✎ Delays in SC/OBC scholarships and poor scheme utilisation require urgent reforms in verification and monitoring.

Relevance for Banking, SSC & RBI Grade B exams: Polity & Governance

A parliamentary standing committee has raised serious concerns over delays in disbursing scholarships to Scheduled Caste (SC) students, poor utilisation of the Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs, and weak implementation of welfare schemes for minorities. The committee criticised the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for opening late in June, causing delays as states take months to verify applications, leaving students in uncertainty. It also highlighted the Free Coaching Scheme’s dismal performance, with only 12.3% beneficiaries covered in 2025-26 despite a budget of ₹20 crore, and questioned the ₹8 lakh income ceiling as a barrier. For banking and SSC aspirants, this underscores the importance of government schemes, fund utilisation, and accountability in governance—key areas often tested in exams. RBI Grade B candidates should note how fiscal mismanagement and delayed disbursements can impact social welfare, a theme relevant to monetary policy and public finance.

The committee also flagged gaps in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), where infrastructure created in minority areas lacks functional utility due to staff shortages and poor maintenance. It demanded stronger monitoring, third-party audits, and social audits to improve accountability. For SSC and banking exams, this highlights the role of monitoring mechanisms in public welfare schemes, a frequent topic in polity and governance sections. RBI Grade B aspirants should focus on how such inefficiencies reflect broader governance challenges, affecting resource allocation and economic inclusivity—critical for understanding policy frameworks in financial governance.

Source: Hindustan Times

Generated by AanyaAi for educational purpose.