Lok Sabha Question No. 2742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Financial Assistance under PM-USP Scheme
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2742 ANSWERED ON 09/03/2026

## Financial Assistance under PM-USP Scheme

## 2742. Shri Raja Ram Singh:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the total number of beneficiaries and the total amount of financial assistance disbursed under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Scheme (PM-USP) during the last five years, State/UT-wise and year-wise;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  representations/feedback  regarding  the inadequacy  of  financial  assistance  under  the  Scheme  in  view  of  rising  costs  of  higher education and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  during  the  last  five  years  to revise/enhance  the  financial  assistance  under  the  Scheme  to  account  for  inflation  and increased educational expenses along with the action taken thereon; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  further  revise  the  assistance  coverage  under  the Scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the proposed timeline for implementation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Department  of  Higher  Education  (DHE)  implements  the  Pradhan  Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana comprising of the following Central Sector sub-schemes  namely (i)  PM-USP  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Scholarship  for  College  and University  Students;  (ii)  PM-USP  Special  Scholarship  Scheme  for  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and Ladakh;  and  (iii)  PM-USP  Central  Sector  Interest  Subsidy  Scheme  and  Credit  Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loan. Under PM-USP Yojana, the financial aid is provided to students pursuing higher education in India. The total number of beneficiaries and the total amount  of  financial  assistance  disbursed  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Uchchatar  Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana during the last five years, State/UT-wise and year-wise may be accessed at https://www.education.gov.in/parl\_ques. The umbrella scheme is being implemented smoothly as per extant schematic norms of the three component schemes. The scholarship  amount  provided  annually  under  the  PM-USP  CSSS  scheme  has  been  revised from ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 with effect from the academic year 2022-23.

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 loans are provided to all the students,  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.  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.

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