In a vibrant celebration of talent and determination, 1,490 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students were felicitated at the Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award Ceremony 2025 for topping class 10 and 12 board examinations across 29 state and central boards in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The event, organised by the Dr Ambedkar Foundation, was graced by Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, who also serves as the Foundation’s chairman. Kumar lauded the awardees, emphasizing education as the cornerstone of social transformation envisioned by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.

“Babasaheb empowered oppressed communities to rise through knowledge. Our government remains committed to uplifting Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other disadvantaged groups through scholarships, fellowships, and targeted welfare initiatives,” Kumar said.

The awards recognised 367 class 10 and 563 class 12 students for 2021-22, including 71 board toppers. For 2022-23, 198 class 10 and 362 class 12 students were honoured, with 46 students achieving top ranks.

Awardees received cash prizes of ₹60,000 for first place, ₹50,000 for second, and ₹40,000 for third, with a special ₹60,000 prize for the highest-scoring girl student if no female featured in the top three.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale and B L Verma also addressed the gathering, urging the students to embody the principles of equality, fraternity, dignity, and social justice. “These young achievers are torchbearers of Babasaheb’s ideals. Education remains the truest instrument of empowerment,” Athawale said.

The ceremony celebrated not just academic excellence but also the enduring legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar, inspiring a new generation to pursue knowledge as a pathway to social upliftment.