

Applying is free; no agent or middleman can charge you a fee to submit or "get approved" a National Scholarship Portal application.

How much benefit does the scheme provide?

The scheme has two main parts, per the Ministry of Tribal Affairs:

• Fee reimbursement. The compulsory, non-refundable fees charged by the recognised institution.
• Maintenance allowance, a monthly amount that depends on the course group and hostel status, broadly from about Rs 230 to Rs 1,200 per month, with hostellers getting more than day scholars.

Some course groups additionally carry allowances such as study-tour charges, thesis-typing or printing charges and a book grant. The precise slab for each course group is set out in the scheme guidelines, and applicants should confirm the current figures in the notification for their state and academic year, as rates and the income ceiling are revised from time to time.

Help and where to check details

For the scheme's design and rates, the authoritative source is the Ministry of Tribal Affairs scholarship page (tribal.nic.in/ScholarshiP.aspx). For the application itself, use the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) or your state portal. The National Scholarship Portal publishes a support helpline, 0120-6619540, for problems with online applications. Students should verify the current income ceiling, maintenance slabs and eligibility against the live guidelines before applying, and should apply within the state's notified window each academic year.