Gandhinagar: More than 11 lakh Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in Gujarat have received scholarship assistance worth approximately ₹2,470 crore over the past five years under the Central Government’s Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel said on Monday.

Addressing the media in Gandhinagar, Minister Patel said the scheme, aimed at ensuring higher education opportunities for ST students, has played a crucial role in enabling them to pursue professional and academic courses. The scheme covers key fields such as medical, paramedical, engineering, arts, commerce, science, and education courses including B.Ed and M.Ed.

Minister of State Ramesh Katara and senior officials P.C. Baranda and Dr. Jairam Gamit were also present at the briefing.

Patel further stated that for the 2025–26 academic year, assistance worth ₹460 crore will be provided to more than 1.13 lakh students based on applications received on the online portal, along with pending applications from previous years. The amount will be transferred directly into students’ bank accounts through the DBT system.

He noted that both the Central and State governments are committed to improving educational access for Scheduled Tribe communities.

The Post Matric Scholarship Scheme provides monthly scholarships and tuition fee assistance for courses classified under Groups 1 to 4 for students pursuing studies after Class 10. Of the total grant allocation, 75 percent is contributed by the Centre and 25 percent by the State Government.

Patel added, “Education is the most powerful tool for socio-economic development. The government will continue strengthening the scheme, expanding its reach, and ensuring equal educational opportunities for every student.” DeshGujarat