evidence: The budget allocation for the school education and literacy department is up from Rs 72,473.8 crore to Rs 73,008.1 crore. However, the allocation for the higher education department is down from Rs 57,244.48 crore to Rs 47,000 crore. [...] The budget increased grants to central universities by 27%, with Rs 15,472 crore allocated. However, the University Grants Commission (UGC) allocation is down to just Rs 2,500 crore from Rs 5,360 crore in the previous fiscal. The revised estimate for the last fiscal year was also much higher — Rs 6,409 crore. [...] The scheme aims to provide all meritorious students from economically weaker sections with financial support to prevent dropouts after Class 8 and encourage the completion of secondary education up to Class 12.