SHRESHTA SCHEME

• SHRESHTA = Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas, a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Dept. of Social Justice & Empowerment) for meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
• Provides free quality residential education from Class IX to XII in top private CBSE/State-board schools (Mode-I) and grant-in-aid to NGO-run schools/hostels (Mode-II).
• UPSC relevance: GS-II welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; intersects with education access, Article 46 DPSP, and SC empowerment.