– Shashikant Nishant Sharma

1.               
Objective

To provide financial assistance to meritorious students from poor
families to meet a part of their
day-to-day expenses while pursuing
higher studies.

2.               
Scope

The scholarships are awarded by Ministry of Education, Government of
India on the basis of results of
Higher Secondary / Class XII Board Examination. A maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships per annum are provided for pursuing graduate
/ postgraduate degree in
colleges and universities and for professional courses, such as Medical,
Engineering etc.

3.               
Allocation of Scholarship

The total number of scholarships are divided amongst the State Education
Boards based on the State’s
population in the age group of 18-25 years, after segregating share of CBSE and ICSE on the basis of
number of students passing out from various Boards
in the country. 50% of the
scholarships are earmarked for girls. Out
of the total scholarship slots
earmarked for UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, 3% slots shall be earmarked
for the students from the UT of Ladakh. The number of scholarships allotted
to a State Education Board is distributed amongst pass outs of the Humanities, Science and Commerce
streams in the ratio of 3:3:1. In case of shortfall
in the number of applications, the scholarship slots shall be interoperable among categories (Gen, OBC, SC & ST),
gender (Female, Male) and State Quota to maximize
use of slots for fresh scholarships with effect from academic year 2022-23, subject
to the condition that guidelines of Ministry of Finance
and NITI Aayog regarding SC/ST fund allocation of the
schemes are adhered to.

4.               
Eligibility for Scholarship

i.            
Students who are above 80^th percentile of
successful candidates in the relevant stream
from the respective Board of Examination in Class XII of 10+2 pattern or equivalent;

ii.           
Pursuing regular degree courses and not
correspondence or distance
mode or pursuing Diploma courses;

iii.            
Pursuing courses at colleges/institutions recognized by All India Council for Technical Education and respective Regulatory Bodies concerned;

iv.            
Not availing benefit
of any other scholarship schemes
including State run scholarship schemes/
fee waiver & reimbursement scheme;

v.           
Students with gross parental/family income upto Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum are eligible for scholarship under the scheme.
Income certificate will be required only for the fresh applicants;

vi.            
Student changing his/ her college/institute of study will be allowed
to continue/renew the
scholarship provided the course of study and the institution is having valid AISHE Code; The AISHE code can be checked in the portal https://aishe.gov.in/aishe/aisheCode

vii.           
Students who missed to apply for renewal of
application online on NSP will be allowed
to apply for renewal of scholarship for subsequent year on NSP, if he/she fulfils
eligibility condition for renewal;

viii.            
For renewal of scholarship in each year of study,
besides getting at least 50% marks in
the Annual Examination, maintenance of adequate attendance of at least 75%, will also be the criteria. Complaints
against the student regarding any in disciplined
or criminal behaviour including any complaints of having indulged in ragging,
will lead to forfeiture of scholarship;

ix.            
Beneficiaries/ Applicants under the scheme must apply
online in the National Scholarships
Portal (www.scholarships.gov.in) for the fresh/ renewal scholarships. Fresh/Renewal applications sent directly
to the Ministry of Education shall not be accepted.

5.           
Reservation

Students belonging to reserved categories/weaker sections /minorities
etc. are eligible to get benefit of reservation on the basis of merit, subject to Central
Reservation Policy [i.e. 15% seats
are earmarked for SCs, 7.5% for STs and 27 % for OBCs and 5% horizontal
reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in all the categories]. The Central Reservation Policy will be
applicable in filling the slots against each
year’s target. If slots under a specific group is not filled after
considering all the States/UTs, the
vacant slots will be allocated to other categories so that maximum number
of eligible students
can get the benefit, subject to overall ceiling of slots.

6.               
Procedure for Application

i.            
The applications are received online only. Verification of credentials of the students
like caste, educational qualifications etc. are done through DIGILOCKER facility of the MeITY, Govt. of India.

ii.           
National Scholarships Portal (NSP)
(www.scholarships.gov.in) will provide the timelines
for opening & closing of the portal.

iii.            
The Guidelines for application, verification, selection and disbursement of scholarship will be as per the NSP.

iv.            
Selection list would be generated/displayed on NSP.

v.           
Online applications will be verified at two levels i.e
by the Institute, where the student is studying and thereafter by the concerned
State Higher Education
Department or any other Agency/ Official nominated by the State as State
Nodal Agency (both for fresh and
renewal applicants).

vi.            
Latest guideline on Timelines
will be made available on NSP.

vii.           
Students will not be permanently debarred for
scholarships due to delay to renew or
verification. However, students will have to submit renewal applications within a cut-off date. Renewal for that year will
not be allowed if an applicant misses this
deadline.

7.      Rate and Duration
of Scholarship (from financial year 2022-23)

The rate of scholarship is Rs.12,000/-per annum at Graduation level for
first three years of College and University courses
and Rs.20,000/-per annum at Post- Graduation
level. Students pursuing professional
courses, in case, where the duration of course
is five (5) years/Integrated course
will get Rs. 20,000/-per annum in the 4^th
and 5^th year. However,
students pursuing technical
courses such as B.Tech, B.Engg.
will get scholarship up to graduation level only i.e. Rs. 12,000
p.a. for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year and Rs. 20,000 in the 4^th year.

Note: The rate of scholarship
is Rs.10,000/-per annum for first three years of fresh/ renewal scholarships with respect to academic year 2021-22, even
if the actual release happens in FY
2022-23.

8.      Payment of Scholarship

Students are required to have the bank accounts opened, especially, in
their name for availing the benefits
under the scheme. The scholarship will be disbursed directly into the savings bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)