Punjab to launch its own SC post-matric scholarship scheme:-
The Punjab Cabinet cleared the decks for the state to launch its own Scheduled Caste Post Matric Scholarship Scheme in place of the Centre's scheme, in order to facilitate students to pursue higher education in government and private institutions.
With this, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced an increase in income criteria from earlier Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh to accommodate more Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, approved the Dr BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, to be effective from 2021-22.

The scheme will be applicable to persons belonging to the SC, who are domiciled in Punjab and have done matriculation from Punjab and Chandigarh.

All Central, state government and private institutions in Punjab and Chandigarh will be covered under the scheme.

The total financial implication of the proposal is estimated to be about Rs 600 crore. Of this, the tentative liability of the government institutions would be about Rs 168 crore and the remaining Rs 432 crore would be borne by the private educational institutions and the government.