Pre-Matric Scholarship for Children of those Engaged in Unclean Occupations

The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Children of those Engaged in Unclean Occupations is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme has been in operation since 1977-78 and supports school-going children whose parents or guardians are engaged in occupations historically considered unclean and hazardous.

The scholarship is open to students enrolled full-time in Class I to X in recognised schools across India. Eligible occupational categories cover manual scavengers as defined under the Manual Scavengers Act 2013, tanners, flayers, waste pickers, and persons engaged in hazardous cleaning. There is no family income ceiling for children of manual scavengers, tanners, flayers, and waste pickers, while a ceiling applies for sweepers having traditional links with scavenging.

Financial support includes a monthly stipend for ten months of the academic year and an annual ad-hoc grant. Day scholars receive a monthly maintenance allowance with a ₹750 ad-hoc grant per year, while hostellers from Class III onwards receive a higher monthly allowance with a ₹1,000 ad-hoc grant per year.

The scheme is implemented through State Governments and Union Territory administrations and disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer to the student's bank account. Applications are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in during the annual cycle, with verification handled by the institution and the state nodal department.