Lok Sabha Question No. 2920 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Scholarship from NDF
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh, Nitesh Ganga Deb, Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2920

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th JULY, 2019

## SCHOLARSHIP FROM NDF

2920. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI NITESH GANGA DEB: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government grants scholarship to the children of working, retired and deceased defence and para-military force personnel through 'National Defence Fund' (NDF);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the eligibility criteria for the same;
- (c) whether the amount of National Defence Fund has been increased or propose to be increased and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the total amount paid as scholarship so far through the 'National Defence Fund' across the country, State-wise; and
- (e)  whether Government proposes to extend the facility to the children of State Police officers who die in terror and maoist attack and if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

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- (a)  Yes, Sir. The Government grants scholarship to the children of working (except defence  and  State  Police),  retired  and  deceased  defence  and  para-military  force personnel through National Defence Fund.
- (b)  The Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) under the aegis of the National Defence Fund was instituted with effect from 2006-07. Scholarships are available for higher education at  technical  institutions  (medical,  dental,  veterinary,  engineering,

MBA and MCA etc.) and are available for a period of four years for each student and 5 years for medical students. The academic requirement for enrolment in the scheme is 60% marks at 10+2 level and 50% marks for renewal each year. The existing rates of  scholarship  (Academic  Year  2019-20)  is  Rs.  2500/-  per  month  for  boys  and  Rs. 3000/-  per  month  for  girls.  The  details  of  the  scholarship  and  budget  provision  are given below:-

| S. no.   | Nodal Ministry     | Number and amount of scholarship @ Rs. 2000/Rs.2250 for boys/girls respectively for AY(2018-19)   | Number and amount of scholarship @ Rs. 2000/Rs.2250 for boys/girls respectively for AY(2018-19)   | Number and amount scholarship at enhanced rate Rs.2500/Rs.3000 pm (for boys/girls respectively for AY (2019-20)   | of                     | Additional Budget   |
|----------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
|          |                    | Number of scholarship                                                                             | Total amount per annum                                                                            | Number of scholarship                                                                                             | Total amount per annum |                     |
| i        | Defence            | 5500                                                                                              | 14,02,50,000                                                                                      | 5500                                                                                                              | 18,15,00,000           | 4,12,50,000         |
| ii       | Home               | 2000                                                                                              | 5,10,00,000                                                                                       | 2000                                                                                                              | 6,60,00,000            | 1,50,00,000         |
| iii      | Railway            | 150                                                                                               | 38,25,000                                                                                         | 150                                                                                                               | 49,50,000              | 11,25,000           |
| iv       | State Police (MHA) | Does not exist                                                                                    |                                                                                                   | 500                                                                                                               | 1,65,00,000            | 1,65,00,000         |
|          | Total              | 7650                                                                                              | 19,50,75,000                                                                                      | 8150                                                                                                              | 26,89,50,000           | 7,38,75,000         |

- (c)  Yes, Sir. The amount of National Defence Fund has been increased.  The details of the amount increase are shown in above table of part (b).
- (d)    The  total  amount  paid  as  scholarship  so  far  through  National  Defence  Fund  is Rs.347.50  crore.  The  State  wise  breakup  is  not  maintained  as  the  allotment  of  the scholarship is based on merit list. The breakup of the total amount paid as scholarship so far Ministry wise is as under:-
- (e)  Yes, Sir. The scheme has been extended to the wards of State Police Personnel who are killed during terror/Naxal attacks from the Academic Year 2019-20 onwards. A  budgetary  amount  of  Rs.  1.65  crore  has  been  made  for  this  category  for  500 scholarship  @  Rs.2500/Rs.3000  for  boys/girls  respectively.  The  nodal  Ministry  for such scholarship will be Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

| Ministries               | Amount (Rs. in crore)   |
|--------------------------|-------------------------|
| Ministry of Defence      | Rs. 299.73              |
| Ministry of Home Affairs | Rs. 41.72               |
| Ministry of Railways     | Rs. 6.05                |
| Total                    | Rs. 347.50              |

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