Pre-matric scholarship now limited to Classes 9 & 10 in government schools under OBC category, Know details here

Pre-matric scholarship now limited to classes 9 and 10 in government schools under OBC category – Now, the Pre-matric scholarship has been limited to classes 9 & 10 in government schools under the OBC category.

The response to a question posted by CPI (M) MP John Brittas asked whether the government has directed to change or limit the pre-matric scholarships for students belonging to backward classes.

This has been decided to rationalise/equal the scholarship, said by the Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar replying to the question in the Rajya Sabha.

“The Pre-matric scholarship has now been limited to classes 9 and 10 in government schools under the OBC category” he further said. The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 makes it obligatory for the government to offer mandatory & free elementary education for classes 1 to 8.

Accordingly, only students of Classes 9 & 10 are considered under the pre-matric scholarship scheme for OBC.

Minister of State for Social Justice Pratima Bhoumik said representations are being received from various organisations to provide reservations for OBCs based on their population. However, there are no chances to provide 50 per cent reservation for OBCs in education & employment, she stated.

Earlier, the Union government had sent a notice to State & UT governments reading that students studying in Classes 9 & 10 are covered under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme. Similarly, the coverage under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme of Ministry Affairs shall also be classes 9 & 10 only from 2022-23.

Meanwhile, there was a huge political backlash with Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President hitting out at the Modi-running government for snatching this money from poor students.

Previously, the pre-matric scholarship offered education to Classes 1 to 8 also belonging to the reserved categories.