Overview

SHREYAS (Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme) is an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment designed to empower Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Class (OBC) students through quality higher education. The scheme consolidates multiple Central Sector sub-schemes covering free coaching for competitive exams, top-class education support, overseas study assistance, and research fellowships.

Since 2014, over ₹2,300 crore has been allocated under the SHREYAS umbrella for the educational advancement of SC and OBC students. For FY 2025-26, the revised allocation for SHREYAS (SC component) was ₹449 crore, with the Budget Estimate for 2026-27 raised to ₹495 crore. The Free Coaching sub-scheme alone has allotted 3,500 slots per annum with an SC:OBC ratio of 70:30.

Parameter Details
Type Central Sector Scheme (umbrella)
Ministry Social Justice and Empowerment
Target Groups SC and OBC/EBC students
Free Coaching Slots 3,500 per annum (SC:OBC = 70:30)
Female Reservation 30% slots in each category
Budget (SHREYAS-SC, BE 2026-27) ₹495 crore

Sub-Schemes for SC Students

1. Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

  • Quality coaching for competitive and entrance examinations (UPSC, SSC, Banking, Engineering, Medical, etc.)
  • 3,500 slots per year — SC:OBC ratio of 70:30
  • 30% slots reserved for females in each category
  • Family income ceiling: ₹8 lakh per annum
  • From 2014-15 to 2022-23: ₹109.77 crore released benefiting 19,995 candidates
  • Coaching provided through empanelled private institutes

2. Top Class Education for SCs

  • Financial support for SC students in premier institutions beyond Class 12
  • Covers tuition fees, living expenses, books, and equipment
  • Family income ceiling: ₹8 lakh per annum
  • Applications through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
  • Institutions notified by the Ministry based on NIRF rankings and accreditation

3. National Overseas Scheme for SCs

  • Financial assistance for Masters and Ph.D programmes abroad
  • Eligible: SCs, DNTs, landless agricultural labourers, traditional artisans
  • Family income ceiling: ₹8 lakh per annum
  • Covers tuition, maintenance allowance, travel, and visa charges
  • Limited slots — highly competitive selection

4. National Fellowship for SCs

  • M.Phil/Ph.D fellowships in Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  • 2,000 new fellowships awarded annually
  • At UGC-recognised universities and institutions
  • Implemented by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSCFDC)
  • Fellowship amount at par with UGC-NET JRF rates

Sub-Schemes for OBC and EBC Students

5. National Fellowship for OBCs

  • Research fellowships for OBC students pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D
  • Modelled on the UGC Fellowship structure

6. Dr. Ambedkar Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies

  • Interest subsidy on educational loans for OBC and EBC students studying abroad
  • Reduces the financial burden of overseas education
  • Targeted at economically weaker sections within OBC/EBC categories

Latest Developments

  • Budget 2026-27: SHREYAS (SC component) allocation raised to ₹495 crore from ₹449 crore (RE 2025-26)
  • Cumulative impact (since 2014): Over ₹2,300 crore allocated across all SHREYAS components for SC and OBC students
  • Free Coaching expansion: Coaching institutes empanelled across multiple cities; digital coaching platforms being explored for remote areas
  • National Fellowship: More than 2,000 new slots awarded annually — scheme continues to be a major pipeline for SC researchers
  • NSP integration: All scholarship applications now processed through the National Scholarship Portal for transparency and faster disbursement

Prelims Importance

  • SHREYAS is an umbrella scheme with 6 sub-schemes — 4 for SCs and 2 for OBCs
  • Ministry: Social Justice and Empowerment
  • Free Coaching: 3,500 slots/year, SC:OBC = 70:30, 30% female reservation
  • National Fellowship for SCs: 2,000 new fellowships annually (M.Phil/Ph.D)
  • Income ceiling for most components: ₹8 lakh per annum
  • Implemented through NSCFDC (National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation)
  • SHREYAS covers SC/OBC students; PM YASASVI covers OBC/EBC/DNT students — different target groups
  • Application through National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

Mains and Interview Importance

GS Paper 2 — Social Justice, Education, Welfare:

  • Evaluate the role of SHREYAS in bridging the higher education gap for SC and OBC communities. Has the scheme addressed the issue of under-representation in premier institutions?
  • Compare SHREYAS (for higher education) with PM YASASVI (for school education). Together, do they create a continuum of support from school to research?
  • Critically assess the National Overseas Scheme for SCs. Does sending students abroad for higher education create brain drain or build human capital that eventually benefits the community?

Interview Angle:

“The Free Coaching sub-scheme under SHREYAS has 3,500 slots per year, but lakhs of SC/OBC students aspire for UPSC and other competitive exams. Is this scale adequate, and how would you improve access to quality coaching?”

Sources: MoSJE Official, PIB, DD News