Lok Sabha Question No. 6 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Scholarship Schemes to Promote Higher Education among SC/ST/Weaker Section
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan, Dr. D Ravi Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 6

ANSWERED ON 22/07/2024

## SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES TO PROMOTE HIGHER EDUCATION AMONG SC/ST/WEAKER SECTION

- *6. DR.THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN: DR. D RAVI KUMAR: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  is  implementing  any  scholarship  scheme  to  promote  Scheduled Caste and Other Weaker Section students to pursue higher education in the country as well as abroad; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the criteria laid down for scholarship, scheme-wise; (c) whether the said schemes are functioning properly in rural and other remote areas dominated by SC/ST/Weaker Sections and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has any policy or scheme to provide education loan or subsidy for pursuing higher studies in the country as well as abroad and if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether the Government proposes to start more scholarship schemes for Indian students for
- pursuing higher studies in the country as well as abroad, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 6 FOR 22.07.2024 ASKED BY DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN AND DR. D RAVI KUMAR, HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING 'SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES TO PROMOTE HIGHER EDUCATION AMONG SC/ST/WEAKER SECTION'

(a) to (e):  The Government is implementing different scholarships schemes to promote Indian students  including  students  of  Scheduled  Castes  and  Other  Weaker  Sections  to  pursue  higher education in the country and abroad. Moreover, based on requests received from friendly foreign countries/institutions,  the  Ministry  of  Education  disseminates  information  on  scholarships offered  by  such  donor  countries  for  Indian  students  of  all  the  States  and  Union  Territories  to study abroad. The details of these schemes including the criteria laid down for scholarship are available in the following websites:

|   Sl. No. | Ministry/ Department                      | Website links                                                                                                      |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment  | The details are available at https://socialjustice.gov.in/scheme-cat                                               |
|         2 | Ministry of Tribal Affairs                | The details are available at https://tribal.nic.in/ScholarshiP.aspx                                                |
|         3 | Department of Higher Education            | The details are available at https://www.education.gov.in/scholarships- education-loan-0                           |
|         4 | University Grants Commission              | The details are available at https://www.ugc.gov.in/Home/student_Corner                                            |
|         5 | All India Council for Technical Education | The details are available at https://www.aicte- india.org/bureaus/rifd/Scholarship-Schemes                         |
|         6 | Ministry of Minority Affairs              | The details are available at https://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/show_conte nt.php?lang=1&level=2&ls_id=661&lid=823 |
|         7 | Department of Science and Technology      | The details are available at https://dst.gov.in/inspire-scheme-innovation- science-pursuit-inspired-research       |

All the above-mentioned scholarship schemes are merit-based and spread across the country. All applicants from rural as well as urban areas can apply as per scheme's eligibility conditions and norms.

Education Loan is a subject matter of the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. As per information provided by the Department of Financial Services, education loan is provided by the banks for pursuing higher studies in the country as well as abroad. The banks broadly follow the guidelines of Model Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks' Association (IBA), last revised  in  2022.The  details  are  available  at  https://www.iba.org.in/retail-banking/educationalloan-scheme.html.

The  Ministry  of  Education  provides  student  financial  aid  in  the  form  of  interest  subsidy  on education  loans  for  technical  and  professional  courses  in  India  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme as per scheme guidelines.These guidelines are available at https://www.education.gov.in/scholarshipseducation-loan-4.

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