Reports IndicesFriday, 16 October 2026·The Hindu - National
SC scholarship schemes under PAC scrutiny over CAG fraud markers and delays
PAC examined CAG-flagged delays, fraud markers and DBT issues in pre- and post-matric scholarships for SC students.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On October 15, 2026, the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, headed by K.C. Venugopal, examined CAG-flagged irregularities in pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes for Scheduled Caste students, with the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry asked to submit an action-taken report within one month.
Key specifics
- The CAG’s 2025 audit flagged delays of 1 to 90 months for 40.75 lakh beneficiaries across 14 States.
- More than 3.5 lakh beneficiaries did not receive scholarships, while over 5,700 cases lacked proper income-eligibility checks.
- Over 6,000 non-SC beneficiaries were found to have received SC scholarships in the audit findings.
- The schemes are Centrally sponsored, with a 60:40 funding ratio between the Union government and States/UTs, and 90:10 for northeastern States.
- From 2017-24, ₹52,878 crore was spent on the two scholarship schemes, including about ₹30,234.5 crore as the Union share.
Exam lens
TNPSC may ask a reports-and-schemes question on CAG, PAC, DBT and scholarship governance; remember 2025 audit, 60:40 ratio, 90:10 for northeastern States, and K.C. Venugopal as PAC chair.