SHRESHTA: Residential Education for SC Students in High Schools
Last updated: 2026-11-13 · MockMentor
SHRESHTA (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas) gives bright Scheduled Caste students from poor families high-quality residential schooling, in top private schools and in NGO-run schools, where Government services are thin.
In one line: free seats in good residential schools for meritorious SC children, so they can reach top colleges and jobs.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Ministry | Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Who | SC students, parents' income up to ₹2.5 lakh |
| Entry | Classes 9 and 11 |
| Selection | National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), by NTA |
| Target | About 3,000 fresh admissions a year in top private schools |
Two modes
- Top private residential schools with at least 5 years of operation and a pass rate above 75% for three years; fees and hostel paid directly to schools.
- NGO-run schools and hostels, with grants of ₹32,000 to ₹55,000 a student a year; primary schools must upgrade to Class 10 by 2027.
No extra fees can be charged, and full grants need at least 75% attendance.
Possible exam questions
- How can quality education break the cycle of caste-based disadvantage?
- Assess partnerships with private schools for social inclusion.
Complete notes in our courses: this page gives the essentials. The Super-Elite and Elite courses carry the full chapter with every update merged in, plus practice MCQs. Compare the courses.
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