Reimbursement of Tuition Fee for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities (School), Delhi 2025-26: Up to Rs. 48,000, Income Slabs, Eligibility and Complete Application Guide

The Reimbursement of Tuition Fee scheme is run by the Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, Government of NCT of Delhi. It reimburses tuition fees, laboratory fees, and library fees for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Minority communities who are studying in Classes 1 to 12 at recognized public schools in Delhi. The maximum reimbursement is Rs. 48,000 per year or the actual amount paid, whichever is lower.

The scheme targets families with an annual income of Rs. 2 lakh or less, and applications are submitted through the e-District Delhi portal at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. For the academic year 2025-26, applications opened on 31 October 2025. The official last date on the SC/ST Welfare Department website is 31 March 2026.

A critical detail that the existing coverage of this scheme often misses: this scholarship also covers students from Minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi), not just SC/ST/OBC. The full official name includes “Minorities,” and leaving this group out means an entire category of eligible students may never find out they qualify. Multiple sources, including the Buddy4Study listing and the official department guidelines, confirm Minority students are covered under this scheme.

Why This Scheme Exists and Who It Is Really For

Delhi has a large network of recognized public schools (private schools recognized by or affiliated with the Department of Education, GNCTD, or Municipal local bodies). These schools charge tuition fees that government schools do not. For families from SC, ST, OBC, and Minority communities earning under Rs. 2 lakh per year, even moderate annual school fees of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 48,000 can represent a significant portion of household income.

This scheme exists to ensure that children from these communities who are enrolled in fee-charging recognized schools can continue their education without the family bearing the full cost burden. It is not meant for students in government schools (which are already free). It is specifically for students in recognized private schools where fees are charged.

The practical significance is substantial. A family earning Rs. 1.5 lakh per year with a child in a recognized school charging Rs. 30,000 annually would be spending 20% of their income just on school fees. This scheme reimburses that entire amount, freeing up resources for other household needs.

What the Scheme Covers

The financial benefit covers three specific types of fees: tuition fees, laboratory fees, and library fees. These are the compulsory academic fees charged by recognized schools. Other fees such as development charges, building fund, or extracurricular activity fees are not covered unless they fall under the categories of tuition, lab, or library.

The reimbursement is capped at Rs. 48,000 per academic year or the actual amount paid by the student, whichever is lower. This means if your school’s total tuition, lab, and library fees are Rs. 35,000, you get Rs. 35,000 reimbursed. If the fees are Rs. 60,000, you get only Rs. 48,000.

The Income Slab Structure: 100% vs 75% Reimbursement

This is the detail that was vague in the previous version and is now confirmed from multiple sources. The reimbursement is not a flat 100% for everyone under the Rs. 2 lakh income limit. There are two slabs.

Families with an annual parental income of up to Rs. 60,000 receive 100% reimbursement of the tuition fee, lab fee, and library fee (subject to the Rs. 48,000 cap). This means the poorest families get complete fee coverage.

Families with an annual parental income between Rs. 60,001 and Rs. 2,00,000 receive 75% reimbursement of the fees. This means if your school fee is Rs. 40,000 and your family income is Rs. 1.5 lakh, you would receive Rs. 30,000 (75% of Rs. 40,000) as reimbursement, not the full Rs. 40,000.

This slab structure means the actual amount you receive depends on both your family income and your school fees. A student from a family earning Rs. 50,000 per year in a school charging Rs. 25,000 gets the full Rs. 25,000 back. A student from a family earning Rs. 1.8 lakh in the same school gets Rs. 18,750 (75% of Rs. 25,000) back.

Understanding this slab distinction is crucial for financial planning. Many families assume they will get the full amount reimbursed and are surprised when only 75% comes through.

Different Rules for Classes 1-5 vs Classes 6-12

The scheme applies differently depending on the class level of the student, and this distinction has practical implications for parents.

For students in Classes 1 to 5, the reimbursement of tuition and other compulsory fees is provided without the 50% marks requirement. Young children in primary school are not subjected to academic performance conditions. The attendance requirement may also be relaxed for this age group, though parents should verify the current year’s specific rules on the e-District portal.

For students in Classes 6 to 12, the academic and attendance conditions apply strictly. A minimum of 50% marks in the previous class examination is mandatory. A minimum attendance of 80% in the preceding academic year is required (Buddy4Study and some official sources cite 80%, while the Directorate of Education guidelines reference 70% in some documents). Parents should verify the exact current requirement on the e-District portal, but preparing for the stricter 80% threshold is advisable.

This class-level distinction means that for primary school children, the scheme is effectively an entitlement for all SC/ST/OBC/Minority families under the income threshold. For secondary and senior secondary students, it becomes conditional on maintaining academic performance and attendance.

Eligibility Criteria: Every Condition Explained

Category

The student must belong to one of the following categories: Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), or Minority community (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi). A valid caste certificate (for SC/ST/OBC) or minority community certificate must be provided.

The caste certificate must be issued in the name of the student or the student’s father by the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). This is a strict requirement. Caste certificates issued by authorities outside Delhi, even if the student is currently studying in Delhi, are not accepted. If your family recently moved to Delhi from another state, you will need to obtain a fresh Delhi-issued caste certificate before applying.

For Minority students, the minority community status must be documented. This can be done through a self-declaration, school leaving certificate mentioning religion, or a certificate from a competent authority. The specific document requirement should be verified on the e-District portal.

Domicile

The student must be a domicile of Delhi. A domicile certificate issued by the competent authority of the Government of NCT of Delhi is required. Simply studying in a Delhi school is not sufficient. You must have a Delhi domicile certificate. Students from other states who are studying in Delhi schools but do not hold a Delhi domicile are not eligible, even if they meet all other criteria.

This condition means that a family from UP or Haryana that moved to Delhi for work and enrolled their child in a Delhi school cannot claim this reimbursement unless they have obtained a Delhi domicile certificate. Given that obtaining a domicile certificate requires proof of residence for a specified period, newly relocated families may face a waiting period before becoming eligible.

School Enrollment

The student must be enrolled in Classes 1 to 12 in a school recognized or affiliated with the Department of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, or with the Municipal local bodies of Delhi (MCD, NDMC). The school must be a recognized public school in Delhi.

The term “recognized public school” in the Delhi context means a private school that has obtained recognition from the Directorate of Education, GNCTD, or is affiliated with a municipal body. It does not mean government schools (which are free and therefore not covered under this reimbursement scheme). Unrecognized or unapproved schools are also not covered.

Academic Performance (Classes 6-12)

The student must have scored at least 50% marks in the previous class examination. This minimum marks requirement ensures that the reimbursement supports students who are making academic progress. For students in Classes 1 to 5, this condition is typically waived or not applied.

A student who scored 48% in the Class 7 examination and is now in Class 8 would not be eligible for reimbursement in Class 8, even if they meet all other criteria. The 50% threshold acts as a minimum academic standard that must be maintained year on year.

Attendance (Classes 6-12)

For students in Classes 6 to 12, a minimum attendance in the previous academic year is mandatory. The Buddy4Study official listing states 80% attendance, while some Directorate of Education documents reference 70%. The safer approach is to ensure your child maintains at least 80% attendance to guarantee eligibility regardless of which threshold applies in a given year.

Attendance is calculated based on the total working days in the academic year. Medical absences, family emergencies, and other reasons for absence all count against the attendance percentage unless the school has specifically exempted them under their rules. Parents should monitor attendance throughout the year, not just at the time of application.

Family Income

The annual family income must not exceed Rs. 2,00,000 (Rs. 2 lakh). As explained above, the reimbursement percentage depends on whether income is up to Rs. 60,000 (100% reimbursement) or between Rs. 60,001 and Rs. 2,00,000 (75% reimbursement).

An income certificate is required as proof. For parents or guardians in government service, the salary certificate serves as income proof. For those in private jobs or other professions, an income certificate issued by competent authorities of Delhi is required. The income certificate must be valid at the time of submission. Expired or outdated income certificates can result in application rejection.

No Repeaters

Students who are repeating a class (repeaters in a particular class) are not eligible for reimbursement benefits. This is clearly stated in the official guidelines. The scheme is designed for students progressing through their education, not for those who failed and are repeating the same grade.

If a student failed Class 9 and is repeating Class 9, they cannot claim reimbursement for the repeated year. However, if they pass the repeated year and move to Class 10, they become eligible again for Class 10 reimbursement.

Documents Required

The following documents must be uploaded during the online application on the e-District Delhi portal. Preparing all documents before starting the application is strongly recommended, as incomplete uploads are a common reason for delays and rejections.

A caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC) issued in the name of the student or the student’s father by the SDM or Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of GNCTD is required. For minority students, the relevant community certificate or self-declaration must be uploaded on the portal.

A domicile certificate of Delhi issued by the competent authority of GNCTD is mandatory. This establishes that the student is a Delhi resident.

An income certificate showing annual family income not exceeding Rs. 2 lakh is required. For government employees, the salary certificate is accepted. For private sector employees and others, an income certificate from the competent authorities of Delhi is needed. The certificate must be valid at the time of application submission.

The marksheet from the previous year or class is needed to verify the 50% marks requirement (for Classes 6-12). For Class 1 students or fresh enrollees, this may not be applicable.

A bonafide certificate or enrollment proof from the school confirming current enrollment in a recognized school affiliated with the Department of Education, GNCTD, or Delhi municipal bodies is required.

An Aadhaar card of the student is mandatory. This serves as both identity proof and is required for DBT linkage.

Aadhaar-seeded bank account details of the student are needed for the reimbursement transfer. The bank account must be active and linked to the student’s Aadhaar. A joint bank account with a parent or guardian is also permissible, which is particularly important for younger students in Classes 1 to 5 who may not have their own individual bank accounts.

Original fee receipts for the current academic session must be uploaded to verify the actual fees paid. Since this is a reimbursement scheme (not a fee waiver), the fee receipts prove that the family has actually paid the fees to the school. Without these receipts, the application cannot be processed.

A passport-sized photograph of the student as per the portal’s specifications is required.

How to Apply on e-District Delhi

Applications are submitted online through the e-District Delhi portal at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. There is no offline application route. Paper applications are not accepted.

Visit edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. If you are a first-time applicant, click on “Register” to create a new account. You will need to provide basic personal details, a mobile number, and an email address. After registration, you will receive login credentials.

If you already have an e-District account from a previous year or for another service, log in with your existing credentials. There is no need to create a new account.

After logging in, navigate to “Apply Services” in the dashboard. Look for the Reimbursement of Tuition Fee scheme under the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC department.

Select Aadhaar card as the document type for identity verification. Enter the Aadhaar number along with the captcha code. This step links your application to your Aadhaar identity.

Fill in all required personal details (student name, parent name, date of birth, address), academic details (school name, class, previous marks, attendance), and family income details in the application form.

Upload scanned copies of all required documents as specified above. Ensure each document is clear, legible, and within the file size limits set by the portal. Blurry or unreadable document uploads are a common cause of application rejection.

Review the complete application carefully. Verify every detail including name spellings, Aadhaar number, bank account number, and uploaded documents. Once submitted, making corrections may be difficult or impossible.

Submit the application. After successful submission, you will receive an application reference number. Save this number carefully. You will need it to track the application status on the same portal.

After Submission: What Happens Next

Once you submit your application, it enters a verification pipeline. The department verifies the documents, cross-checks the income and caste certificates, confirms school enrollment, and validates the fee receipts. The reimbursement amount is calculated based on the actual fees paid and the applicable income slab (100% for income up to Rs. 60,000, 75% for income up to Rs. 2 lakh).

After verification, the reimbursement is credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The timeline for disbursement varies and is not publicly specified, but students should expect several weeks to months between application submission and actual credit.

If there are issues with the application (missing documents, Aadhaar mismatch, bank account not seeded), the department may flag the application for correction. Students should regularly check the application status on the e-District portal using their reference number and respond promptly to any correction requests.

Application Timeline for 2025-26

Applications for the academic year 2025-26 opened on 31 October 2025 through the e-District Delhi portal. The official last date as stated on the SC/ST Welfare Department website (scstwelfare.delhi.gov.in) is 31 March 2026.

Some sources list the deadline as 31 May 2026. This discrepancy may be due to deadline extensions announced after the initial date. Students should verify the current deadline directly on the e-District portal or the SC/ST Welfare Department website, as the Delhi government frequently extends scholarship deadlines based on application volume and administrative considerations.

The scholarship is renewable annually. Students who received the reimbursement in the previous year need to apply again for the current year, providing updated documents including the latest marksheet and fee receipts. There is no automatic continuation from one year to the next.

Common Reasons for Application Rejection

Understanding why applications get rejected can help you avoid these pitfalls.

The most common reason is incomplete or incorrect documents. A caste certificate from another state instead of Delhi, an expired income certificate, or blurry document uploads all lead to rejection.

Aadhaar mismatch is another frequent issue. If the name on the Aadhaar card does not match the name on the school records or the caste certificate, the application may be flagged. Ensure name spellings are consistent across all documents before applying.

Bank account not seeded with Aadhaar causes DBT failure even if the application is approved. Before applying, visit your bank branch and confirm that your account is Aadhaar-seeded. If you face issues, you can open an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account at the nearest post office with instant Aadhaar seeding.

Missing fee receipts are a straightforward rejection cause. Since this is a reimbursement scheme, original fee receipts for the current session are mandatory. If your school provides digital receipts, take a printout and scan it for upload.

Applying as a repeater will result in automatic rejection. If you failed and are repeating a class, do not apply for that repeated year.

Attendance below the threshold for Classes 6-12 will disqualify the application even if all other criteria are met. There is no provision for attendance relaxation based on medical or personal circumstances within this scheme’s guidelines.

Practical Tips for Parents

Start gathering documents early. The most time-consuming document to obtain is often the caste certificate from the Delhi SDM office, which can take several weeks. Begin this process well before the application deadline.

Pay school fees on time and preserve all original receipts. The reimbursement is of fees actually paid, so you need proof of payment. If your school provides fees in installments, collect receipts for each installment.

Ensure the student’s bank account is Aadhaar-linked. For children in Classes 1 to 5, open a joint account with a parent if the child does not have an individual account. Confirm Aadhaar seeding with the bank.

Monitor attendance throughout the year. A student who falls below 80% (or 70%) attendance becomes ineligible regardless of marks. If your child has been absent due to illness, check whether the school can adjust the attendance record based on medical certificates.

Apply early in the application window. Last-minute applications face portal congestion, and any document issues leave no time for correction.

Keep the application reference number safe. This is your only way to track the status and respond to queries from the department.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this scheme only for SC/ST/OBC students?

No. Students from Minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi) are also eligible. The full scheme covers SC, ST, OBC, and Minority students.

What is the maximum reimbursement amount?

Rs. 48,000 per year or the actual fees paid (tuition + lab + library), whichever is lower.

Do all eligible families get 100% reimbursement?

No. Families with annual income up to Rs. 60,000 get 100% reimbursement. Families with income between Rs. 60,001 and Rs. 2,00,000 get 75% reimbursement.

Do I need to pay fees first and then get reimbursed?

Yes. This is a reimbursement scheme, not a fee waiver. You pay the fees to your school first and then claim reimbursement through the portal with original fee receipts.

What is the minimum marks requirement?

At least 50% marks in the previous class examination. This applies to Classes 6 to 12. For Classes 1 to 5, the marks condition is typically not applied.

What is the attendance requirement?

For Classes 6 to 12, a minimum of 80% attendance in the previous year is required as per the Buddy4Study listing (some Directorate of Education documents mention 70%). For Classes 1 to 5, this condition may be relaxed.

Can students repeating a class apply?

No. Repeaters in a particular class are not eligible for this benefit.

Do I need a Delhi domicile?

Yes. Only students with a Delhi domicile certificate issued by the competent authority of GNCTD are eligible. Studying in a Delhi school without a Delhi domicile is not sufficient.

Can the caste certificate be from another state?

No. The caste certificate must be issued by the SDM or Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of the Government of NCT of Delhi. Certificates from UP, Haryana, or any other state are not accepted.

Is a joint bank account acceptable?

Yes. A joint bank account with a parent or guardian is permissible, which is especially useful for younger students.

What if my Aadhaar name doesn’t match my school records?

Get the discrepancy corrected before applying. Either update your Aadhaar or get the school records corrected to ensure name consistency across all documents.

Can I apply for this if I already receive another scholarship?

The scheme guidelines do not explicitly mention a restriction on dual scholarships in the sources reviewed. However, students should check the current year’s specific guidelines on the e-District portal, as some Delhi scholarship schemes have a no-dual-benefit clause.

Where do I apply?

Online only, through the e-District Delhi portal at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in.

Related Delhi Scholarships Worth Knowing

While applying for this tuition fee reimbursement, parents should also be aware of other Delhi government scholarships their children may qualify for simultaneously or in the future.

The Merit Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC students provides Rs. 5,000 per year for Classes 9-10 and Rs. 10,000 per year for Classes 11-12 to meritorious students who score at least 50% marks. This is a separate scheme that can potentially be availed alongside the tuition fee reimbursement, subject to the no-dual-benefit rules.

The Dr. BR Ambedkar Scholarship for Topper Award provides Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 25,000 (amount varies by cycle) to the discipline topper among SC/ST/OBC/Minority students at professional and technical degree courses in Delhi. This is relevant for students who complete Class 12 and move to professional education.

The Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/OBC students are available through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for classes 9-10 (pre-matric) and 11 onwards (post-matric). These are centrally sponsored schemes with separate eligibility criteria.

Parents should map out the full scholarship landscape relevant to their child’s category, income level, and education stage to maximize available financial support across multiple years.

Official Links and Contact

The e-District Delhi application portal is at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. The Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities official website is scstwelfare.delhi.gov.in. The Directorate of Education, GNCTD, provides additional scheme details at edudel.nic.in. For scheme-related queries, contact the Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, B-Block, 2nd Floor, Vikas Bhawan, I.P. Estate, New Delhi 110002, Phone: 011-23379511 or 011-23379512, Email: [email protected].