Under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, beneficiaries must legally belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe group as specified by constitutional orders (Articles 341/342), and must possess a valid caste or tribe certificate issued by the competent authority. The Act broadly protects only those who fall within the notified SC/ST lists; conversion or migration may affect eligibility unless formally recognized. It specifically covers victims of defined “atrocities” or hate crimes against SC/ST individuals, extending protections like arrest, relief, rehabilitation, and atrocity assistance. Additionally, in some welfare schemes tied to the Act, financial criteria (e.g., annual income thresholds) and particular eligibility conditions—especially for women—may apply.