Ministry of Social Justice felicitates top SC, ST students in national ceremony

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment honored 1,490 students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on Sept 2 for topping class 10 and class 12 examinations conducted by 29 state and central boards during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years.

The felicitation took place at the Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award Ceremony 2025 in New Delhi, attended by Union Minister Virendra Kumar, who also chairs the Dr Ambedkar Foundation.

Kumar praised the awardees and highlighted the role of education in achieving social transformation.

“Babasaheb gave the oppressed communities the strength to rise through knowledge. The government remains committed to empowering Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other disadvantaged groups through scholarships, fellowships, and targeted welfare schemes,” he said.

For 2021-22, 367 students of class 10 and 563 students of class 12 received the awards, including 71 toppers.

In 2022-23, 198 students of class 10 and 362 students of class 12 were recognized, with 46 toppers among them.

Each awardee was granted a one-time cash prize of ₹60,000 for first place, ₹50,000 for second, and ₹40,000 for third.

Where no girl appeared among the top three, the highest-scoring girl student was given a special prize of ₹60,000.

Minister of State Ramdas Athawale and B L Verma also addressed the event, urging the young achievers to embody the values of equality, fraternity, dignity, and social justice.

“These young achievers are torchbearers of Babasaheb’s ideals. Education is the true instrument of empowerment,” Athawale said.