Lok Sabha Question No. 308 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Difficulties Faced by Economically Weaker Sections in Processing Scholarships
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Lalji Verma, Shri Neeraj Maurya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 308 ANSWERED ON 02/02/2026

## Difficulties Faced by Economically Weaker Sections in Processing Scholarships

## †308.   Shri Lalji Verma:

Shri Neeraj Maurya:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the students of economically weaker sections belonging to minority groups have been unable to submit fresh applications and renewal applications on the National Scholarship Portal for the Central Government scholarships during the last two years, if so, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government is aware that due to non-receipt of scholarship amounts, a large number  of  economically  weaker  minority  community  students  have  been  compelled  to discontinue their studies midway owing to their inability to pay fees;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  any  alternative  financial  assistance  to students  who  have  not  received  scholarships  during  the  last  three  years,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (c): The Department of Higher Education (DHE) is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar  Shiksha  Protsahan  (PM-USP)  Yojana,  comprising  of  two  scholarship  schemes namely, Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) and  Special  Scholarship  scheme  for  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Ladakh,  wherein  means-cummerit  scholarships  are  provided  to  students  pursuing  higher  education  subject  to  extant scheme guidelines. These schemes are onboarded on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

In last two years, the scholarships under the PM-USP CSSS and PM-USP SSS for JKL, has been provided to about 3.8 lakh students, belonging to all communities.

(d): The Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi (PM Vidyalaxmi), a new central sector scheme has been launched  on  6th  November  2024.  The  main  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  ensure  that  no student  is  denied  the  opportunity  to  pursue  higher  education  due  to  financial  constraints. Under  the  scheme,  collateral-free  and  guarantor-free  education  loan  is  provided  to  all  the students,  including  students  from  minority  communities  who  get  merit-based  admission  in top Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs) and who desire to avail the education loan and there is no upper limit for this. Further, for students with annual family income up to ₹ 8 lakh, the scheme provides 3% interest subvention on education loans up to ₹ 10 lakhs. Up to one lakh fresh students not getting any other scholarship or interest subvention on education loan will get this interest subvention. A dedicated online platform, the PM Vidyalaxmi portal https://pmvidyalaxmi.co.in has been developed on which students can apply for the education loan as well as interest subvention, through a simplified application process to be used by all banks.

Further,  the  Department  of  Higher  Education  is  implementing  the  PM-USP Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme. Under the PM USP-CSIS Scheme, full interest subvention is provided  to  all  students  who  are  pursuing  technical/professional  courses  from  approved NAAC accredited HEIs/NBA accredited courses and whose annual family income is up to ₹ 4.5 lakhs for loans up to ₹ 10 lakhs, during the moratorium period. There is no upper limit on number of student beneficiaries for this Scheme.

Moreover, under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (PM-USP CGFSEL) of the Central Government, credit guarantee is provided for education loans sanctioned up to ₹ 7.5 lakhs. The guarantee cover is up  to  75%  of  outstanding  default.  Further,  under  the  model  education  loan  scheme  of  the Indian Banks' Association, the repayment period for education loan is  up to 15 years after moratorium period (course year plus one year).

Thus, PM Vidyalaxmi, PM-USP CSIS and PM USP CGFSEL schemes, along with the various scholarships together provide holistic support to all deserving students to pursue higher education in quality HEIs and technical/professional education in approved HEIs.

As a result of all the above initiatives, the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of students in Higher Education has increased from 27.3 in 2020-21 to 29.5 in 2022-23 (provisional).

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