The Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) is helping students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities access opportunities in higher education, competitive examinations, overseas studies and research.
According to the latest information released by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, more than 1.18 lakh students have benefited from the four major components of SHREYAS between 2014-15 and 2025-26. During this period, around ₹3,509.39 crore was spent under these components.
The scheme is designed to reduce financial barriers and help eligible students pursue academic and professional opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to afford.
What Is the SHREYAS Scheme?
SHREYAS stands for Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme. It is an umbrella scheme of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment that brings together multiple educational support initiatives.
The scheme covers areas ranging from competitive-exam coaching and education in premier institutions to overseas higher education and research fellowships.
This makes SHREYAS relevant to students at different stages of their educational journey, particularly those seeking financial support for higher studies or competitive opportunities.
SHREYAS Scheme: Key Components
The four major components associated with SHREYAS include:
1. Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students
The Free Coaching Scheme provides financial assistance for quality coaching to economically disadvantaged SC and OBC students preparing for competitive and professional examinations.
The objective is to help students prepare for entrance examinations and competitive examinations for higher education as well as employment opportunities.
From 2014-15 to 2025-26, the component recorded expenditure of approximately ₹145.10 crore and benefited 23,208 students. In 2024-25 alone, 2,136 students benefited under the component.
2. Top Class Education for SC Students
The Top Class Education component supports eligible SC students pursuing higher education in premier institutions.
These include leading institutions such as IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and NITs, among other eligible institutions. Recent government information states that 4,156 SC students received support under this component during 2025-26.
The support is intended to make high-quality higher education more accessible to students who face financial constraints.
3. National Overseas Scholarship
For students planning to pursue higher education abroad, the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) provides financial assistance to eligible candidates.
The scholarship supports higher studies such as Master’s and PhD programmes abroad. Government data shows that 764 beneficiaries went abroad for higher studies between 2014-15 and 2025-26 under the relevant component.
For students considering international education, such support can help address major costs associated with studying overseas.
4. National Fellowship for SC Students
The National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC) supports SC scholars pursuing advanced higher education and research.
Between 2014-15 and 2025-26, the component recorded expenditure of approximately ₹2,199.28 crore and benefited 59,039 scholars. During 2025-26, 4,218 scholars benefited, compared with 4,143 beneficiaries in 2024-25.
The fellowship supports students pursuing research and can help them build careers in areas such as teaching, research and other knowledge-based professions.
How SHREYAS Helps Students
One of the important features of SHREYAS is that it addresses different stages of the education journey.
A student may need coaching before entering a competitive examination, financial assistance while studying at a premier institution, support for higher education abroad, or funding while pursuing advanced research.
SHREYAS brings these forms of assistance under a broader educational support framework.
The latest government figures show that the scheme has reached 1,18,248 beneficiaries through its four major components between 2014-15 and 2025-26.
Who Should Look at SHREYAS Opportunities?
Students from eligible SC and OBC communities who are planning higher education, competitive-exam preparation, research or overseas studies should check the relevant component of the scheme.
However, eligibility, income requirements, academic qualifications, institution requirements and application procedures can differ between components. Students should therefore check the latest official guidelines and application notifications before applying.
It is also important to remember that SHREYAS is not a single scholarship with identical benefits for every student. Its different components have separate eligibility conditions and support structures.
Why the Scheme Matters for Students
The cost of higher education can be a major challenge for students, particularly when they are preparing for competitive examinations, applying to premier institutions or considering education abroad.
By providing targeted financial assistance, coaching support, scholarships and research fellowships, SHREYAS seeks to reduce some of these barriers.
The latest figures indicate that the government has spent more than ₹3,500 crore under the four major components since 2014-15, highlighting the scale of the educational support provided through the scheme.
Final Takeaway
The SHREYAS Scheme has emerged as an important educational support programme for eligible SC and OBC students. From free coaching and premier higher education to overseas studies and research fellowships, its different components cover several important stages of a student’s academic journey.
With 1,18,248 beneficiaries recorded between 2014-15 and 2025-26, the latest figures show the reach of the programme across these areas. Students interested in SHREYAS should regularly check official government notifications for updated eligibility criteria, application dates, institutions covered and scholarship guidelines.
