Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The federal government moved to support tribal education in the Northeast. On September 15, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs signed off on 94.03 crore for Meghalaya. This cash covers the Central share of the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribes scheme for the 2026-27 financial year.
The ministry set the exact drawing limit at 94,03,38,000 rupees. Officials categorized this under Demand Number 100 with the SLS Code ML117. Money flows through a mother sanction arrangement. The state must now submit daily payment files to trigger the release of funds. Once the cash arrives, Meghalaya handles payouts via the e-Kuber system to reach students directly.
Rules remain tight. The government mandate states, "The Ministry has directed that the grant be used only for the purpose for which it has been sanctioned." State officials must track every rupee. They also have to file annual utilisation certificates using the GFR 12C format to prove the money went where intended.
Auditors are watching. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India holds the right to inspect all accounts tied to this grant. The state cannot shift funds between project components without getting a green light from federal authorities first. This deal followed standard financial protocols, gaining approval from the Integrated Finance Division under the General Financial Rules of 2017.
Updated at 29th September 2026 at 5:47am
While the initial report focused on the 2026-27 sanction, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma clarified that the latest 94.03 crore release actually covers the balance instalment for the 2025-26 academic session. The state previously pushed out a first instalment of 93.698 crore to 96,812 verified ST beneficiaries to keep the money moving without waiting for federal delays.
The total price tag for the 2025-26 scholarship cycle sits at 198.42 crore. To bridge the gap before the Centre settled its share, the state government fronted a 10 percent commitment of 9.40 crore. Sangma noted the state is pushing to accelerate the process to prevent any logjams in getting cash to the nearly 100,000 verified applicants.
Updated at 29th September 2026 at 5:49pm
The money hits as the state clears the books for the 2025-26 academic cycle. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma confirmed the 94.03 crore tranche functions as the final balance for that session. To keep the gears turning, the state had already pushed out a first instalment of 93.698 crore to 96,812 verified ST students without waiting for federal cash to land.
The total price tag for the 2025-26 scholarship cycle sits at 198.42 crore. Before the latest federal release, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs had provided 84.55 crore, forcing the state to cough up its 10 percent commitment of 9.40 crore to bridge the gap. The state managed the first round of payouts via Direct Benefit Transfer to ensure applicants did not face a dry spell.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 1:50pm
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma took to social media to confirm the release, stating, "Happy to share that the Central Government has released the balance installment of Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students amounting to Rs 94.03 Crore for the Academic Session 2025-2026. The State Government is committed to improving and accelerating the scholarship process to ensure timely support for our students."
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