The government has disbursed over ₹7,981 crore to more than 75 lakh Scheduled Caste students in 2025–26 to support their education and empowerment. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said that the government is committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiatives. He said the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a range of schemes focused on the educational empowerment of marginalised students belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

The Minister said that the Department oversees the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society, including OBCs, senior citizens, transgender persons, manual scavengers, sanitation workers, and Economically Weaker Sections. Dr Kumar highlighted that expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown consistent positive growth, with an upward trend, including a 21 per cent increase under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs and others.