**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 168 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 1, 2025, regarding scholarships sanctioned under central schemes. It clarifies that the government is implementing various scholarship schemes, including the PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS), and outlines eligibility criteria, amounts, and disbursement methods. The Department of Higher Education is responsible for implementing the PM-USP CSSS.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scholarship Schemes:**
* The government provides financial assistance through various scholarship schemes to all categories of students based on scheme guidelines.
* The Department of Higher Education implements the PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS).
* **PM-USP CSSS Details:**
* Since 2020, 7303 students from West Champaran district of Bihar have benefited under the PM-USP CSSS.
* Financial assistance is provided to deserving and meritorious students pursuing higher education.
* **Eligibility Criteria:**
* Applicants must be in the top 20th percentile of successful candidates in class XII.
* The family income should be up to ₹4.5 lakhs per annum.
* The age group of applicants is 18-25 years.
* **Scholarship Slots:**
* 82,000 fresh scholarship slots are available annually.
* Slots are divided among State Education Boards based on the State's population.
* 50% of scholarship slots are reserved for girl students.
* **Reservation Policy:**
* Central Reservation Policy is followed: 15% for SCs, 7.5% for STs, 27% for OBCs, and 5% horizontal reservation for students with Benchmark Disabilities.
* **Scholarship Amounts:**
* ₹12,000 per year for the first three years.
* ₹20,000 per year for the fourth and fifth years.
* **Disbursement:**
* The scholarship is disbursed directly into the Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of beneficiaries to ensure timely disbursement.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** College and University Students (Specifically, deserving and meritorious students)
**Impact:**
* Financial assistance is provided to pursue higher education.
* Opportunities are provided to those meeting specified percentile and income criteria.
**Action Required:**
* Determine eligibility based on percentile in Class XII and family income criteria.
* Apply for the PM-USP CSSS scholarship to receive financial aid.
**Stakeholder:** State Education Boards
**Impact:**
* Responsible for distributing scholarship slots based on State's population.
**Action Required:**
* Distribute 82,000 fresh scholarship slots per year as directed.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education
**Impact:**
* Responsible for overseeing and implementing the scholarship schemes.
**Action Required:**
* Continue implementing and managing scholarship schemes.
* Ensure timely disbursement of funds to beneficiaries.
Key Entities Referenced
PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS): A central sector scheme implemented by the Department of Higher Education to provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships to deserving and meritorious students for pursuing higher education.
Ministry of Education: The government ministry responsible for education policy and administration; in this context, answering questions about scholarship schemes.
Bihar: Indian state where the scholarships are being distributed to students in West Champaran district of Valmiki Nagar Parliamentary constituency.
Central Reservation Policy: A government policy that reserves seats for SCs, STs, OBCs, and students with Benchmark Disabilities under the scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 168
ANSWERED ON 01/12/2025
Scholarship Sanctioned under Central Schemes
†168. Shri Sunil Kumar:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the number of students of college and university who have received scholarship,
sanctioned and distributed under central schemes of the Government since the year 2020 for
the students of West Champaran district of Valmiki Nagar Parliamentary constituency of
Bihar;
(b) the structure form of National means-cum-merit scholarship scheme for Pradhan Mantri
Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (CSSS);
(c) the amount distributed yearly under these schemes during the said period;
(d) whether any delay or irregularity has been observed in the disbursement of
scholarship,and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the remedial measures taken by the Government to release the money in time and to
reduce the cases of disapproval for Scholarship?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): The Government is implementing different scholarship schemes for providing
financial assistance to all categories of students, subject to extant scheme guidelines. The
Department of Higher Education is implementing the PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of
Scholarship for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS).Since the year 2020, 7303
students of West Champaran district of Bihar have benefitted under the PM-USP CSSS
scholarship scheme.
Under the PM-USP CSSS, financial assistance in the form of scholarships is provided
to deserving and meritorious students for pursuing higher education. Students who are in top20th percentile of successful candidates in class XII and having family income up to ₹ 4.5
lakhs per annum, are eligible to apply. In a year, 82,000 fresh scholarship slots are available.
These have been divided amongst the State Education Boards based on the State’s population
in the age group of 18-25 years. 50% scholarship slots are earmarked for the girl students.
Central Reservation Policy is being followed under the scheme, i.e., 15% seats are earmarked for
SCs, 7.5% for STs and 27 % for OBCs and 5% horizontal reservation for students with
Benchmark Disabilities as per schematic norms.The rate of scholarship is Rs. 12,000/- per year
for the first three years and Rs. 20,000/- per year for the fourth and fifth year.To ensure timely
disbursement of the scholarship amount, the scholarship is disbursed directly into the
Aadhaar seeded bank account of beneficiaries.
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