Lok Sabha Question No. 515 (STARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Schemes for Students from Backward Communities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*515 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## Schemes for Students from Backward Communities

*515. SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government  has  launched  schemes  to  help  students  from  backward communities and Dalits to pursue higher education in the educational institutions of the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. * 515  FOR  10.04.2017  ASKED  BY SHRIMATI  MAUSAM  NOOR,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING SCHEMES FOR STUDENTS FROM BACKWARD COMMUNITIES

(a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  The  following  schemes  are  implemented  for  the  welfare  of  Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by the University Grants Commission (UGC) so as to help them pursue higher education in Higher Educational Institutions:

- i) National  Fellowship  for  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBC)  Candidate:  This  scheme  is funded  by  the  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  &  Empowerment  and  open  to  OBC  category candidates who are pursuing higher studies viz. regular and full time M.Phil. and Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology. There are  300  slots  for  award  of  such  fellowships  every  year.  There  is  a  provision  of  3% reservation  for  slots  for  consideration  of  award  of  fellowship  to  research  scholars  for Persons with Disability (PwD) belonging to OBC category.
2. ii) National  Fellowship  for  Higher  Education  of  Schedule  Tribe  (ST)  Students:  National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students is funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The scheme is open to candidates who belong to ST and are pursuing higher studies such as regular and full time M.Phil and Ph.D degree in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology. There are 750 slots for STs every year.
3. iii) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC Candidate: This scheme is funded by Ministry of Social  Justice  &  Empowerment.  Candidates  who  belong  to  SC  and  pursuing  higher studies such as regular and full time M.Phil.and Ph.D.degrees in Sciences, Humanities, Social  Sciences  and  Engineering  &  Technology.  There  are  2,000  slots  for  SCs  every year. 3% fellowships are reserved for Persons with Disabilities candidates belonging to SC categories.
4. iv) Post-Doctoral Fellowship for SC/ST Candidates: This scheme provides an opportunity to SC/ST  candidates  to  undertake  post-doctoral  research  in  Sciences,  Engineering  & Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences at Indian Universities/ Institutions/Colleges included under Section 2(f) and 12 (B) of UGC Act, Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 and Institutes of National Importance.
- v) PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates: The scheme has been initiated  keeping  in  view  the  social  background  of  the  candidates  from  the  deprived

section of the society. The aim of the scheme is to provide these candidates opportunity to  undertake  postgraduate  level  studies  in  Professional  subjects  like  Engineering  & Technology, Management, Pharmacy etc. in Indian Universities/Institutions/ Colleges.

Further, the following initiatives are taken to ensure higher education of SC/ST/OBC students:

- UGC is  implementing  a  scheme  of  Remedial  Coaching  for  SC/ST/OBC  (Non-Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students with a view to (i) improve academic skills and linguistic proficiency of the students in various subjects (ii) raise their level of comprehension of basic subjects to provide a stronger foundation for further academic work;  and  (iii)  strengthen  their  knowledge,  skills  and  attitudes  in  such  subjects,  where quantitative  and  qualitative  techniques  and  laboratory  activities  are  involved  so  that proper guidance and training provided under the programme may enable the students to come up to the level necessary for pursuing higher studies efficiently.
- The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  has  a  Central  Sector  Interest  Subsidy Scheme, 2009 which provides full Interest Subsidy for the period of moratorium (course period  +  1  year)  on  educational  loans  taken  by  students  from  economically  weaker sections with annual parental income up to Rs.4.5 lakh, from scheduled banks under the Educational Loan Scheme of the Indian Banks' Association to pursue Technical/Professional  courses  in  India.    The  details  of  the  scheme  are  available  on MHRD website www.mhrd.gov.in
- Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies of the  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  Ministry  provides  interest  subsidy  to meritorious  Other  Backward  Class  (OBC)  and  Economically  Backward  Class  (EBC) students so as to provide them better opportunities for higher education abroad.  To be eligible under the scheme, a student should come under the income ceiling of Rs.3 lakh per annum for OBCs and Rs.1 lakh for EBCs.  50% of the outlay every year is earmarked for  girl  students.        The      details      of      the      scheme  are    available      on www.socialjustice.nic.in

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