Central Ministries: SC and ST Category

Central Government Support

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) →

The central authority mandated to provide free legal services to eligible candidates and organize Lok Adalats for speedy resolution of cases.

Key Schemes:

NALSA Focused Schemes

Includes legal aid schemes for marginalized groups such as victims of trafficking, acid attack survivors, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

✅ Benefits:

  • Free legal counsel and representation.
  • Waiver of court fees, process fees, and transcription costs.
  • Provision of certified copies of judgments/orders.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Members of Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST).
  • Annual income generally below ₹3,00,000 (State/UT specific).
  • Other criteria under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act.
View Official Link →
Ministry of Tribal Affairs →

The nodal ministry for the overall policy, planning, and coordination of programs for the development of Scheduled Tribes.

Key Schemes:

Tribal Welfare Support

Manages welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribes, focusing on education, employment, and health improvement.

✅ Benefits:

  • Financial assistance for various welfare measures.
  • Development and infrastructure support.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must belong to a Scheduled Tribe (ST).
  • Criteria are scheme-specific (e.g., location, income).
View Official Link →

Umbrella Programme for Development of Scheduled Tribes (ST)

Consolidated programme including **PM-JANMAN** and **EMRS** to support education, infrastructure, health, and livelihood for ST communities.

✅ Benefits:

  • Support for education through Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
  • Basic amenities and housing under PM-JANMAN.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • All Scheduled Tribe (ST) individuals/families.
  • Focus on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) for PM-JANMAN.
View Official Link →
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (for SC) →

Nodal ministry for the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes.

Key Schemes:

Umbrella Scheme for Development of Scheduled Castes

A consolidated program including **PM-AJAY**, **NFSC**, and various scholarships/fellowships for the comprehensive empowerment of SCs.

✅ Benefits:

  • Financial aid and scholarships for SC students.
  • Infrastructure development and livelihood support.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must belong to a Scheduled Caste (SC).
  • Income and educational criteria are scheme-specific.
View Official Link →

National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (NFSC)

Provides financial assistance (stipend, HRA, contingency) for SC students pursuing M.Phil or Ph.D. degrees in recognized institutions.

✅ Benefits:

  • Monthly Stipend (JRF/SRF) up to ₹35,000.
  • Annual Contingency grant and HRA.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
  • Must be pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D. in a full-time regular basis.
View Official Link →

PMEGP (SC Special Provision)

Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme providing higher subsidy (**up to 35%**) and lower personal contribution (**5%**) for SC entrepreneurs.

✅ Benefits:

  • Higher subsidy (up to 35%) on project cost.
  • Lower personal contribution (5%) for entrepreneur.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • SC individual above 18 years of age.
  • Project cost limits apply (e.g., ₹50 lakhs for manufacturing).
View Official Link →

CSSS Scholarship

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students, with a **15% reservation** for SC students.

✅ Benefits:

  • Scholarship amount of ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per annum.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • SC student from a BPL family.
  • Must be among the top 20 percentile of students who passed Class XII.
View Official Link →
Ministry of Education (for NSIGSE) →

Responsible for implementing the National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE).

Key Schemes:

NSIGSE (SC/ST focus)

Provides an incentive of **₹3,000** as a fixed deposit to SC/ST unmarried girls for enrolling in Class IX, redeemable after passing Class X.

✅ Benefits:

  • Incentive of ₹3,000 fixed deposit.
  • Redemption with interest after passing class X or attaining 18 years of age.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • SC/ST unmarried girl child.
  • Must enroll in Class IX in a government, government-aided, or local body school.
View Official Link →
Ministry of Rural Development (for NSAP & MPLADS) →

Administers NSAP and monitors MPLADS, both of which have schemes benefiting the poor, including SC/ST.

Key Schemes:

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

Provides financial support for destitute elderly, widows, and disabled BPL individuals, which benefits the poorest SC/ST families.

✅ Benefits:

  • Monthly pension/financial assistance (central share: ₹200-₹500).

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • BPL status.
  • Criteria vary per sub-scheme (e.g., age, marital status, disability percentage).
View Official Link →

MPLADS (SC/ST focus)

Requires a minimum of **15%** of funds for projects in SC-majority areas and **7.5%** in ST-majority areas for community assets.

✅ Benefits:

  • Funding for infrastructure projects in SC/ST concentrated areas.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Projects must benefit SC/ST majority areas or communities.
  • Must be recommended by the concerned Member of Parliament.
View Official Link →