Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/Minorities

What is Pre-Matric Scholarship?

Pre-Matric Scholarship provides financial assistance to students from marginalized communities studying from Class 1 to Class 10 — before they reach the matriculation (Class 10 board) stage. It aims to prevent school dropouts by reducing the financial burden on families.

Three central government pre-matric scholarships:

1. Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (Class 9 & 10)

Eligibility

• Scheduled Caste (SC) students
• Class 9 or 10 only (central scheme — Class 1-8 covered by state schemes)
• Annual family income: below ₹2.5 lakh
• In government or government-recognised school

Amount (per month)

Plus: Book allowance ₹750/year (day scholar), ₹1,000/year (hosteller)

2. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students (Class 9 & 10)

Eligibility

• Scheduled Tribe (ST) students
• Class 9 or 10
• Annual family income: below ₹2.5 lakh

Amount

Same structure as SC pre-matric — ₹150–₹350/month + book allowance.

3. Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities (Class 1 to 10)

Eligibility

• Students belonging to notified minority communities: Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi
• Class 1 to 10
• Annual family income: below ₹1 lakh
• Minimum 50% marks in previous class exam
• In government or government-recognised school

Amount (per month, for 10 months)

Plus: Admission fee (₹500) + tuition fee (₹350–₹700/year as applicable)

How to Apply (All Pre-Matric Scholarships)

1. Go to scholarships.gov.in
2. Click "New Registration"
3. Register with mobile number
4. Log in → "Apply for Scholarship"
5. Select the applicable scheme:
   • SC pre-matric → Under Ministry of Social Justice
   • ST pre-matric → Under Ministry of Tribal Affairs
   • Minority pre-matric → Under Ministry of Minority Affairs
6. Fill in: student details, class, school details, family income, bank account
7. Upload documents and submit
8. Note Application ID

Deadline: Applications typically open August–October for the academic year. Apply early.

Renewal

Renew annually on the NSP portal by submitting the current year marksheet and school enrollment proof.

Documents Required

1. Aadhaar card (student)
2. Caste certificate (SC/ST) OR community certificate (minority — birth certificate, religion proof)
3. Income certificate — annual family income below ₹2.5L (SC/ST) or ₹1L (minority)
4. Previous year marksheet (or Class 8 certificate for fresh applicants)
5. School enrollment / bonafide certificate
6. Bank account in student's name (or parent's for younger students) — Aadhaar-linked for DBT
7. Passport-size photograph

Tracking Payment

1. Log in to scholarships.gov.in
2. Check application status → payment released → bank account credit

OR check your bank account — DBT shows as "NSP" or ministry name.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child is in Class 7. Which scheme applies?

• If SC/ST: Central pre-matric is only for Class 9-10. For Class 7, check your state's SC/ST scholarship — states typically cover Class 1-8.
• If Minority: The central minority pre-matric scholarship covers Class 1-10.

My child's school doesn't have NSP enrollment. What to do?

The school needs to be registered on the NSP portal. Ask your school administration to complete NSP registration. Until then, check if your state has an alternative state-level scholarship.

Can a student get both state SC scholarship and central SC pre-matric?

Generally, you cannot receive two scholarships for the same purpose. However, state and central scholarships may cover different class ranges. Verify with NSP helpdesk.

The school is government-aided but private management. Is my child eligible?

Government-aided schools (recognized by the state education board) are eligible. Private unaided schools may not be eligible.

Official Links

• Apply: scholarships.gov.in
• Ministry of Social Justice (SC): socialjustice.gov.in
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs (ST): tribal.nic.in
• Ministry of Minority Affairs: minorityaffairs.gov.in
• NSP helpdesk: 0120-6619540