SHRESHTA Scheme 2025 - Registration Process, Features and Benefits

SHRESHTA Scheme – To ensure that every student has access to quality education, the Central and State Governments in India implement various scholarship and fee waiver initiatives. Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the SHRESHTA Scheme. This initiative aims to provide residential education for Scheduled Caste (SC) students in High Schools located in specific regions. In this article, we will explore the SHRESHTA Scheme 2025, detailing how students can benefit from it, along with information on its objectives, advantages, key features, eligibility criteria, required documents, and the application process.

Table of Contents

Overview of SHRESHTA Scheme 2025

The SHRESHTA Scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment targets residential education specifically for SC students in High Schools. Beneficiaries will receive scholarships that cover all educational expenses for meritorious students in classes 9 to 11. Only students belonging to the Scheduled Castes are eligible to apply. The scheme is set to begin in the academic year 2024-25. To access the scheme’s benefits, students must pass an entrance examination known as the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), which is conducted by the National Testing Agency in a computer-based format.

National Scholarship Portal

Selection of 177 Private Schools Under the Scheme

The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, inaugurated the SHRESHTA Scheme to offer improved educational opportunities for economically vulnerable SC students. A total of 177 private schools have been identified across the country. Approximately 1300 seats are available for grade 9 and about 1700 for grade 11 under the scheme. Students from various states and union territories will be selected based on their performance in the transparent NETS exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency.

Admission to schools will depend on the merit achieved in the exam, with selected students having the opportunity to choose their school through a web-based counselling platform. The scheme will cover both school and hostel fees, with scholarship amounts set at Rs 1 lakh for grade 9, Rs 1.10 lakh for grade 10, Rs 1.25 lakh for grade 11, and Rs 1.35 lakh for grade 12 annually.

Timeline for SHRESHTA Scheme

Event	Date
Opening of choice marking portal	22nd May 2024 to 30th May 2024
Last date for first round choice submission	30th May 2024
First round result announcement	31st May 2024
Reporting at allotted schools	1st June 2024 to 7th June 2024
Opening of second round choice filling portal	8th June 2024 to 12th June 2024
Last date for second round choice submission	12th June 2024
Second round results announcement	13th June 2024
Reporting at allotted schools for second round	14th June 2024 to 20th June 2024
Final joining date in schools	20th June 2024

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Key Features of the SHRESHTA Scheme

Name of Scheme	SHRESHTA
Launched By	Government of India
Beneficiary	Students from Scheduled Caste Category
Objective	To Provide Quality Education
Official Website	SHRESHTA Website
Year	2025

Correction Window Extended

The National Testing Agency has extended the deadline for applicants to make corrections to their applications for classes 9 and 11. Students can now submit changes to their application forms from 16th April 2024 to 18th April 2024. This notification has been issued by the NTA. Students should finalize their corrections as no further opportunities will be given to alter their applications thereafter.

Parents are advised to regularly check the NTA’s official website for the latest updates. The government aims to provide approximately 3000 seats in classes 9 and 11, fully funded by the central government. The online exam is scheduled for 7th May 2024, and there is no fee to appear for the test. Students eligible as per the scheme can partake in the exam, available in both Hindi and English.

Residential Schools Under the SHRESHTA Scheme

Students who qualify for the NETS exam will be considered for admission into CBSE-affiliated schools. Scholarships will be directly allocated to these schools for students enrolled through the scheme. The scholarships will cover tuition and hostel expenses. This scheme is exclusively for residential schools affiliated with CBSE that have been operational for at least five years and maintained a minimum 75% pass rate for the previous three years. Interested schools need to provide their consent online by 25th March 2024.

Important Dates Related to SHRESHTA Scheme

Events	Dates
Online application form submission	12th March 2024 to 12th April 2024 (up to 5:00 p.m.)
Correction window	13th April 2024 to 15th April 2024
Exam city announcement	Last week of April
Download admit cards	2nd May 2024 onwards
Examination date	7th May 2024
Examination time	2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Duration of examination	3 hours
Result declaration	To be announced on NTA website

Examination Schedule Details

Date of Examination	7th May 2024
Examination Mode	Pen and Paper
Timing of Examination	2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Examination Duration	3 hours
Entry to Exam Hall	12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Instructions by Invigilator	1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.
Examination Starts	2:00 p.m.

Aims of the SHRESHTA Scheme

The primary aim of the SHRESHTA Scheme is to allow students from the Scheduled Caste community to receive an education without the burden of financial worries. The government will cover both school and hostel fees, promoting greater literacy rates across the nation. This initiative will empower students, enabling them to gain self-sufficiency in their educational pursuits and improving their overall quality of life.

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Benefits and Advantages of the SHRESHTA Scheme

The SHRESHTA Scheme offers residential education for SC students in targeted areas.
It provides scholarships that cover all educational costs for deserving students from grades 9 to 11.
Only SC students are eligible to benefit from this scheme.
The academic rollout is planned for the year 2024-25.
Students must take the NETS examination to avail of the benefits of the scheme.
This national-level test is administered by the National Testing Agency in a computer-based format.
Qualified students will be shortlisted for admission into CBSE affiliated schools.
Scholarships will be allocated directly to the schools where shortlisted students gain admission.
The scholarship will cover all necessary fees, including school and hostel costs.
Only residential schools affiliated with CBSE offering classes until the 12th standard are eligible under the scheme and must have a minimum 75% pass rate over the last three years.
Residential schools must indicate their participation by 25th March 2024.

Instructions Regarding the Scheme

The entrance exam will consist of one paper with four sections: Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and General Awareness.
This paper is designed for admissions to the best private residential schools under the scheme.
Questions will be based on the NCERT syllabus for class 8 for grade 9 admission and class 10 syllabus for grade 11 admission.
Students currently in classes 8 or 10 during the academic year 2024-25 are eligible to apply.
The exam will be conducted in both Hindi and English formats.

Important Instructions for Candidates

Candidates should arrive at the examination center at least two hours before the exam starts.
Students must bring their SC certificate for verification purposes.
Once inside the exam hall, candidates should take their allotted seats promptly.
Late arrivals may miss important instructions, and the agency will not be accountable for any delays.
All candidates must have their admit card ready for request.
A valid photo ID must also be presented at the examination center.
Each candidate will be assigned a seat marked with their roll number.
Taking any unauthorized seat may lead to cancellation of the candidate’s enrollment.
Candidates must ensure their question paper matches the class they applied for.
Incorrect data entry may lead to disqualification from the exam.
Absentees on the scheduled exam date will not have a chance for a retest.
On exam day, candidates are required to present:
- Printout of the admit card with a self-declaration downloaded from the NTA website
- One passport-size photograph
- One authorized photo ID
- A blue or black ballpoint pen

Instructions Regarding Unfair Practices and Breaches of Examination Rules

Instances of unfair practices during the exam will be subject to disciplinary action.
Results will not be announced for candidates who engage in any dishonest actions.
Candidates who take the exam from unauthorized centers or allow someone else to appear on their behalf will have their results annulled.
No appeals will be entertained in such cases.

Guidelines Related to SHRESHTA Scheme Scores

Examination scores will be published on the official NTA website.
There will be no re-evaluation or rechecking of exam results.
No communications regarding re-evaluation will be entertained.

The admission policy must be adhered to during the admission process.

SHRESHTA Scheme Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must belong to the Scheduled Caste category.
Applicants should be currently studying in classes 8 or 10.
Family income should not exceed Rs 2.5 lakhs annually.
Candidates applying for grade 9 must be born between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2010.
Candidates applying for grade 11 must be born between 1st April 2004 and 31st March 2008.
No examination fee will be required for the test.
Applicants must be permanent residents of India.

Documentation Required

Aadhar Card
Residence Certificate
Caste Certificate
Income Certificate
Ration Card
Birth Certificate
Passport-size photographs
Contact Information (Mobile number & Email ID)

Examination Pattern

Subject	No. of Questions	Marks
Mathematics	30	120
Science	20	80
Social Science	25	100
General Awareness/Knowledge	25	100
Total	100	400

Note: Each correct answer is worth 4 marks, and there is no penalty for incorrect or unanswered questions.

Instructions for Online Application Form Submission

Applicants must thoroughly review the instructions in the Information Bulletin.
Applications can only be submitted online.
Candidates must select four preferred exam cities.
Efforts will be made to assign the exam city based on the candidate’s choices.
Center allotment is computerized, with no human intervention.
Choices submitted cannot be modified later.
Only one application form can be submitted by each candidate.

How to Register for the SHRESHTA Scheme

Visit the official website of SHRESHTA.

The home page will display.
On the home page, click on Registration for SHRESHTA 2025.

A new page will open.
Select New Registration.

Read the instructions displayed.
Tick the checkbox to proceed.
Click Click Here to Proceed.

The application form will appear.
Fill out the required details:
- Candidate’s Name
- Father’s Name
- Mother’s Name
- Date of Birth
- Gender
- Identity Type
- Identification Number
- Address
- Sub-locality
- Locality
- Country
- State
- District
- Pin Code
- Email Address
- Mobile Number
- Alternate Mobile Number
- Permanent Address
- Password
- Security PIN
Click submit.
Log in to the portal to fill out the application form completely.
Update details such as:
- Contact Information
- Personal Information
- Aadhar Details
- Exam & Centre Information
- Qualification Information
Upload the necessary documents and finally click submit to complete your application.

SHRESHTA Scheme Admit Card

A provisional admit card will be made available for download on the NTA website.
Candidates must download their admit card before the exam.
Candidates can only take the exam at their allotted centers as per their admit cards.
If candidates face any issues downloading their admit cards, they should contact the helpline at 011407590000 (available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Read all the instructions on the admit card carefully and follow them.
In case of discrepancies in the candidate’s details, immediate contact with the NTA helpline is advised.
Duplicate admit cards will not be issued at the exam center.
Changes to the admit card details are prohibited.
Keep the admit card in good condition for future reference.
Admit card issuance does not guarantee eligibility, as eligibility will be verified at later stages of the admission process.