<h1>Government starts early 2025-26 scholarship payouts, transfers Rs 62.13 crore to 2.5 lakh OBC students</h1> The state government began disbursing 2025-26 scholarships early, first transferring Rs 62.13 crore to more than 2.5 lakh OBC students in classes 9-12 and planning a second phase of Rs 126.68 crore for over 4.83 lakh students. The chief minister will oversee the direct transfers at a departmental ceremony. Officials said the scheme now uses fully digital Direct Benefit Transfer to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to improve speed and transparency. The Backward Class Welfare Department budget rose from Rs 1,295 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 3,124.45 crore in 2025-26, with scholarship and fee-reimbursement allocations also substantially increased.