Ranchi: Claiming that Jharkhand is facing a massive shortfall in central support for scholarships for SC, ST, OBC and minority students, chief minister Hemant Soren has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking enhanced central assistance and a review of funding norms.In his letter dated July 29, Hemant said inadequate central allocations were affecting timely scholarship payments to lakhs of students and hampering the state’s efforts to promote educational equity.Highlighting the gap, the CM said Jharkhand had sought Rs 370.87 crore under the OBC post-matric scholarship scheme in 2025-26 but received only Rs 58.22 crore from the Centre. “In the previous financial year, the state had sought Rs 353.21 crore and received just Rs 33.57 crore,” he said.Hemant said that while the Centre runs pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes for disadvantaged communities, the assistance released to Jharkhand falls far short of the state’s actual requirements.“The state determines scholarship eligibility largely on the basis of annual family income rather than community affiliation and remains committed to expanding educational access despite geographical challenges and limited resources,” he said.He also pointed out that more than half of Jharkhand’s population belongs to the OBC category and that many students from economically weaker families rely on scholarships to continue their education.For OBC pre-matric scholarships, the state sought Rs 66.14 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 45.91 crore in 2025-26 but received only Rs 12.61 crore and Rs 3.95 crore, respectively, the letter stated.The CM also raised concerns over scholarship funding for Scheduled Tribe students, claiming that no central funds were released under ST pre-matric and post-matric schemes in 2025-26. He said the Rs 200-crore release in 2024-25 largely comprised arrears and partial dues from earlier years.Seeking policy intervention, Hemant urged the Centre to increase notional allocations, restart minority scholarship schemes that, he claimed, have not received funding since 2021-22, and provide higher central support to economically weaker and developing states to ensure eligible students are not deprived of educational opportunities..
