Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously taking historic steps in the field of education for Scheduled Caste students.
During a press conference held at Punjab Bhawan, Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur shared information about the major initiatives of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities.
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme – 35% Historic Increase
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has freed the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme from years of disputes and irregularities. Strict action has been taken against those misusing funds, and now every rupee is being directly spent on the education of needy students.
In 2022, 1,76,842 students availed the scheme. Today this number has increased to 2,37,456 — a 35% rise in just three years. During the previous five years of governance, only 3.71 lakh students received scholarships, whereas in the current three years, 6.78 lakh students have already benefitted.
For the year 2025-26, the target has been set at 2.70 lakh students. Extensive awareness campaigns are being run in schools and colleges to ensure that no eligible student is left out.
Additionally, under the Top Class Education in Colleges for OBC, EBC and DNT scheme, students with a family income below ₹2.5 lakh studying in 11 premier institutions including AIIMS Bathinda, IIT Ropar, NIT Jalandhar, IIM Amritsar, NIPER Mohali, NIT Mohali, ISI Chandigarh, Thapar College Patiala, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law Patiala, IISER Mohali and IHM Gurdaspur will also be given scholarships.
Foreign Scholarship Scheme – Golden Opportunity for Talented Youth
Dr. Baljit Kaur announced that the government has launched a transformative foreign scholarship scheme for SC students and children of landless farm laborers. Eligible students (below 35 years of age, minimum 60% marks, parental annual income less than ₹8 lakh) will now be able to study in the world’s top 500 universities.
The government will provide visa, airfare, tuition fees, annual maintenance allowance (₹13.17 lakh), emergency allowance (₹1.35 lakh), and medical insurance.
A 30% reservation for female students will ensure equal opportunity. A maximum of two children per family can benefit, though each student can avail this scheme only once.
She further informed that the NOS portal (https://nosmsje.gov.in) will remain open for online applications for the academic session 2025-26 from September 15 to October 24, 2025.
“This scheme will open new doors of opportunity for Punjab’s talented youth, and now parents will no longer have to mortgage their property to send their children abroad,” she said.
PCS Crash Course at Ambedkar Institute
Dr. Baljit Kaur also announced that a two-month PCS crash course is being launched at Ambedkar Institute, Mohali, to prepare SC, BC and minority students for civil services.
Applications will remain open from September 17 to 26 (offline and via email). On September 30, 40 eligible candidates will be selected through an entrance test.
The institute has been upgraded with an expenditure of ₹1.47 crore, and an additional investment of ₹1.22 crore is being made. Professors’ honorarium has been increased from ₹750 to ₹1,500 per hour to attract eminent scholars as trainers.
Commitment of Punjab Government
On this occasion, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously working for the upliftment of SC, BC and economically weaker sections of society.
“Our goal is to make higher education accessible, affordable and attractive for every eligible child in Punjab. Only through education can we socially and economically empower our students,” she said.
