SHRESHTA scheme

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued instructions for Residential Private Schools interested in joining the 2023–24 Scheme for Residential Education for Meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) Students (SHRESHTA).
• Eligible schools must be
  • private residential institutions affiliated with CBSE up to class 12,
  • operational for at least 5 years, and
  • boasting a pass percentage of 75 or more in class 10 and 12 over the last 3 years.
  • These schools should possess adequate infrastructure to accommodate at least 10 additional SC students in classes 9 and 11 combined, with residential status verified by OASIS data.

About SHRESHTA

• The scheme aims to fill the gap in service-deficient SCs dominant areas through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions and residential high schools offering high-quality education.
• It also intends to provide an environment for socio-economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• This initiative is overseen by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
• Enrollment under the scheme is designated for students entering Class 9 and Class 11.
• The CBSE disclosed that the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), selects 3,000 students annually for the scheme.
• Allocation to schools is determined through web counseling based on merit and student preferences.
• The scheme will cover the tuition fee, the hostel fee, and the mess fees for qualifying students.