Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is running the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SEED), and its Educational Empowerment Component gives free coaching and a monthly stipend to students from these communities. In 2025-26, the SEED scheme covered more than 1.10 lakh beneficiaries across the country, with about ₹53.06 crore released for education, livelihood and healthcare support.
This component is handled by the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC). It covers the coaching fees of eligible students and pays them a monthly stipend so that they can prepare for competitive exams without money problems. The scheme now keeps the annual family income limit at ₹8 lakh, which makes many more students eligible than before.
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - Educational Empowerment Component - Introduction
The Educational Empowerment Component helps students from De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes close the gap between their present level and their career goals. Launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, this scheme brings complete support to some of the most neglected and economically left-out communities.
Selected students can get free quality coaching and a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 for local study and ₹4,000 for outstation study, along with a special allowance of ₹2,000 per month if they have a disability of 40% or more. The board picks about 1,250 students every year, out of which 40% seats are kept for competitive exams where Class 12 is the qualifying level, and 60% for exams where graduation is required. The whole process is done online on the official portal of the ministry.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | SEED - Educational Empowerment Component (Free Coaching for DNT Students) |
| Level | Central |
| Launched By | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Implementing Agency | DWBDNC |
| Beneficiaries | DNT, NT and SNT community students |
| Annual Family Income Limit | ₹8 lakh or less |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹1,500 (local), ₹4,000 (outstation) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| DBT Benefit | Yes |
| Official Website | dwbdnc.dosje.gov.in |
Benefits
Under this component, the coaching fee is paid either as the actual fee charged by the institute or the limit fixed by the Ministry, whichever is lower. If the fee is more than the allowed amount, the student has to arrange the remaining money on their own. The support that a selected student gets is given below.
| Support Category | Amount/Benefit |
|---|---|
| Coaching Fees | Actual course fee or Ministry-prescribed limit, whichever is lower |
| Monthly Stipend (Local) | ₹1,500 per month |
| Monthly Stipend (Outstation) | ₹4,000 per month |
| Special Allowance (Disability) | ₹2,000 per month for readers/helpers |
For the 2025-26 batch, the coaching fee cap fixed by the Ministry for different courses is: RRB and State Police ₹40,000, Banking/Insurance/CLAT ₹50,000, JEE Main and NEET ₹1,20,000, TOEFL/SAT ₹35,000, CA-CPT ₹75,000, CPL courses ₹30,000 and NDA ₹50,000. A minimum of 16 hours of physical coaching each week is required for all these courses.
This financial help can be used to prepare for many exams, including Group A and B exams of UPSC, SSC and Railway Recruitment Boards, State Public Service Commission exams, officer grade exams in Banks, Insurance and PSUs, and entrance tests like IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT and CLAT. It also covers eligibility tests such as GRE, GMAT, SAT and TOEFL, plus defence related entrance exams like NDA, CDS and CPL.
The money reaches the candidate directly through DBT payment to an Aadhaar-linked bank account. The course fee is released in two equal parts, and the stipend is paid monthly for the course duration or for one year, whichever is less. The benefit under the scheme can be taken a maximum of two times in the whole study period.
Eligibility
To qualify for this support, the candidate must meet the following conditions:
The candidate must belong to a De-notified, Nomadic or Semi-Nomadic Tribe community and must have a valid DNT/NT/SNT certificate or a caste certificate that mentions this. The total family income from all sources should be ₹8 lakh or less per year. For example, if Ramesh, who comes from a Nomadic tribe, has a family income of ₹6 lakh, he fits the income rule well.
The candidate should not be receiving a similar coaching benefit from any other Central or State government scheme. For Class 12 level exams, the student must have passed or be studying in Class 12. For graduation level exams, the student must have completed the bachelor degree or be in the final year. The minimum qualifying marks fixed by the competitive exam board also need to be met.
In two-stage exams like Preliminary and Mains, priority is given to students who have cleared the preliminary exam at least once. Students with a valid disability certificate of 40% or more can claim the extra monthly allowance for helper, reader or escort support while attending coaching.
Application Process
Application under this component is done only online on the official portal of the ministry. The portal stays open for one month, two times a year, during the months of July and January. No offline application is accepted, and incomplete applications are rejected directly. The steps to apply are given below.
STEP 1 - Go to the official DWBDNC website at dwbdnc.dosje.gov.in and open the Free Coaching registration page on the portal.
STEP 2 - Click on Registration, then complete your profile by verifying your mobile number and email ID. Set a password for your account.
STEP 3 - Log in using your credentials and fill in the application form with your personal, residential and category details.
STEP 4 - Upload the required documents in the given format, such as the community certificate, income certificate, educational certificates and Aadhaar-linked bank details.
STEP 5 - Review the whole form carefully and submit it before the portal closes. Once it closes, a merit based list is prepared, and selected candidates get an Open Assurance Letter. This letter is shown to the chosen empanelled coaching institute to secure admission, and the admission confirmation is uploaded back on the portal so that the first part of the fee can be released.
Documents
Keep digital copies of the following documents ready before starting the online form:
- Community certificate showing DNT/NT/SNT status, issued by the Tehsildar or any competent authority.
- Income certificate from a Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar, or from the employer for employed parents.
- Educational qualification certificates such as the Class 12 marksheet or degree certificate.
- Valid disability certificate of 40% or more, if applicable.
- Aadhaar card and bank account details linked to Aadhaar.
- Affidavit stating that the benefit has not been taken more than twice and no similar scholarship is being availed.
- Preliminary exam qualification certificate, if available, to claim priority.
References
Official Free Coaching Guidelines | Registration Portal | SEED Scheme Details | DWBDNC FAQ - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
FAQ's
What is the annual family income limit under this scheme?
The total family income from all sources should be ₹8 lakh or less per year. This limit was raised to bring more DNT, NT and SNT students under the scheme.
Can a final year graduation student apply?
Yes, a student in the final year of the bachelor degree is eligible for competitive exams that need graduation as the qualifying level.
How many times can the benefit be taken?
The coaching benefit can be taken a maximum of two times in the whole study period, no matter how many attempts the competitive exam allows.
How much stipend do outstation students get?
Outstation students get a higher monthly stipend of ₹4,000, while local students get ₹1,500 per month. The stipend is paid for the course duration or for one year, whichever is less.
Are there specific coaching institutes a student must join?
Yes, a student must join an institute that is empanelled under the Free Coaching Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes students to be able to get the fee reimbursement.
When can a student apply?
The online portal opens for one month, two times a year, during the months of July and January. There is also a related running post on the same subject at Free Coaching Scheme.