Over 19,000 SC, ST and OBC students dropped out from central universities in 5 years: Govt

According to the Ministry of Education, over 19,000 students from OBC, SC, and ST categories withdrew from Central Universities, IITs, and IIMs between 2018 and 2023.

By Jitendra Jangid Mar 30, 2023, 14:31 IST

More than 19,000 students from OBC, SC and ST categories dropped out from central universities, IITs, and IIMs during 2018-2023, according to the Ministry of Education. The data was shared by Union Minister of State for Education, Subhas Sarkar, in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha. According to available records, the number of drop out students from 2018 to 2023 in Central Universities (CUs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in various courses is 19,256. While 14,446 students from the three categories dropped out from central universities during the period, 4,444 students dropped out from IITs, and 366 from IIMs, the minister said . ”In the Higher Education sector students have multiple options and they choose to migrate across institutions and from one course or programme to another in the same institution. The migration or withdrawal, if any, is mainly on account of securing seats by the students in other departments or institutions of their choice or on any personal ground,” Sarkar said. ”The government has taken various steps like fee reduction, establishment of more institutes, scholarship, priority access to national level scholarships to aid the students with poor financial backgrounds to pursue their education. ”For the welfare of SC and ST students the schemes like ‘waiver of tuition fees in IITs’, grant of national scholarships under Central Sector Scheme, scholarships in institutes etc. are also there,” he added.

According to the Ministry of Education, over 19,000 students from OBC, SC, and ST categories withdrew from Central Universities, IITs, and IIMs between 2018 and 2023. Union Minister of State for Education, Subhas Sarkar, provided this information in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha. From 2018 to 2023, 19,256 students dropped out of various courses in Central Universities, Indian Institutes of Technology, and Indian Institutes of Management. Of these, 14,446 were from Central Universities, 4,444 from IITs, and 366 from IIMs.

Sarkar clarified that students have several options in the higher education sector, and they may choose to migrate across institutions or switch courses within the same institution. Such migration or withdrawal is usually due to securing seats in other preferred institutions or personal reasons. He also mentioned that the government has implemented various measures to assist financially disadvantaged students in pursuing their education, such as fee reduction, establishing more institutes, and offering scholarships, including national-level scholarships with priority access for SC and ST students. Additionally, there are schemes in place, such as the waiver of tuition fees in IITs and scholarships in institutes, to support the welfare of SC and ST students.

Over 19,000 SC, ST and OBC students dropped out from central universities in 5 years: Govt

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