The Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award is a famous award presented by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation which operates under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment by Government of India. This award plays a important role in providing the scholastic excellence of students from the Scheduled Castes (SC) who have demonstrated remarkable performance in their senior secondary (Class 12th) examinations. Rewarding talent from diverse streams — Arts, Science (with or without Maths), and Commerce — this merit-based programme offers financial incentives ranging from rs 40,000 to rs 60,000 depending on the candidate’s rank and academic stream.
Who Is Eligible for the Award?
To apply for Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award applicants must meet following eligibility criteria:
- The student must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.
- The applicant should have appeared in the regular Class 12th examination conducted by a recognised state or central board in India.
- A minimum aggregate of 50% marks is required in the final Class 12th board examination.
- The student should be among the top three rank holders in their respective stream and board.
Award Benefits and Financial Incentives
The primary aim of the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award is to provide meaningful financial support to meritorious students from the SC community and detailed award structure for Class 12th achievers is as follows:
| Position | Award Amount (₹) | Stream |
|---|---|---|
| First Position | Rs 60,000 per stream | All Streams |
| Second Position | Rs 50,000 per stream | All Streams |
| Third Position | Rs 40,000 per stream | All Streams |
| Special Award for Top Girl Students | Rs 20,000 each | Next three highest-scoring girls in each stream |
How the Selection and Application Process Works
The selection process consists of various stages to get selected for Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award and following are stages in details:
- After Class 12th results are declared then respective Board or Council automatically compiles the list of SC students securing top ranks in each stream.
- These Boards then forward the details of eligible students directly to the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation within 15 days of result announcements.
- Students do not need to submit direct applications to the Foundation or any government portal.
- The Foundation then carefully reviews the submitted data to verify eligibility based on marks and stream rank.
- Once selections are finalised the award amounts are directly transferred to the selected students’ bank accounts or issued via Account Payee Bank Drafts.
- Many awardees are also invited to New Delhi for a felicitation ceremony. In such cases, reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed to the students.
Awards Issuance, Terms and Conditions
To maintain the integrity and fairness of the programme, certain guidelines and conditions are strictly followed:
- Students belonging to the Scheduled Caste category are eligible to receive the award.
- Recognised boards include all 29 State/Central Boards and Councils across India.
- Monetary awards are sent either through bank transfers or bank drafts, as applicable.
- Students must be officially declared rank holders by their examination board to qualify for awards.
What Documents Are Needed?
Although students do not apply directly so following documents are critical for Boards to confirm eligibility and forward details to the Foundation:
- Candidate need Class 12th mark sheet with aggregate marks
- Candidate need Proof of Scheduled Caste category
- Board rank certificates, where applicable
- Bank account details for award transfers
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a student from a private board apply for the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Award?
Yes. Students from any recognised central or state board, including private educational boards that are officially recognised, are eligible provided they satisfy all eligibility criteria.
2. Is there any fee to participate in this award programme?
No. There is no application fee for students. The selection process is automatic and based on board results.
3. What happens if two students have the same rank in their board?
In cases of tie ranks, the respective board guidelines for tie-breaking or shared rank recognition are followed before submission to the Foundation.
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Award Notification | DOWNLOAD PDF |
| Dr. Ambedkar Foundation Home Page | https://ambedkarfoundation.nic.in |
