Lucknow ; The Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has launched the OBC scholarship distribution for the 2025–26 financial year earlier than ever before. In a landmark move aimed at promoting educational access and equity, the state will transfer over ₹188 crore directly to the bank accounts of nearly 4.8 lakh students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
For the first time, the scholarship distribution process has begun in September, setting a new precedent in timely financial support for students from economically weaker backgrounds.
Scholarship Distribution in Two Phases
According to official data, the initiative is being rolled out in two phases:
- In the first phase, scholarships worth ₹62.13 crore were distributed to benefit more than 2.5 lakh OBC students from Classes 9 to 12.
- The second phase, scheduled for Friday, will see an additional ₹126.68 crore disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 4.83 lakh students.
- The Chief Minister will personally oversee the DBT transfer ceremony at the Lok Bhavan Auditorium, organized by the Backward Class Welfare Department, according to an official release.
Focus on Transparency and Educational Access
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backward Class Welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment, Narendra Kashyap, emphasized that achieving the vision of “Viksit Bharat – Viksit Uttar Pradesh” depends on ensuring education for every youth.
“The government’s top priority is to ensure that no talented student is deprived of education due to financial barriers,” Kashyap said, adding that the entire process has been made faster, digital, and transparent through DBT.
He highlighted that this is the first year scholarships are being distributed in September, allowing students to receive financial support well before the start of the academic cycle.
Major Boost in Budget Allocation
Reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusive education, the Backward Class Welfare Department’s budget has seen a sharp rise — from ₹1,295 crore in 2016–17 to ₹3,124.45 crore in 2025–26, marking a 2.5-fold increase.
Likewise, allocations for scholarship and fee reimbursement schemes have significantly expanded. Under the Samajwadi Party regime (2016–17), the budget stood at ₹1,092.36 crore. In contrast, under the current digital framework, scholarships are now disbursed entirely online through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and zero fund leakage.
This initiative marks another step toward empowering OBC students and ensuring that financial limitations never hinder educational opportunities in Uttar Pradesh.
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