New Delhi, July 21 -- Central government scholarship schemes for the most marginalised student communities have recorded a consistent and unusual trend over the five years from 2019 to 2024, which also coincided with the ongoing implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Beneficiary numbers have sharply declined while sanctioned budgets have remained steady or even increased.

This pattern is documented in official responses submitted to Parliament between July and November 2024, reports from the parliamentary committee, and annual data from the ministries of social justice and empowerment, tribal affairs, and minority affairs.

The ministry of social justice and empowerment (MoSJE) manages several key schemes exhibiting ...