More than 19,000 students from OBC, SC,ST categories quit higher education in 5 years: Centre

"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 .

More than 19,000 students from OBC, SC,ST categories quit higher education in 5 years: Centre

The Ministry of Education has informed Rajya Sabha that more than 19,000 students from OBC, SC and ST categories have dropped out from central universities, IITs, and IIMs during 2018-2023. In a response to a written question in Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of State for Education, Subhas Sarkar shared the data.

"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, the 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," the Minister said.