MP Cabinet hikes OBC scholarship to ₹10,000/month, approves ₹26,800 crore development push
Synopsis
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has more than sextupled monthly scholarships for OBC students in Delhi — from ₹1,550 to ₹10,000 — while clearing a ₹26,800 crore development package that touches healthcare in Bhopal and Rewa, five-year road infrastructure, micro-irrigation for 9,200 hectares, and electrification of nearly 39,000 Anganwadi centres.
Key Takeaways
MP Cabinet raised the monthly scholarship for OBC students in Delhi from ₹1,550 to ₹10,000 , benefiting 100 students annually.
Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal receives nearly ₹80 crore for more PG seats and a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit .
Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa Super Speciality Hospital expansion sanctioned at ₹175 crore . ₹26,311 crore allocated to the Public Works Department for roads and infrastructure through 2031 .
Lakhundar Micro Irrigation Project worth ₹155.82 crore to irrigate 9,200 hectares across 24 villages in Shajapur and Ujjain. ₹80.41 crore approved to electrify 38,901 Anganwadi buildings with fans, coolers, and smart tools.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday approved a sharp hike in monthly scholarships for Other Backward Class (OBC) students pursuing higher education in Delhi, raising the amount from ₹1,550 to ₹10,000 per month — a more than sixfold increase. The cabinet meeting, held in Bhopal, also cleared a sweeping development agenda worth over ₹26,800 crore spanning healthcare, infrastructure, irrigation, and rural electrification.
Scholarship Hike: Who Benefits and How
The revised scholarship will benefit 100 new students annually, split equally between undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. Eligibility is tied to existing post-matric scholarship criteria and parental income limits. The previous monthly assistance of ₹1,550 had long been criticised as inadequate to cover living and educational costs in the capital. The new ₹10,000 figure is intended to make higher education in Delhi a viable option for backward-class students from Madhya Pradesh.
Healthcare Infrastructure Gets a Major Boost
Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal has been allocated nearly ₹80 crore to increase postgraduate seats and develop specialised units, including a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Separately, the expansion of the Super Speciality Hospital at Shyam Shah Medical College in Rewa has been sanctioned ₹175 crore, reinforcing the state government's stated focus on broadening access to quality tertiary healthcare across Madhya Pradesh.
₹26,311 Crore for Roads and Public Works Through 2031
The single largest allocation from the cabinet's development package — ₹26,311 crore — has been earmarked for the Public Works Department (PWD), covering road renewals, establishment of divisional offices, and land acquisition compensation over the next five years. The outlay is designed to modernise the state's infrastructure through 2031, according to an official press release.
Irrigation and Anganwadi Electrification
The cabinet also sanctioned the ₹155.82 crore Lakhundar High Pressure Micro Irrigation Project, which is set to bring irrigation facilities to 9,200 hectares of farmland across 24 villages in Shajapur and Ujjain districts. Additionally, ₹80.41 crore was approved for the electrification of 38,901 Anganwadi buildings, ensuring that children in these early childhood centres have access to fans, coolers, and smart educational tools. This comes amid a broader state push to upgrade rural welfare infrastructure ahead of the next electoral cycle.
What Comes Next
Implementation timelines for the scholarship revision and infrastructure projects are yet to be formally notified, but the cabinet approvals pave the way for departmental orders. With the ₹26,800 crore package spanning multiple ministries, the pace of execution — particularly on the PWD road programme — will be closely watched by both opposition parties and civil society groups tracking delivery on welfare commitments.
Point of View
550 to ₹10,000 is politically significant in a state where OBC consolidation is central to the BJP's electoral arithmetic — but 100 beneficiaries annually is a modest number against the scale of the eligible population. The ₹26,311 crore PWD allocation is the real fiscal story here: five-year infrastructure spending of that magnitude shapes contractor ecosystems and local employment far beyond what any welfare headline captures. The Anganwadi electrification push, covering nearly 39,000 centres, could be transformative for early childhood outcomes if implementation is monitored rigorously — a caveat that applies to virtually every line item in this package.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the new OBC scholarship amount in Madhya Pradesh?
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has revised the monthly scholarship for OBC students pursuing higher education in Delhi to ₹10,000, up from the previous ₹1,550 per month. The benefit will be extended to 100 new students each year, equally divided between undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.
Who is eligible for the revised MP OBC scholarship?
Students from backward classes enrolled in higher education institutions in Delhi are eligible, provided they meet the post-matric scholarship criteria and the parental income limits set by the Madhya Pradesh government.
What is being done for Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal?
Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal has been allocated nearly ₹80 crore to increase postgraduate medical seats and develop specialised units, including a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, following revised administrative approvals by the state cabinet.
What is the Lakhundar Micro Irrigation Project approved by the MP Cabinet?
The Lakhundar High Pressure Micro Irrigation Project, sanctioned at ₹155.82 crore, will provide irrigation facilities to 9,200 hectares of farmland across 24 villages in Shajapur and Ujjain districts of Madhya Pradesh.
How much has MP allocated for Anganwadi electrification?
The cabinet approved ₹80.41 crore for the electrification of 38,901 Anganwadi buildings, ensuring children in these centres have access to fans, coolers, and smart educational tools.
