The Bihar Government has announced a major expansion of educational support for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students by deciding to bear the entire educational fee without any upper ceiling for eligible students studying in premier Central and State institutions under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. The Cabinet also approved enhancement of scholarships and fee reimbursement for students pursuing technical and professional education, along with doubling the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST students.
The Cabinet decision represents an important step towards improving educational equity and social justice by reducing the financial barriers that often prevent students from disadvantaged communities from pursuing higher education in premier institutions.Under the revised policy, the State Government will bear the entire tuition fee and other institutional charges of SC and ST students admitted to prestigious institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP). Earlier, financial assistance was generally limited to ₹70,000–₹90,000, whereas the revised scheme removes the fee ceiling altogether, ensuring that eligible students are not burdened by educational expenses.The decision strengthens the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme by shifting its focus from partial financial support to comprehensive fee reimbursement, thereby encouraging greater participation of SC/ST students in institutions of national importance. The move is expected to improve access to quality education, reduce dropout rates, and enhance representation of socially disadvantaged communities in professional and technical education.The Cabinet has also revised the annual fee reimbursement for students enrolled in non-government institutions offering ITI, Diploma, Polytechnic, equivalent technical courses, and other professional programmes. This revision acknowledges the increasing cost of technical education and seeks to ensure that financial assistance remains relevant to current educational expenses.Simultaneously, the Government has doubled the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST students from Class I to Class X, benefiting nearly 27 lakh students. The scholarship enhancement aims to improve school retention, reduce educational inequality, and encourage continuation of education among economically weaker sections.The government has sanctioned ₹519.64 crore for implementation of the revised Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme. In addition, it has announced plans to establish SC/ST hostels in all 534 blocks of Bihar, which would significantly improve residential educational infrastructure for students from remote and rural areas.Collectively, these measures demonstrate Bihar's emphasis on educational empowerment as an instrument of social inclusion, human capital development, and long-term socio-economic mobility for historically disadvantaged communities.
| Component | Revised Provision |
|---|---|
| Premier Institutions | Entire educational fee to be paid by Bihar Government |
| Fee Ceiling | No upper limit |
| Covered Institutions | IIT, NIT, AIIMS, NIFT, CIMP and other eligible Central & State institutions |
| Existing Assistance | ₹70,000–₹90,000 (Earlier) |
| Beneficiaries | SC and ST students |
| Course | Earlier | Revised |
|---|---|---|
| ITI | ₹5,000 | ₹7,500 |
| Diploma / Polytechnic / Equivalent | ₹10,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Professional & Technical Courses | ₹15,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Class | Earlier | Revised |
|---|---|---|
| Class I–IV | ₹600 | ₹1,200 |
| Class V–VI | ₹1,200 | ₹2,400 |
| Class VII–X | ₹1,800 | ₹3,600 |
| Hostel Students (Class I–X) | ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
The revised policy is expected to:
Established:1986Administrative Ministry: Ministry of TextilesHeadquarters: New Delhi
Established:2008Location: Patna, Bihar
Updated – 30 January 2026 | 10:27 PMNews Source: