ICAR – Post Matric Scholarship For Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribes Candidates

The ICAR – Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe Candidates 2025, launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, aims to support students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The scheme provides financial assistance to pursue undergraduate courses in Agriculture and Allied Sciences such as B.Sc. (Agri.), B.V.Sc., B.F.Sc., B.Sc. (Forestry), and more, ensuring that no deserving student is left behind due to financial constraints.

Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)

• Governing Body: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• Target Group: Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students
• Course Covered: B.Sc. (Agriculture), B.V.Sc., B.F.Sc., B.Sc. (Home Science), B.Sc. (Forestry), B.Sc. (Agricultural Engineering)
• Scholarship Amount: ₹1,000 per month + ₹750 per annum (contingency grant)
• Application Mode: Offline through Agricultural Universities
• Disbursement Mode: Payment made to institutions by ICAR, who then distribute to students

Benefits

• The contingency grant can be used for tuition fees, purchase of books, cost of uniforms, and other educational expenses.
• The scholarship is available for the full duration of the respective undergraduate degree program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be a citizen of India.
• The applicant must belong to a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) community as recognized by the Government of India.
• The applicant must have secured admission in an undergraduate program in Agriculture or Allied Sciences at an Agricultural University.
• The applicant must not be availing any other scholarship or financial assistance simultaneously.

Covered Courses

• B.Sc. (Agriculture)
• B.V.Sc. (Bachelor of Veterinary Science)
• B.Sc. (Agricultural Engineering)
• B.Sc. (Home Science)
• B.F.Sc. (Bachelor of Fisheries Science)
• B.Sc. (Forestry)
• Other recognized Allied Agricultural Sciences undergraduate programs

Exclusions

• Students already availing other scholarships or concessions are not eligible.
• Students whose admissions are not through recognized Agricultural Universities are ineligible.

Application Process (Offline)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Scholarship Demand Submission

   • The concerned Agricultural University collects student information and sends a demand to ICAR through the Registrar/Comptroller using the prescribed proforma.

2. Scholarship Disbursement

   • ICAR releases the scholarship funds to the universities based on the demand.

   • Universities disburse the scholarship directly to eligible students.

3. Eligibility Confirmation

   • Students must submit required documents to their respective universities to confirm their eligibility annually.

Procedure for Selection

• A tentative distribution of scholarships is initially made based on reserved seats in Agricultural Universities.
• Final allocation is adjusted annually based on actual SC/ST admissions to ensure equitable distribution.
• Preference is given to maintain a proportionate ratio of scholarships to the number of SC/ST students admitted.

Documents Required

• Passport-size Photograph
• Aadhaar Number
• Caste Certificate (SC/ST)
• Aadhaar Linked Bank Account Details
• Residential/Domicile Certificate
• Proof of Admission (Admission Letter)
• Proof of Identity (such as Voter ID, Driving License, etc.)
• Previous Qualification Marksheets

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Do I have to fill up the online application in one sitting
  No. You can fill up the online application in many sittings using ‘Save Draft’, until you are satisfied that you have entered all desirable fields correctly. The software provides facility to save your application at every stage until you click on ‘Submit’ button.
• What is the Eligibility Criteria for this scholarship?
  This scholarship is exclusively meant for students belonging to Scheduled Castes /
  Scheduled Tribes communities as defined by Government of India. Only those students who
  have been admitted in Agricultural Universities in any of the undergraduate degree
  programmes of Agriculture & Allied Sciences will be eligible for this scholarship.
• What is the Value Of The Scholarship?
  The value of the scholarship will be Rs.300/- p.m. along with a contingent grant of
  Rs.750/- per annum for the payment of tuition fee, purchase of books and cost of uniform etc.
• What Is The Duration Of The Scholarship?
  The duration of the scholarship will cover the whole of the normal period of the
  particular degree programme to which the candidate is admitted.
• What is the Procedure for Selection?
  The scheme provides for the award of 240 scholarships every year. These scholarships
  will be earmarked for individual Agricultural Universities in proportion to the actual number of
  scheduled castes / scheduled tribes candidates admitted. A tentative distribution of scholarships will first be made to various agricultural universities on the basis of seats reserved by the individual agricultural universities for SC/ST candidates. The actual number of scholarship allotted to the universities every year would, however, be determined on the basis of actual SC/ST students admitted so as to maintain approximately equal proportion between the number of SC/ST students admitted in each university to the number of scholarships available.
• Will the Student Who Accepts This Scholarship Be Permitted To Avail Of Any Other Scholarship/Concession?
  The student who accepts this scholarship will not be permitted to avail of any other
  scholarship/concession provided by any other agencies nor permitted to accept any
  part-time employment.
• Under what cases can the Scholarship of the student be Terminated?
  Termination of Scholarship:-
  The scholarship will be terminated without notice
  (i) from the date the scholar debases to be on the roll of the institution or on the date of
  expiry of the sanction of the scholarship whichever is earlier. The scholarship can also
  be terminated without notice at any time if in the opinion of the institution and the
  Council the scholar is found to be negligent in his/her studies or is guilty of misconduct;
  (ii) if the scholar is dropped by the institution due to peer performance.
• Will the Scholarship Be Admissible On Grounds Of Maternity?
  In the case of married women, the scholarship will be admissible at full rates upto
  three months’ absence on grounds of maternity. However, no scholarship will be paid for
  a period exceeding three months.
• Which branches of Agriculture of the Bachelor’s Degree Program are covered in this scheme?
  Bachelor’s Degree program in various branches of Agriculture, viz. B.Sc.(Agri.), B.V.Sc., B.Sc.(Agril. Engg.), B.Sc.(Home Science), B.F.Sc., B.Sc.(Forestry) etc.
• How many scholarships are awarded every year?
  The scheme provides for the award of 240 scholarships every year.
• Is there any earmarking of the scholarships?
  These scholarships will be earmarked for individual Agricultural Universities in proportion to the actual number of scheduled castes / scheduled tribes candidates admitted.