Name: Kamaljit Singh
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-11, Issue-1, January-June 2026
Page Number: 141-150
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19143574

ABSTRACT
Education plays an important role in promoting social equality and improving the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities. In India, Scheduled Caste (SC) students often face financial barriers to higher education. The Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme was introduced by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to SC students pursuing studies beyond matriculation. This study examines the awareness, accessibility, and impact of the PMS scheme among SC students
in Punjab. Primary data were collected from 97 respondents through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency and percentage methods. The findings show that most students are aware of the scheme and have benefited from it. The scholarship helps reduce financial burden and supports educational expenses such as tuition fees and study materials. However, students also reported challenges such as delays in scholarship disbursement, application difficulties, and technical issues with the online portal. Overall, the study concludes that the PMS scheme plays a significant role in supporting higher education for SC students, though improvements in implementation and timely fund distribution are needed.

Key words: PMS Scheme, Scheduled Caste Students, Higher Education, Financial Support, Punjab.