Students under the scheduled tribes (ST) category are set to get some additional benefits. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to increase the total annual family income ceiling for ST students under the central sector scholarship scheme of 'top class education' from the existing Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh. This comes into effect from the selection year 2013-14.
A larger number of ST students would be able to benefit from the scheme, which is aimed at providing financial support to students from this category for pursuing higher and technical education in selected institutions in the country.
An official release said this decision would not result in any additional burden and the expenditure, on account of the revision, would be met under the existing budget allocation for each year.