Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase central funding for state scholarship schemes. Soren stated on [Date of article publication] that insufficient central funds delay benefits for thousands of students. This impacts students from Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), Backward Classes (BC), and minority communities across Jharkhand.
Scholarship Funding Gaps Detailed
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Soren outlined significant funding shortfalls. Jharkhand's scholarship system considers parental income, not just community identity, aiming for social justice. However, the state faces geographical and economic challenges. It relies heavily on central government support for student welfare programs.
The Chief Minister highlighted specific financial gaps in key scholarship programs. For the 2024-25 pre-matric scholarship for Backward Classes, Jharkhand requested ₹66.14 crore but received only ₹12.61 crore. For 2025-26 , the demand was ₹45.91 crore, with just ₹3.96 crore sanctioned.
The post-matric scholarship scheme also shows large deficits. For 2024-25 , the state sought ₹353.21 crore and received ₹33.57 crore. For 2025-26 , ₹370.81 crore was requested, but only ₹58.22 crore was released.
These shortages prevent timely scholarship disbursement to many students.
Concerns for ST and Minority Students
Soren also raised concerns about support for Scheduled Tribe students. The central government provided no funds for ST pre-matric or post-matric scholarships for 2025-26 . Funds released in 2024-25 were largely for arrears and previous dues.
The Chief Minister pointed out disparities in scholarship amounts. ST students receive ₹3,000 for pre-matric scholarships, while SC students get ₹3,500 and BC students receive ₹4,000. Soren asked the central government to eliminate this difference.
Minorities constitute 23.39 percent of Jharkhand's population. However, no funds have been released for minority scholarship schemes since 2021-22 . Soren requested the Prime Minister to reinstate this support.
He called for a special policy for weaker and developing states. This policy would ensure deserving students can continue their education without financial interruptions.
