Government launches SHRESHTA Scheme for quality education

Context

The Union Government has launched the SHRESHTA Scheme for promoting residential education in High schools in Targeted Areas.

What is the SHRESHTA Scheme?

• The scheme ‘SHRESHTA’ was created with the goal of providing quality education and opportunity to students of SC Category.
• Under the scheme, the Government will provide high-quality education for meritorious but poor SC students in CBSE-affiliated residential schools across the country. 
• Objective: The scheme aims to provide high-quality education for meritorious but poor Scheduled Castes(SC) students in CBSE-affiliated reputed residential schools across the country. 

Eligibility

• The students belonging to Scheduled Castes studying in class 8th and 10th in the current academic year are eligible for availing of the benefits of the scheme.
• Students must belong to the marginalized income groups within the SC community.
• Parental annual income must be less than Rs.2.5 Lakh annually.

Selection Process

• Students are selected through a transparent mechanism through a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS). 
• The test is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission in classes 9th and 11th.
• Successful candidates, after following the e-counselling process, are given admission to the school of their choice anywhere in the country for their academic persuasion.
• The Government will bear the total cost of the school fee and hostel charges till the completion of class 12th.