Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. file photo
State Bureau, Patna. 31 proposals were approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday.
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department of the Government of Bihar has made a major revision in the rates of Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme from the financial year 2025-26.
The government has doubled the amount of annual scholarship given to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students from classes 1 to 10.
According to the revised rates, students from class 1 to 4 will now get ₹ 1200 annual scholarship, class 5 to 6 will get ₹ 2400 annual scholarship, class 7 to 10 will get ₹ 3600 annual scholarship and hostel students from class 1 to 10 will get ₹ 6000 annual scholarship.
Amendment made in view of inflation
The scholarship rates prescribed in the year 2011 were applicable till now, which have been revised keeping in view the current needs and inflation.
As a result of rate revision, the total estimated annual expenditure on this scheme has been approved for ₹ 519.64 crore. This scholarship will be given to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students studying in government schools, permanently recognized and establishment approved schools from class 1 to 10.
This decision will directly benefit about 27 lakh students of the state. The government believes that this step will help in keeping students from deprived sections connected to education and reduce the dropout rate.
Backward-extremely backward class hostel grant doubled, 8,150 students will benefit.
The state government has significantly increased the rate of hostel grant under the “Chief Minister Backward Class and Extremely Backward Class Hostel Grant Scheme” from the financial year 2025-26.
Till now the amount of Rs 1000 per month per student has been revised to Rs 2000. About 8150 students living in hostels run under the department will benefit from this decision.
The total estimated annual expenditure due to rescheduling of subsidy rate will be Rs 19 crore 56 lakh. This increased amount will be effective from January 1, 2026.
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