Hyderabad:For the first time, the state government will be using Central funds to reimburse students from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. The Congress government has also decided to clear all fee reimbursement claims within the same academic year instead of carrying them forward. Because of the state's refusal to adopt the DBT model, Telangana lost nearly `250 crore in Central assistance every year during the BRS regime. The state continued to forgo Central funds even after the Congress assumed office, losing assistance during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. In 2025-26, Telangana lost Rs 276 crore in Central funds earmarked for SC and ST students.