NEW DELHI: Continuing education after Class 10 can be difficult for SC students when the cost of tuition, books and other academic requirements becomes a burden for their family. Thus, the Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (PMS-SC) comes into picture. The scheme is meant for students studying at the post-matriculation or post-secondary level in eligible institutions across India. It is implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to encourage SC students so they can continue their higher education without a second thought. The main purpose of the PMS-SC scholarship is to reduce the financial burden on students and help them complete their studies. The scholarship is available during the academic period for eligible students who meet the prescribed conditions under the scheme.
Overview of Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students
What is Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students?
The Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students is a centrally sponsored scholarship scheme which comes under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. It supports eligible SC students who want to study beyond the matriculation stage. Students are selected and the scholarship is implemented through the concerned State Government or Union Territory Administration. The scholarship is provided through the State or UT where the student is considered a resident, as per the applicable domicile rules.
Post-Matric Scholarship supports SC students in pursuing higher education in India. Visit https://t.co/880ztkf8Gn for details. #PostMatricScholarship @PMOIndia @narendramodi @AmitShah @Drvirendrakum13 @RamdasAthawale @blvermaup @PIB_India @mygovindia @MIB_India @NISD_India… pic.twitter.com/gMpe0DjYaN
— Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, GOI (@MSJEGOI) September 13, 2026
Eligibility Criteria of PMS-SC
According to the official scheme guidelines, the scholarship is open to Indian nationals belonging to Scheduled Castes who have passed Matriculation, Higher Secondary or another higher examination from a recognised institution or board.
One of the key eligibility conditions is the family income limit. The parents’ or guardians’ income from all sources should not exceed Rs 2.50 lakh during the previous financial year. It is important for candidates to have the income certificate at the time of admission for courses continuing for more than one year.
Courses Covered under PMS-SC
The PMS-SC scholarship covers a wide range of post-matriculation and post-secondary courses. The official guidelines divide courses into four groups.
- Group I includes degree and postgraduate-level professional courses. These cover areas such as medicine, engineering, technology, planning, architecture, design, agriculture, veterinary and allied sciences, management, business finance and administration, computer science and applications, among others.
- Group II covers other professional courses leading to degrees, diplomas or certificates. Examples mentioned in the official material include pharmacy, nursing, law, para-medical courses, mass communication, hotel management and catering, travel and tourism, interior decoration, nutrition and dietetics and certain financial services courses
- .Group III includes graduate and postgraduate courses that are not covered under Groups I and II, such as BA, BSc, BCom, MA, MSc and MCom.
- Group IV covers post-matriculation non-degree courses, including specified courses at the post-Class 10 level.
Financial Support Covered Under PMS-SC
The scholarship has two main components: compulsory non-refundable fees, including tuition fees as fixed under the applicable State fee-fixation or rationalisation arrangements, and an academic allowance.
Under the official guidelines, the academic allowance varies according to the course group and whether the student is a hosteller or day scholar.
These academic allowance rates are specified in the scheme guidelines as applicable from the academic year 2021-22 to 2025-26. Check PMS for SC Scheme Guidelines.
Online/ Correspondence Courses
The scheme also covers students studying through correspondence or online courses, subject to the rules. However, such students do not get the academic allowance. Students should also know that they generally cannot receive PMS-SC along with another scholarship or stipend. If they receive another scholarship, they can choose the one that is more beneficial and inform their institution.
Students looking for Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students 2026, eligibility, application details or other scheme-related information should refer to the official Department of Social Justice and Empowerment website and the National Scholarship Portal. The Ministry’s official website currently has all details of Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students (National Scholarship Portal) among its schemes.
