Lok Sabha Question No. 2663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Educational Development
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2663 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## Educational Development

2663. SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  schemes  for  the  educational development for the economically backward classes and if so, the details thereof; (b) the amount of funds allocated under such schemes; and (c) the amount of funds utilised under such schemes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): Yes, Madam. The Central Government is implementing the Central Sector Plan Scheme titled 'Scheme on Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans from scheduled Banks for professional education of students from economically weaker sections' for providing  full  interest  subsidy  during  the  period  of  moratorium  (i.e.  duration  of  a recognised  professional  course  plus  one  year)  on  educational  loans  availed  by students  belonging  to  economically  weaker  sections  whose  annual  income  is  not more  than  Rs.4.5  lakhs.  The  Government  has  also  recently  notified  the  Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL) to mitigate the risks and provide guarantee for educational loans taken under the Indian Bank's Association (IBA) Model Educational Loan Scheme. The Central Government is also implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Merit-cum-Means  based  Scholarship for College and  University Students for providing financial assistance to meritorious students with annual family income less than Rs.6.00 lakhs to meet their day-to-day expenses while pursuing higher studies. Another  Central  Sector  Scheme  viz.  Special  Scholarship  Scheme  for  Jammu  & Kashmir supports students from the State having parental annual income less than Rs.6.00 lakhs for pursuing higher studies.The UGC is also implementing the Ishan Uday scholarship scheme for the North East Region under which scholarships are given to meritorious children with annual family income less than Rs.4.50 lakhs to meet their day-to-day expenses.

Also,  the  UGC  is  implementing  the  scheme  of  Community  Colleges  in Universities and Colleges in the country. The main objective of the scheme is to offer low  cost,  high  quality  education  locally,  which  encompasses  both  traditional  skill development as well as traditional  course  work,  thereby  providing  opportunities  to the  learner  to  move  directly  to  employment  sector  or  to  move  to  the  Higher Education sector.

(b) & (c): The funds allocated and amounts utilized under these schemes, during the current year, upto 29 th February, 2016 is the following:

| Name of scheme                                                                                                                                |   Amount allocated during 2015-16 (Rs. in crores) |   Amount utilized (upto 29 th February, 2016) (Rs. in crores) |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Scheme on Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans from scheduled Banks for professional education of students from economically weaker sections |                                           1960    |                                                       1587.64 |
| Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Educational Loans                                                                                            |                                           1960    |                                                        362.5  |
| Central Sector Scheme of Merit- cum-Means based Scholarship for College and University Students                                               |                                            270    |                                                        100.62 |
| Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                |                                            270    |                                                         74.77 |
| Ishan Uday Scheme                                                                                                                             |                                             71.54 |                                                         63.61 |
| Community Colleges (approved by the UGC)                                                                                                      |                                            106.66 |                                                         29.59 |

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