Lok Sabha Question No. 2346 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Scholarship Scheme for Tribal Students
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2346

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 18/12/2023

## SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS

2346.  SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  details  of  amount  of  Scholarship  provided  to  tribal  students  under  various  scholarship Schemes being run by the Government and when was the amount of such scholarships revised;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to increase such scholarship amount; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a):  Scholarship  Division  of  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  implements  following  ongoing Schemes for providing scholarships to ST students in the country: -
- i. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students. (Class IX and X)
- ii. Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students. (Class XI and above)
- iii. National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class)
- iv. National Fellowship for ST students (NFST)
- v. National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

Brief details of the Scheme are given below:

Scholarship  Division  is  implementing  following  Scholarship  Schemes  to  promote  and encourage basic and higher education amongst ST population: -

- i) Pre-Matric  Scholarship  for  ST  students  (Class  IX  and  X): It  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme implemented through respective State/UT administrations. This is an open-ended Scheme covering  all  ST  students  studying  in  Std.  IXth  &  Xth,  whose  parental  annual  income  is  not exceeding  Rs.  2.50  lakhs.  The  contribution  from  Government  of  India  is  75%  and  the  state contribution  is  25%.  In  respect  of  North  East  states  and  hilly  states,  the  contribution  from

Government of India is 90% and the state contribution is 10%. In case of UTs like Andaman & Nicobar without Legislative Assembly and own grants, Govt. of India's contribution is 100%.

- ii) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above) :  It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through respective Ste/UT administrations. This is an open-ended Scheme covering all ST students studying in in class XI and above, whose parental annual income is not exceeding  Rs.  2.50  lakhs.  The  contribution  from  Government  of  India  is  75%  and  the  state contribution  is  25%.  In  respect  of  North  East  states  and  hilly  states,  the  contribution  from Government of India is 90% and the state contribution is 10%. In case of UTs like Andaman & Nicobar without Legislative Assembly and own grants, Govt. of India's contribution is 100%.
- iii) National Scholarship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students (earlier known as Top Class Scholarship Scheme): This is Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Under this Scheme, Scholarship is provided for pursuing Graduate/Post Graduate courses in the selected top-class Government and Non-Government Institutes in professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc. All ST students, with annual parental income not exceeding Rs.6.0 lakhs and studying in the 265 notified institutes by the Ministry, are eligible to receive scholarship.
- iv) National Fellowship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students: It is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to grant scholarship to meritorious ST students for pursuing M.Phil or Ph.D in India after completion of Master degree. The total number of fresh fellowships for M.Phil/M.Phil+PhD/Ph.D every year will be 750. ST students with a minimum of 55% marks in Master Degree up to the age of 36 years are eligible to apply for fellowship under the Scheme. The value of fellowship is at par with UGC rates.
- v) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students: It is a Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of  Tribal  Affairs  under  which  scholarships  are  given  to  the  meritorious  Schedule  Tribe  (ST) students  for  pursuing  higher  education  in  top  1000  ranked  (as  per  latest  QS  world  ranking) Institutes/Universities abroad. The Scheme is implemented through the Indian Embassies/Missions abroad, Ministry of External Affairs. Twenty awards are given every year. ST students with parental income not exceeding Rs.6.0 lakhs per annum are eligible to apply for the Scholarship under the Scheme.
- (b) & (C): It may be mentioned that scholarship given under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme,Top Class  Scholarship  and  Overseas  Scholarship  scheme  has  2  components.  The  first  is  fee component  for the course  and the 2nd is stipend.

The fee component is decided by the State Level Fee Fixation Committee of the state. In case of students studying in private sector institutes there will be a ceiling of Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum per student for Engineering Courses and Rs.6.00 lakh per annum for MBBS/ MS/ MD courses and Rs.1.00 lakh per annum for other courses as far as support of Government of India is concerned. However, the concerned State  Government/UT

Administration is free to provide scholarship over and above the limit specified above to students studying in private sector Institutes. In Top Class and Overseas Scholarship schemes, the entire fee for the course is paid by the Govt of India. There  has  been  no  change  in  stipend  in  Post  Matric  and  Top  class  and  Overseas  Scholarship scheme.

The rates in respect of scholarship for Fellowship have been made at par with the UGC rates, i.e Rs.37,000/- for M.Phil (2 years),For Phd: Rs. 37.000/- for two years and Rs. 42,000/- for the next 3 years (totally for 5 years),  Contingency allowance: Renging from Rs. 10,000 to 25,000/-,HRA at per UGC rates,Escort allowance for Divyngjan: Rs 2000/per month.

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