Overview of the SHREYAS Scheme

  • -The Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) is a landmark initiative by the Indian government.
  • -The scheme seeks to support higher education for marginalised communities including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs).
  • -SHREYAS is managed by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Updates on SHREYAS's Reach and Investment

  • -Recent figures show the scheme reaching expansive breadth, indicating its pivotal role in endorsing educational progression for disadvantaged classes.
  • -Around Rs. 2708.64 crore has been utilised for the benefits of 97,928 SCs from 2014-15 to 2023-24.
  • -A total of Rs. 585.02 crore has been spent for the welfare of 38,011 OBCs and EBCs over the same period.

Division into Specialized Programs

  • The SHREYAS Scheme is divided into two programs aimed at higher education support for different cohorts: SHREYAS for SCs and SHREYAS for OBCs and EBCs.
  • Under the SHREYAS for SCs, scholarships are awarded to SC students to study in top institutions, including IITs, IIITs, IIMs, and AIIMS.
  • It features the National Overseas Scholarship which provides an annual scholarship for 125 SC students to study in the top 500 QS Ranking institutions abroad.
  • 2000 fellowships are granted yearly for Ph.D. studies in India along with UGC Fellowships.
  • SHREYAS for OBCs and EBCs offers free coaching for 3500 SC and OBC candidates annually, facilitating competitive exams and higher education admissions.

SHREYAS - An Umbrella Scheme

  • SHREYAS, an umbrella scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, is intended to empower OBC & EBC students through scholarships and interest subsidies on educational loans for overseas studies.
  • The umbrella scheme of SHREYAS is a cluster of four central sector sub-schemes.

Free Coaching Scheme Details

  • Free coaching is provided to SCs and OBCs for competitive exams and admission to technical and professional institutions.
  • The maximum family income under this scheme is capped at 8 lakh per annum.
  • The scheme maintains gender inclusivity, with a reservation of 30% slots for female candidates.
  • The allocation ratio between SC and OBC is kept at 70:30 to ensure fair access to all.
  • From 2014-15 to 2022-23, close to 19,995 beneficiaries have availed of the benefits under this scheme.

Relation to Other Education Schemes in India

-Besides SHREYAS, the Indian government has implemented several other schemes such as the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PM SHRI Schools, and National Means cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS).