Scholarship
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - "Educational Empowerment" Component(SEED-EE)
Eligibility
The applicant must belong to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes communities.
Region
All India
Award
Composite
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk
Overview
About SEED-EE
This is the Educational Empowerment component of SEED, the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes. SEED is a central umbrella scheme run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, launched in February 2022 to support communities that were once listed under colonial-era Criminal Tribes legislation and remain among the country's most disadvantaged.
The Educational Empowerment component funds free coaching for students from these communities so they can prepare for competitive examinations. That includes coaching for the civil services and for entry to professional courses such as medicine, engineering and management. Day-to-day implementation sits with the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC), the body set up under the department to run SEED's four components.
The support is meant for students who belong to De-notified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs) or Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs). The exact income limits, documents and application steps are set by the scheme and shown alongside this overview; check them before you apply, since the coaching benefit is targeted at students from these specific communities rather than the general population.
Sources: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment / SEED scheme (myScheme portal) · Drishti IAS – Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) · Adda247 – Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Central Government
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Social welfare & Empowerment, Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Composite |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The applicant must belong to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes communities. | |
| The applicant must have total family income from all sources of ₹2,50,000/- or less per annum. | |
| The applicant must not be availing any such benefits from similar Scheme of Centre Government or the State Government. | |
| The applicant must have secured minimum marks in the qualifying examination of the competitive exam for which coaching is sought, as prescribed in guidelines of the said competitive exam. | |
| The applicant must have passed Class 12th or be studying in Class 12th for competitive exams requiring Class 12th qualification. | |
| The applicant must have completed bachelor level course or be studying in final year of bachelor degree course for competitive exams requiring graduation qualification. | |
| The applicant will receive priority in selection if they have qualified preliminary examination at least once for examinations conducted in two parts (Preliminary and Mains). | |
| The applicant will be selected based on decreasing order of marks obtained in qualifying exams when eligible applications exceed available slots. | |
| The applicant with disabilities having valid disability certificate (equal to or more than 40% disability) is eligible for Special Allowance. | |
| The applicant is entitled for free coaching up to two times each for Preliminary and Main examinations for competitive examinations conducted in two stages. | |
| The applicant has no restriction in number of chances for coaching for Interview if selected for interview. | |
| _The applicant can avail benefits under the scheme maximum twice in their lifetime, irrespective of number of chances entitled for a particular competitive examination._ |
What you get
Award & benefits
- Financial Assistance
- Free Coaching Fees: Actual course fee of the institute or the prescribed course fee by the Ministry as per Annexure, whichever is less, subject to the limits for fees and duration laid down in the Annexure.- Monthly Stipend for Local Students: ₹1,500/- per month for students attending coaching within their locality.- Monthly Stipend for Outstation Students: ₹3,000/- per month for students attending coaching outside their locality.- Special Allowance for Students with Disabilities: ₹2,000/- per month towards reader allowance, escort allowance, helper allowance for students having valid disability certificate with 40% or more disability.
- Union Public Service Commission Group A and B examinations.
- Staff Selection Commission examinations.
- Railway Recruitment Boards examinations.
- State Public Service Commission Group A and B examinations.
- Officers Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertakings.
- Premier Entrance Examinations for Engineering (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination), Medical (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), Management (Common Admission Test), Law (Common Law Admission Test).
- Eligibility tests like Scholastic Assessment Test, Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admission Test and Test of English as a Foreign Language.
- Combined Pilot Licence courses, National Defense Academy and Combined Defense Services entrance examinations.
- Direct Benefit Transfer mode into beneficiary's bank account linked with Aadhaar.
- Course fee released in two installments (50% each), Monthly stipend and special allowances paid monthly.
- Stipend paid till duration of course or for one year, whichever is less.
- Benefits available to a student maximum twice in their lifetime.
- _The candidate must join the selected course within 6 months of receiving the first installment._
- _The candidate must deposit the first installment amount to the selected coaching institute._
- _The candidate must join an institute empanelled by the Ministry under Free Coaching Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes students._
- _If first installment is not paid to selected institute within 6 months, amount must be returned to Government and second installment will not be provided._
- _The candidate must submit affidavit that they will take admission in coaching institute within six months of receiving first installment._
- _The candidate must provide admission confirmation from the coaching institute on the online portal._
What to prepare
Documents required
Income Certificate From Revenue Officer Not Below Rank Of Tehsildar (for self-employed parents/guardians).
Income Certificate From Employer (for employed parents/guardians).
Consolidated Income Certificate From Revenue Officer (for employed parents/guardians with additional income sources).
Community Certificate Proving De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Status.
Educational Qualification Certificates (Class 12th marksheet or Degree certificate as applicable).
Disability Certificate Issued By Competent Authority (for students with disabilities, showing 40% or more disability).
Aadhaar Card.
Bank Account Details Linked With Aadhaar.
Affidavit Stating Not Taken Benefit More Than Twice Under The Scheme.
Affidavit Stating Not Availing Scholarship From Any Other Similar Scheme Of Centre Or State Government.
Preliminary Examination Qualification Certificate (if applicable, for priority consideration).
Admission Confirmation Letter From Coaching Institute.
Proof Of Joining The Selected Coaching Institute.
Receipt Of First Installment Deposit To The Coaching Institute.
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
SEED-EE – FAQ
The total family income from all sources must be ₹2,50,000/- or less per annum. Income declaration should be obtained from Revenue Officer not below rank of Tehsildar for self-employed families and from employer for employed parents.
Yes, students studying in final year of bachelor degree course are eligible for competitive exams requiring graduation qualification. You must be either completed or studying in final year at the time of receiving benefits.
Benefits can be availed maximum twice in your lifetime, irrespective of number of chances you may be entitled for any particular competitive examination. You must submit affidavit confirming you have not exceeded this limit.
Outstation students receive ₹3,000/- per month while local students get ₹1,500/- per month. Stipend is paid till duration of course or for one year, whichever is less, through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
Students with disabilities having valid disability certificate showing 40% or more disability receive Special Allowance of ₹2,000/- per month. This covers reader allowance, escort allowance, helper allowance in addition to regular stipend.
Coverage includes Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Boards, State Public Service Commissions, Banking, Insurance, Public Sector Undertakings, Engineering (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination), Medical (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), Management (Common Admission Test), Law (Common Law Admission Test), and various eligibility tests.
The portal remains open twice annually during July and January months for one month each. No offline applications are entertained and all incomplete applications will be summarily rejected.
If first installment is not paid to selected institute within 6 months, you must return the amount to Government immediately. Second installment will not be eligible and you must submit affidavit confirming this commitment.
Selection is done in decreasing order of marks obtained in qualifying examinations. Priority is given to students who have qualified preliminary examination at least once for two-stage competitive exams.
Yes, you are entitled for free coaching up to two times each for Preliminary and Main examinations. There is no restriction on number of coaching chances for Interview stage if selected.
Employed parents must obtain income certificate from their employer and additionally get consolidated certificate from Revenue Officer for any other additional sources of income beyond their employment.
You have liberty to choose coaching institute of your preference, but it must be empanelled under Free Coaching Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes students as maintained by the Ministry.
Course fee varies by examination type - Civil Services ₹1,20,000/-, Staff Selection Commission/Railway Recruitment Boards ₹40,000/-, Banking/Insurance/Public Sector Undertakings/Common Law Admission Test ₹50,000/-, Joint Entrance Examination/National Eligibility cum Entrance Test ₹1,20,000/-, Common Admission Test ₹60,000/-, and others as specified in scheme annexure.
Yes, De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes students are eligible irrespective of whether they belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes. However, they cannot avail similar benefits from other government schemes simultaneously.
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.
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