SHRESHTA Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Access to a good school can make a significant difference in a student's education and future opportunities, but quality residential education may remain difficult to afford for many families. The SHRESHTA Scheme (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas) addresses this gap by providing quality residential education to meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) students. Under its main Mode-I component, eligible students can secure admission to selected private residential schools through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS). The scheme provides financial support for school and hostel expenses, with assistance of up to ₹1 lakh in Class 9, ₹1.10 lakh in Class 10, ₹1.25 lakh in Class 11 and ₹1.35 lakh in Class 12 per student per year, subject to the applicable conditions and prescribed limits.

SHRESHTA was introduced through the revision of the earlier grant-in-aid framework, with the residential-school Mode-I component introduced from 2021-22. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme has two modes of implementation. Mode-I focuses on residential education for selected SC students in identified private residential schools, while Mode-II provides grant-in-aid to eligible voluntary organisations running residential schools, non-residential schools and hostels for SC students.

For Mode-I, students generally enter the scheme through Class 9 or Class 11 and are selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The basic eligibility includes belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, meeting the prescribed academic requirements and having annual parental income of up to ₹2.50 lakh. After the entrance examination, eligible candidates participate in online counselling, where they can select available participating schools according to the applicable counselling process. The final admission is completed after seat allotment and physical verification at the allotted school.

Students or parents looking for the latest application schedule, examination updates, results, counselling rounds and participating school lists should check the official NTA SHRESHTA portal and the SHRESHTA admission and counselling portal. For assistance related to the scheme or counselling, applicants can also refer to the contact details provided by the Ministry and the official counselling portal.

Students from SC families may also explore other education-related support available on GovtSchemes.in. For higher education after Class 12, the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for SC Students may be relevant for eligible students pursuing higher studies in notified institutions.

Scheme Benefits

SHRESHTA helps eligible SC students access quality residential education without placing the full cost of school and hostel facilities on their families. The main benefits under the scheme include:

• Eligible students can get admission to selected high-performing residential schools for Class 9 or Class 11.
• The scheme provides financial support for eligible school, tuition, hostel and mess expenses.
• The maximum annual support is ₹1 lakh for Class 9, ₹1.10 lakh for Class 10, ₹1.25 lakh for Class 11 and ₹1.35 lakh for Class 12, subject to the prescribed conditions and actual eligible expenses.
• Students can continue to receive support up to Class 12, subject to the applicable scheme and academic conditions.
• Students selected through SHRESHTA-NETS can take part in online counselling and choose their preferred participating schools.
• School allotment is made according to merit, student preferences and available seats.
• A bridge course may be provided to help students adjust to the academic requirements and new school environment.
• The scheme gives eligible SC students an opportunity to study in better residential educational facilities and access quality schooling.
• Under Mode-II, eligible organisations running schools and hostels for SC students can receive grant-in-aid according to the prescribed rates.

The financial support under Mode-I is provided for eligible expenses through the participating school. It is therefore not a fixed cash scholarship paid directly to the student. The amount available in a particular case depends on the student's class, eligible expenses, actual school charges and the applicable scheme conditions.

SHRESHTA Scholarship Amount

SHRESHTA provides financial support for eligible school and residential education expenses. Under Mode-I, the maximum annual support varies according to the student's class. The amount is subject to the prescribed ceiling, eligible expenses and the applicable scheme conditions.

• The support covers eligible school and hostel-related expenses, including applicable tuition and mess charges.
• The amount is subject to the prescribed annual ceiling and the actual eligible charges.
• The financial support is provided through the participating school rather than being paid as a direct cash scholarship to the student.
• Students can receive support up to Class 12 subject to the applicable scheme conditions and academic progression requirements.
• A bridge course may also be supported to help selected students adjust to the academic requirements of the new school.

Therefore, the figures above should be understood as the maximum annual support available under the scheme and not as a fixed cash amount deposited into the student's bank account.

Eligibility Requirements

Students need to meet the prescribed category, academic and family-income conditions to apply for the SHRESHTA Scheme. The main eligibility requirements for the student-focused Mode-I component are:

• The student must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.
• The student should be studying in a recognised school and meet the required academic qualification for admission to Class 9 or Class 11.
• For Class 9 admission, the student should have passed Class 8 in the immediately preceding academic year.
• For Class 11 admission, the student should have passed Class 10 in the immediately preceding academic year.
• The annual income of the student's parents or guardians should not be more than ₹2.50 lakh.
• The student must fulfil the eligibility conditions given in the SHRESHTA-NETS notification for the relevant admission year.
• For Mode-I admission, the student must qualify through the SHRESHTA-NETS merit-based selection process.
• The student should have the required SC certificate and income certificate for verification.
• The student should not already be receiving benefits under the Department's Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for the same purpose.

Eligibility conditions can vary slightly according to the admission year and the specific NETS notification. Therefore, students should check the latest official examination and counselling instructions before applying.

SHRESHTA Exam Pattern

The National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) is the entrance examination used for selecting eligible students for admission under the residential education component of the scheme. The examination tests students on subjects based on the level of the class for which they are seeking admission.

• The SHRESHTA-NETS exam has 100 questions carrying a total of 400 marks.
• Each correct answer carries 4 marks.
• There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
• Students get 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete the examination.
• The exam is conducted in offline pen-and-paper mode using an OMR sheet.
• The question paper is available in Hindi and English.
• For the NETS-2026 cycle, the examination was held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

SHRESHTA Syllabus

The SHRESHTA-NETS syllabus is based on the academic level that students have completed before seeking admission. In simple terms, students applying for Class 9 are tested on Class 8-level concepts, while those applying for Class 11 are tested on Class 10-level concepts. The examination covers Mathematics, Science, Social Science and General Awareness/Knowledge.

Students should prepare from the NCERT books relevant to their examination level and revise the basic concepts thoroughly rather than focusing only on memorising answers. The syllabus and examination instructions should also be checked against the latest SHRESHTA-NETS information bulletin for the particular admission year.

Required Documents

Applicants should keep the required documents ready before filling out the SHRESHTA-NETS application form. These documents are used to verify the student's identity, category, income and other eligibility details.

• Recent passport-size photograph of the student.
• Student's signature.
• Left-hand thumb impression.
• Valid Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate.
• Valid family income certificate showing annual parental income within the prescribed limit of ₹2.50 lakh.
• Academic records or details of the qualifying examination, as required for Class 9 or Class 11 admission.
• A valid identity document accepted by NTA. Aadhaar is not mandatory, and other permitted identity documents can be used.

Applicants should check the latest SHRESHTA-NETS notification before applying because the document format, upload requirements and other instructions may change for a particular admission year.

Steps to Apply

Applying for SHRESHTA is completed in two stages. Students first apply for the SHRESHTA-NETS entrance exam through NTA. Those who move to the next stage then complete counselling for school selection and admission.

• Start by opening the NTA SHRESHTA portal and check the latest SHRESHTA-NETS application notice.
• Open the online application link and register using the student's basic details, such as name, date of birth, mobile number and other information asked in the form.
• Enter the student's academic, category and income details carefully. Make sure the information matches the supporting documents.
• Upload the required photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, SC certificate and income certificate in the prescribed format.
• Check the complete form once before submitting it. Make sure there are no mistakes in the student's name, date of birth, category or other important details.
• Submit the application and save the confirmation page or application details for future use.
• After applying, use the NTA SHRESHTA portal to check updates related to the exam city, admit card, answer key and result.
• After the NETS result, eligible students should move to the SHRESHTA Admission Portal for the counselling process.
• Complete the counselling registration and check the participating schools available for Class 9 or Class 11.
• Select the schools you prefer and arrange them in your preferred order.
• Review and lock the school choices before the counselling deadline. Students should complete their choices themselves and keep their login details private.
• Check the seat allotment result on the counselling portal. If a school is allotted, report to the school within the given period and complete the required admission formalities.

Application and counselling dates are announced separately for each admission cycle. Students should follow the latest notices on the NTA SHRESHTA and SHRESHTA admission portals for the current schedule.

SHRESHTA Counselling Process

After the entrance examination stage, counselling allows eligible students to select participating schools according to their preferences. The counselling process is conducted online through the SHRESHTA Admission Portal.

1. Open the SHRESHTA admission portal when the counselling window is announced.
2. Complete the candidate registration or login process using the details provided for counselling.
3. Check the participating schools available for the relevant Class and admission cycle.
4. Select schools according to your preferred order and available choices.
5. Review the selected preferences carefully and lock them within the notified deadline.
6. Wait for the seat allotment result, which is prepared according to merit, school preferences and available seats.
7. If a school is allotted, follow the reporting instructions and reach the allotted school within the specified reporting period.
8. Complete document verification and other admission formalities required by the school.

Counselling dates and the number of rounds can change from one admission cycle to another. Students should therefore follow the latest schedule displayed on the official SHRESHTA admission portal.

SHRESHTA Selection Process

The SHRESHTA selection process can be understood in one simple flow:

Students first apply for SHRESHTA-NETS and appear for the entrance examination. After the result, eligible candidates move to counselling, where they select their preferred participating schools. Schools are allotted based on merit, student preferences and available seats. After allotment, the student reports to the allotted school and completes the admission formalities.

Relevant Links

• Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Official SHRESHTA Counselling and Admission Portal
• NTA SHRESHTA Portal
• SHRESHTA Revised Guidelines
• SHRESHTA Participating School List
• Official SHRESHTA admission schedule
• Opening and Closing Rank
• e-Anudaan Portal

Contact Information

For SHRESHTA-related queries, applicants can contact the Scheduled Caste Division of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment or use the contact details provided on the official SHRESHTA admission portal.

Department of Social Justice and Empowerment

• Phone: 011-26116719
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Room No. 8421, 8th Floor, Zone-4, GPOA-3, Netaji Nagar, New Delhi-110023

SHRESHTA Admission Support

• Phone: 011-69227700, 011-40759000
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: NSIC-MDBP Building, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi-110020

For complaints or issues related specifically to SHRESHTA counselling and school choice, the official SHRESHTA portal also lists the Director, SHRESHTA contact number 9650834358 and email addresses [email protected] and [email protected].