New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS): The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday decided to include students of the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and the general categories in the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana and increase the financial assistance from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

The Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, launched last year, provides free coaching to SC/ST students for examinations conducted by UPSC, DSSSB, SSC, Railway Recruitment Board and others.

Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said an applicant whose annual family income was less than Rs 8 lakh would be eligible for the scheme.

"We found that Rs 40,000 was not enough for coaching. Also, there were talented students from other castes as well who were not able to get benefits of the scheme," he said, adding the SC/ST Department would continue to oversee the scheme.

To avail the scheme, the student must be from Delhi and "should have passed Class X and XII from Delhi", Kejriwal said.