Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship For EBC Students & Its Eligibility: A Complete Guide
Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship For EBC Students: The Dr. Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarships for the Economically Backward Class (EBC) Students aims to support EBC students pursuing education beyond matriculation.
Implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, this initiative provides essential financial aid to students, ensuring they can continue their studies without financial burdens. This scheme is exclusively available for studies within India and is administered by the respective State or Union Territory governments where the applicant is permanently settled.
Scholarship Categories
Group A
Courses under Group A include degree and postgraduate level courses such as M.Phil., PhD, and postdoctoral research in various fields including medicine, engineering, technology, architecture, and more. Students in this category receive a monthly maintenance allowance of ₹750 for hostellers and ₹350 for day scholars.
Group B
This group encompasses graduate and postgraduate courses leading to degrees, diplomas, and certificates in areas like pharmacy, nursing, law, mass communication, and hotel management. The monthly maintenance allowance for hostellers is ₹510, while day scholars receive ₹335.
Group C
Group C includes all other graduate courses not listed under Groups A and B, such as BA, B.Sc., and B.Com. The maintenance allowance is ₹400 per month for hostellers and ₹210 for day scholars.
Group D
This category covers non-degree courses at the post-matriculation level, such as senior secondary certificates, ITI courses, and three-year diploma courses in polytechnics. Hostellers receive ₹260 per month, and day scholars get ₹160.
Additional Benefits
Reader Charges for Blind Students
Blind students receive additional ‘Reader Charges’ of ₹175 per month for Groups A and B, ₹130 for Group C, and ₹90 for Group D.
Fee Coverage
The scholarship covers various compulsory fees such as enrolment, tuition, games, library, and medical examination fees, but excludes refundable deposits like caution money and security deposits.
Study Tours
Students enrolled in professional and technical courses may receive up to ₹900 per annum for study tour expenses, provided the head of their institution certifies the necessity of the tour for their course completion.
Thesis Typing/Printing Charges
Research scholars are eligible for up to ₹1,000 to cover thesis typing or printing costs, subject to the head of the institution’s recommendation.
Disbursal and Duration
The scholarship amount is disbursed directly into the beneficiaries’ bank or post office accounts to ensure timely payment. The scholarship is tenable from the award stage to the course completion, contingent on good conduct and regular attendance.
Renewal of Scholarships
Scholarships are renewed annually, provided the student progresses to the next higher class within their continuous course. Subsequent failures are not condoned except in courses under Group A, and no further course changes are permitted.
Eligibility Criteria
The scholarships are open to Indian nationals in the General Category (excluding SC, ST, and OBC). Eligible students are those pursuing recognised post-matriculation or post-secondary courses in government institutions. Postgraduate medical students are eligible if they do not practice during their course. Students who have passed or failed undergraduate or postgraduate exams and join professional or technical courses may receive scholarships if they meet eligibility criteria. Correspondence course students are also eligible for non-refundable fee reimbursement and an annual allowance of ₹900 for essential books.
Restrictions and Conditions
Only two boys from the same family can receive scholarships, though this restriction does not apply to girls. Scholarship holders cannot receive another scholarship or stipend concurrently. However, they may accept free lodging, grants, or ad-hoc financial help for books and equipment in addition to the scholarship.
Students in pre-examination coaching centres receiving financial assistance from the government are ineligible for stipends under this scheme. Employed students with a combined family income not exceeding ₹1,00,000 per annum are eligible for fee reimbursement. Unemployed students with parental income not exceeding ₹1,00,000 per annum are also eligible.
The Dr. Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarships plays a pivotal role in enabling economically backward students to pursue higher education. By covering various educational expenses and providing additional allowances, the scheme ensures that financial constraints do not hinder the academic progress of deserving students.
