Shillong, Aug 27: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today released the first installment of the Umbrella Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students for Academic Year 2025-26, at a programme held at Shillong College attended by Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui.
A total of 96,812 applications from ST students across Meghalaya have been verified for the current academic year, against an estimated total expenditure of Rs. 198.42 crore. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, has committed a Central share of Rs. 84.55 crore, while the State Government has sanctioned its 10% share of Rs. 9.40 crore to prevent delays.
Rs. 93.698 crore was disbursed today as the first installment to all 96,812 beneficiaries across every district, transferred directly into students’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.
“More Than Money”
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the release meant tuition fees paid on time, hostel dues no longer weighing on families, and students freed to focus on their studies without worrying over books and materials.
He also used the occasion to explain a shift in how scholarship funds now flow.
In previous years, disbursals from the Centre were often delayed; last year, the State advanced the money from its own exchequer before Christmas and adjusted it later against Central funds.
This year, the Finance Ministry has introduced a Single Nodal Agency (SNA) system for real-time transactions, under which funds no longer route through the Ministry or the State Government.
Once the State completes verification, the Reserve Bank of India transfers the money directly to students’ accounts.
“Earlier, the Ministry would reimburse us. Now if I give an advance and RBI also transfers directly, you’d get double — so my window to advance funds closed, but a new window of direct funding opened,” Sangma said, adding that political pressure had ensured the first 40% installment was released without delay.
Payments to Take 4–5 Working Days
Unlike last year’s single bulk transfer by the State, RBI will now process all 96,812 accounts individually under the SNA system, which handles thousands of schemes nationwide. Officials expect this to take four to five working days.
The Chief Minister urged students not to be alarmed if confirmation SMS messages don’t arrive immediately, noting the process began today despite the intervening Raksha Bandhan and weekend holidays. He said the Education Department has been directed to treat failed transactions — due to incorrect bank details, Aadhaar seeding issues, or mismatches — as an ongoing responsibility, to be monitored and reprocessed until every eligible student is paid.
A Message to Youth
Sangma framed the scholarship as part of a broader reform effort in education. He also addressed the state’s roughly 18 lakh youth under the age of 20, saying that beyond qualifications and skills, the ability to take responsibility matters most.
“I am surrounded by very intelligent people who give me absolutely correct analysis. But I look for the person who says, ‘Don’t worry sir, I’ll take care of it, I’ll get it done.’ That is the person who matters,” he said.
Reflecting on how technology has reshaped how young people learn — from waiting for print magazines to instant access via YouTube — he said many jobs and skills would become obsolete, but the willingness to take responsibility never would.
“Let’s not be the problem, let’s be part of the solution — at home, in our community, college, state and country,” he said.
The Chief Minister noted that the National Scholarship Portal for AY 2026-27 opened on July 3, 2026, and will remain open until November 30, 2026, for Pre- and Post-Matric Scholarships for ST students. Officers have been instructed to begin verification and sanctioning early to avoid delays.
He also reiterated the Government’s commitment to pursuing release of the balance Central share and the separate CM Scholarship at the earliest opportunity.
