Lok Sabha Question No. 4361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Schemes/Projects to develop the Hidden Talent in Poor Students at Schools/Colleges
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Hemant Tukaram Godse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4361 ANSWERED ON-27-03-2023

## Schemes/Projects to develop the Hidden Talent in Poor Students at Schools/Colleges

## †4361.  SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the schemes/ projects being implemented by the Government to develop the hidden talent of poor students at the school and college level in the country especially in the rural areas of Maharashtra;

- (b) whether the Government proposes to set up a special fund for this purpose;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and district-wise in Maharashtra; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The  details  of  the  schemes/  projects  being  implemented  by  both  Departments  under Ministry of Education, Government of India, at school and college level in the country are as follows: -

## 1. Department of School Education and Literacy:

## (i)  National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS).

Objective: The  Central  Sector  Scheme  'National  Means-cum-Merit  Scholarship  Scheme'  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.

Eligibility  criteria: Students  whose  parental  income  from  all  sources  is  not  more  than Rs.  3,50,000/-  per  annum  are  eligible  to  avail  the  scholarships.  The  students  must  have minimum  of  55  %  marks  or  equivalent  grade  in  Class  VII  examination  for  appearing  in selection test for award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students) .  The students, who fulfill the eligibility criteria, must pass both the tests, i.e., Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) under NMMSS exam 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 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.

Scholarship rate: The amount of scholarship is Rs. 12000/- per annum.

Online Portal: The scheme is fully on boarded on National Scholarship Portal (NSP) from 201819. The Ministry sanctions funds from Annual Budget Provision for releasing them to SBI, the implementing bank for the  scheme for disbursal of scholarships  to  students  directly  into  their bank accounts by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

(ii) Navodaya Vidyalaya scheme provides for opening of a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in each  district  of  the  country  including  Maharashtra  state  to  provide  good  quality  modern education, free of cost  to  the  talented  students  predominantly  from  rural  areas.  Almost  all  the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are located in rural areas.

Total 2,93,354 students are enrolled in 649 functional Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas of the  country.  Although  the  reservation  for  rural  students  is  at  least  75%, 87.23  % (2,55,896) students  belong  to  rural  areas  are  enrolled  in  NVS.  Total 15,597  students are  enrolled  in  34 Jawahar  Navodaya  Vidyalayas  of  Maharashtra  state  as  on  28.02.2023,  out  of  which 13,170 (84.44 %) students belong to rural areas.

## 2. Department of Higher Education:

## (i) CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME  OF SCHOLARSHIP FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (CSSS).

Objective: Under the scheme , financial assistance is provided for pursuing higher studies to eligible meritorious students.

Eligibility: Students who are in top 20 th percentile of successful candidates in class XII and having family income upto Rs. 4.5 lakh p.a. are eligible to apply. 82,000 fresh scholarships are available for award every year (41000 for boys and 41000 for girls). These have been divided amongst the State Education Boards based on the State's population in the age group of 18-25 years.

Scholarship  rate: The rate  of  scholarship  is  Rs.  12,000/-  p.a.  for  the  first  three years  and Rs. 20,000/- p.a. for the fourth and fifth year.

Online Portal: CSSS has on-boarded the National Scholarship portal (www.scholarships.gov.in) with  effect  from  1.8.2015. The  scheme  is  covered  under  the DBT  w.e.f.  1.1.2013  wherein  the  scholarship  is  disbursed  directly  into  the  bank  account  of beneficiaries .

## (ii)  CENTRAL  SECTOR  INTEREST  SUBSIDY  AND  CREDIT  GUARANTEE  SCHEME (CSIS )

Objective: The  objective  of  the  Scheme  is  to  ensure  that  no  one  from  the  Economically  Weaker Sections (EWS), including minorities, SCs/STs, women  and disabled, is denied access to professional higher education only for the reason that he or she is poor.

Eligibility: Students  enrolled  in  professional/  technical  courses  from  National  Assessment  and Accreditation Council  (NAAC)  accredited  Institutions  or professional/  technical  programmes accredited  by  National  Board  of  Accreditation  (NBA)  or   Institutions  of  National  Importance  or Centrally Funded  Technical  Institutions  (CFTIs)  are  eligible.  Those  professional  institutions/ programmes  which  do  not  come  under  the  ambit  of  NAAC  or  NBA  require  approval  of  the respective regulatory body. The interest subsidy is admissible only once either for Under Graduation or  Post  Graduation  or  integrated  courses.  The  scheme  is  intended  to  cover  all  those  students belonging to EWS, with an annual parental/ family income up to Rs. 4.5 lakh per year.

Online  Portal: Every  year  an  online  portal  is  opened  by  the  Canara  Bank  to  enable  the  member banks to upload the interest subsidy claims. Disbursement of interest subsidy claims is done through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode into the student's Education Loan account.

(b) to (d): Does not arise.

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