Keralam OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme

Introduction of Keralam OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme: A Brief Insight

For students from eligible communities, the cost of education goes beyond tuition fees. Books, daily travel and hostel expenses add to the burden, making it difficult for some students to continue their studies after Class 10 or Plus Two. The OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme of the Keralam Government aims to ease this financial burden and help eligible students continue their education.

The scheme operates through the e-Grantz portal under the Scheduled Castes Development Department. The Backward Classes Development Department, Government of Keralam, publishes information about the scheme and the eligible community lists. The assistance covers students from Other Eligible Communities (OEC) studying in Keralam and those admitted to institutions of national importance outside the state.

The main objective is to help eligible students complete their post-matric education without facing unnecessary financial difficulties. The scheme covers courses ranging from Plus Two (+2) to Ph.D. and supports students who secure admission through merit or reservation.

Eligible students receive an annual lump sum grant of ₹400 to ₹3,130 and a monthly stipend of ₹630 or ₹750, depending on the distance between their home and educational institution. Students staying in approved hostels can receive actual boarding and lodging charges, along with ₹190 per month as pocket money. The scheme also reimburses eligible fees, with prescribed limits for students studying outside Keralam, including up to ₹10,00,000 for tuition fees.

Students belonging to the State OEC list, including Kudumbi, Kusavan and Dheevara, are not subject to a family income limit. However, students from the 30 other communities covered by the scheme, including Vaniya, Ezhavathi and Pandithar, must have an annual family income of ₹6 lakh or less. Applicants must also meet the admission and other eligibility conditions.

Students must apply online through the e-Grantz portal within 2 months of admission, after completing One Time Registration using Aadhaar. Students can also seek help from an Akshaya Centre for online registration and application submission. Eligible students studying at institutions of national importance outside Keralam must follow the stated deadline of 30 November 2026. For assistance, they can contact the Backward Classes Development Department at 0471-2727378 or email bcddkerala@gmail.com.

Students who need financial support for higher education can also explore the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme. Students from OBC, EBC and denotified communities can check the PM YASASVI Scholarship Scheme, while girls pursuing technical education can explore the AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme and eligible students facing specified hardships can check the AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme. Before applying, students should read each scheme’s rules on receiving more than one scholarship at the same time.

Students, parents and others looking for additional education and welfare schemes offered by the Keralam Government can explore the programmes listed on our Keralam Government Welfare Schemes List page.

Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries

Continuing education after Class 10 involves more than paying course fees. Students also need money for books, travel, accommodation and other study-related expenses. The OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme helps eligible students manage these costs through an annual lump sum grant, a monthly stipend and reimbursement of eligible fees.

• An annual lump sum grant of ₹400 to ₹3,130, depending on the course
• A monthly stipend of ₹630 for students studying at an institution less than 8 km from their home, and ₹750 for those whose institution is more than 8 km away
• For students staying in an approved hostel, payment of the actual boarding and lodging charges, along with ₹190 per month as pocket money
• Reimbursement of eligible fees charged by the educational institution
• Financial support for post-matric courses ranging from Plus Two (+2) to Ph.D.
• Coverage for eligible students studying in Keralam and those admitted to institutions of national importance outside Keralam
• Direct transfer of assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account
• Access to the e-Grantz portal for registration, online application and application tracking

Fee Reimbursement Limits for OEC Students Studying Outside Keralam

Eligible students studying at institutions outside Keralam can receive reimbursement of specified fees up to the prescribed limits for each fee category. The main limits are listed below.

• Tuition fee: up to ₹10,00,000
• Examination fee: up to ₹10,000
• Laboratory fee: up to ₹25,000; computer laboratory fee: up to ₹10,000
• Advanced laboratory facility fund: up to ₹10,000
• Digital activity fund and placement activity fund: up to ₹5,000 each
• Admission fee, library fee, students welfare fund, registration or enrolment fee, medical insurance and reading charges for blind students: up to ₹1,000 each
• Field study charges: up to ₹900
• Arts fund, sports fund, matriculation fee and recognition fee: up to ₹500 each
• ID card fee and magazine fee: up to ₹100 each
• Thesis typing and printing charges for research scholars only: up to ₹1,000

Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled

The OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme supports students from Other Eligible Communities who pursue education after Class 10. The eligibility rules depend on the community to which the student belongs, particularly when it comes to the family income limit. Students should check their community category first to understand which conditions apply to them.

• The applicant must belong to the State OEC list, which includes Chakkamar, Madiga, Kudumbi, Dheevara, Scheduled Caste converts to Christianity, Kusavan, Kulalan, Kumbharan, Velaan, Odan, Andhra Nair and Pulaya Vettuvan.
• Students belonging to these communities are not subject to a family income limit.
• Students from the 30 other communities covered by OEC educational assistance, including Vaniya, Veluthedathu Nair, Chetty, Ezhavathi, Pandithar and Kerala Mudalis, must have an annual family income of ₹6 lakh or less.
• The student must have secured admission through merit or reservation.
• The student must be enrolled in a post-matric course, ranging from Plus Two to Ph.D.
• Students studying in Keralam and those admitted to institutions of national importance outside Keralam can apply, subject to the applicable conditions.
• The student must not receive another scholarship from any agency for the same purpose.
• The student must maintain regular attendance, as certified by the educational institution.
• The student must submit the online application within two months of admission.

Documents Required to be Attached

The OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme uses the e-Grantz portal for online applications. Students must upload clear scanned copies of the required documents while applying. The portal or the educational institution may ask for additional documents, depending on the student’s community and course.

Documents Required for Every Applicant

• Aadhaar Card for One Time Registration on the e-Grantz portal
• A recent passport-size photograph in JPG format, with a file size below 100 KB
• Bank passbook in the student’s own name, in PDF format below 100 KB, showing the account number and IFSC code
• Caste or community certificate, or an SSLC certificate if it mentions the student’s community
• Certificates and mark lists for educational qualifications, starting from SSLC
• Admission certificate confirming admission through merit or reservation
• Fee receipt in a file below 200 KB, along with the course fee structure clearly identifying refundable and non-refundable fees
• Bonafide certificate in the prescribed format, issued by the educational institution to confirm regular attendance and that the student does not receive a scholarship from another agency

Additional Documents, Where Applicable

• Income certificate for applicants belonging to one of the 30 communities covered by the annual family income limit of ₹6 lakh
• Proof of admission to an institution of national importance, such as an IIT, IIM or the Indian Institute of Science, for students studying outside Keralam
• The institution’s fee structure, as separate fee limits apply to different fee components for eligible students studying outside the state

How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme

Students can apply for the OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme online through the e-Grantz portal. After submission, the educational institution checks the application and supporting documents through the same portal.

Students must apply within 2 months of admission. Those studying at institutions outside Keralam must also follow the deadline of 30 November 2026, as specified for the outside-state application process.

Documents and Details to Prepare Before Applying

Step 1: Check whether your community appears on the State OEC list or the list of 30 other communities covered by the scheme.

Step 2: If you belong to one of the 30 other communities, check that your family’s annual income does not exceed ₹6 lakh.

Step 3: Keep your Aadhaar card ready. Make sure you can access the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, if required for registration or verification.

Step 4: Scan your bank passbook, photograph, educational certificates, admission documents and fee receipt. Make sure the files are clear and meet the portal’s size and format requirements.

Step 5: Ask your college or institution to issue the bonafide certificate in the prescribed format.

Step 6: If you need help completing the online application, visit an Akshaya Centre and ask for assistance with e-Grantz registration and application submission. Confirm any service charges before proceeding.

How to Register and Log In to e-Grantz

Step 1: Visit the official e-Grantz portal of the Government of Keralam.

Step 2: Complete the One Time Registration using your Aadhaar number and follow the instructions displayed on the portal.

Step 3: Note down the user ID and password generated during registration, or save the login details securely as instructed by the portal.

Step 4: Log in using your registered credentials.

Step 5: Complete your profile by entering the requested details, including your address, community and bank account information. Fill in all five profile steps, as applicable on the portal.

How to Submit the Scholarship Application

Step 1: Select the option that identifies you as an On-going Student, if it applies to your current course.

Step 2: Choose whether your educational institution is located inside or outside Keralam.

Step 3: Enter your educational qualifications, starting with your SSLC details.

Step 4: Open the Apply for Scholarships section and select Post Matric.

Step 5: Select the OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme. If you study outside Keralam, choose the applicable outside-state scholarship option, if available.

Step 6: Enter the details requested in the application form. Check your personal, educational, community and bank details carefully.

Step 7: Upload each required document in the correct field. Make sure every scanned copy is readable and follows the portal’s file requirements.

Step 8: Review the complete application, correct any mistakes and submit it. Save the acknowledgement or application number for future reference.

What to Do After Submitting the Application

Step 1: Your educational institution checks your application and supporting certificates through the e-Grantz portal. Respond if the institution asks you to correct or provide any information.

Step 2: Use the application tracking facility on the e-Grantz portal to check the status of your application.

Step 3: Once the required checks and approvals are complete, the approved assistance is transferred to your bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Step 4: If a payment fails because of an incorrect account number or IFSC code, check the instructions on the portal’s Notice Board. The stated process allows students to correct failed transaction details through the Failed Transaction option within 5 days, where applicable.

Step 5: If the scheme requires annual renewal, submit your renewal application through the same portal within the prescribed period. Check the latest instructions before applying again.

Important: Before applying, read the official OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme guidelines published by the Backward Classes Development Department. Apply within the applicable deadline, upload the correct documents and never pay anyone who promises guaranteed scholarship approval.

Keralam OEC List: Check If Your Community Is Covered

Before applying for the OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme, students should check whether their community appears on the eligible list. The official list has two parts, and the category a student belongs to determines whether a family income limit applies.

Part 1: State OEC List (No Income Limit)

Part 2: 30 Communities Eligible for OEC Educational Assistance (Annual Family Income Up to ₹6 Lakh)

The official list also includes several sub-groups under certain communities. If your exact community name does not appear in the tables above, check the Backward Classes Development Department’s official scheme page for the detailed list and applicable conditions.

Important Links Available of the Scheme

• e-Grantz 3.0 portal, apply online for OEC Post Matric Educational Assistance Scheme, Government of Kerala
• OEC Postmatric Educational Assistance Scheme page, Backward Classes Development Department Kerala
• Educational schemes for OEC, OBC and SEBC students, Backward Classes Development Department Kerala
• OEC Postmatric Assistance with grant, stipend and hostel rates, Backward Classes Development Department Kerala

Contact Details in Case of Help Needed

• Office: Directorate of Backward Classes Development Department, Ayyankali Bhavan, Kanaka Nagar, Vellayambalam, Kowdiar P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695003
• Phone: 0471-2727378, 0471-2727379
• Email: bcddkerala@gmail.com
• Implementing Office: Director, Scheduled Castes Development Department, Museum-Nandavanam Road, Vikas Bhavan P.O., Nandavanam, Thiruvananthapuram – 695033
• Phone of the Implementing Office: 0471-2737252, 0471-2737258
• Local Help: Nodal officer of your college, or the nearest Akshaya Centre for online help

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Tabassum

Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare scheme programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.