Lok Sabha Question No. 4162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Means-cum-Merits Scholarship Schemes in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Arun Sao, Vijay Baghel, Mohan Mandavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4162 ANSWERED ON-27-03-2023

## Means-cum-Merits Scholarship Schemes in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra

## 4162.   SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SHRI MOHAN MANDAVI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  the  criteria  for  selection  of  beneficiaries  under  the  National  Means-cum-Merit  Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS);

(b)  the  number  of  beneficiaries  benefitted  under  the  said  scheme  during  the  last  three  years  in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra especially in Bilaspur, Mungeli and Gaurela-Pendra Marvahi districts in Chhattisgarh and latur district in Maharashtra; and

(c)  the  concrete  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  proper  implementation  of  the  scheme  in aforesaid States as well as to create awareness among the people about the scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a): The Central Sector Scheme 'National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme' (NMMSS) is being  implemented  with  the  objective  to award  scholarships  to meritorious students of economically  weaker  sections  to  arrest  their  drop  out  at  class  VIII  and  encourage  them  to continue their education at secondary stage. One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded to selected students of class IX every  year and their continuation / renewal  in classes X to XII for study in  State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools under the scheme. The amount of scholarship is Rs. 12000/- per annum.  Students with parental income not exceeding Rs. 3.50 lakhs per annum are eligible to avail the scholarships under the scheme.

## Selection of fresh Awardee Students:

Each  State/UT  conducts  its  own  test  for  selection  of  students  for  the  award  of  the National  Means-cum-Merit  Scholarship.  The  cost  for  conduct  of  NMMSS  examination  is reimbursed to States and UTs. The test is conducted at stage of class-VIII. The students, who fulfill the eligibility criteria (pass class VII with minimum 55% for general candidates and 50% for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates), must pass both the tests, i.e., Mental  Ability  Test  (MAT)  and  Scholastic  Aptitude  Test  (SAT)  under  NMMSS  with  at  least 40 % marks in aggregate taken together for these two tests . For the SC/ST students, this cut off is

32% marks.  The scheme is fully on boarded on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)  from 2018-19  onwards.    The  selected  Students  have  to  register  on  NSP  to  get  the  benefit  of scholarship.

## Selection of Renewal Awardee Students:

The  awardees  should  get  minimum  of  60%  marks  in  Class  X  for  continuation  of scholarship  relaxable  by  5%  for  SC/ST  candidates  in  next  higher  classes.  For  continuing  the scholarship in class X and XII, the awardees should get clear promotion from class IX to class X and from class XI to class XII in the first attempt.

(b)            The  funds  are  released  through  Public  Financial  Management  System  (PFMS).    The scheme is covered under DBT since 2014 and the scholarship amount is released directly to the beneficiaries. The district wise data is not maintained by the Ministry of Education.

The  details  of  number  of  scholarships  awarded  under  the  National  Means  cum  Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) during last three years 2019-20 to 2021-22 are as under :-

| S.No.   | Name of State/UTs   | Number of Scholarships (Financial Year wise)   | Number of Scholarships (Financial Year wise)   | Number of Scholarships (Financial Year wise)   |
|---------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|         | Name of State/UTs   | F.Y. 2019-20                                   | F.Y. 2020-21                                   | F.Y. 2021-22                                   |
| 1       | Chhattisgarh        | 622                                            | 919                                            | 1434                                           |
| 2       | Maharashtra         | 30035                                          | 59152                                          | 36424                                          |

(c)  Two Vartalap (Rural Media Conference) were organized by the Press Information Bureau viz: in Fatepur District, Uttar Pradesh on 29.11.2022 and in Jagdalpur City of Bastar District, Chhattisgarh  on  21.12.2022  and  information  about  National  Means  cum  Merit  Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) was disseminated.  Further, a banner for NMMSS was prepared and sent to Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  on  30.09.2022  for  spreading  awareness  in  all  Panchayats.  This Ministry issues yearly directions to all State and UT Governments to publicize the scheme at school level through print/electronic mode etc.  Steps taken for awareness creation include:-

(i)        Ministry  takes  review  meetings  with  State  Nodal  Officers  periodically  when  the  NSP portal is open for registration & advises them to create awareness.

(ii)   Cabinet Secretariat, DBT Mission takes fortnightly review meetings during the period of registration on NSP Portal.

(iii)    Two  physical  workshops  were  held  by  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy during 2022-23 on 20.09.2022 and 10.03.2023 to orient the State Nodal Officials about NSP registration, verification and dissemination of relevant information.

(iv)  Webpage on NMMSS https://dsel.education.gov.in/scheme/nmmss is available on Ministry of Education website.

(v)  All States/ UTs are made aware about the operative timelines on NMMSS on NSP through Social Media page of Ministry of Education such as Facebook and Twitter.

(vi)  A  dedicated  helpline  number  i.e.  0120-6619540  and  email  ids  helpdesk@nsp.gov.in; scholarship-section@gov.in are shared with State and District officials as well as students to clear their doubts regarding registration on NSP Portal and other issues relating to NMMSS.