Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addresses financial barriers to higher education through various scholarship schemes and loan programs. In the academic year 2023-24, over one crore scholarships were granted. The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PMUSP) and the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme are key initiatives, with the latter launched on November 6, 2024, offering collateral-free loans and interest subventions.
Key Points / Main Content:
Scholarship Schemes:
* Multiple scholarship schemes exist for various student categories (OBC, EBC, DNT, SC, ST).
* In 2023-24, over one crore students received scholarships.
* Details are available on the websites of various ministries and departments, including Social Justice, Tribal Affairs, Minority Affairs, Higher Education, UGC, AICTE, and DST.
* The Central Sector Scholarship (CSS) Schemes are implemented online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
* Payments are made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through Aadhaar Based Payment Bridge (ABPS).
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PMUSP):
* PMUSP has three components: Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS), Special Scholarship Scheme for the students of J&K and Ladakh, and Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS).
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme:
* Launched on November 6, 2024, to ensure no student is denied higher education due to financial constraints.
* Provides collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans for merit-based admissions in top Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs).
* No upper limit on loan amounts.
* Offers 3% interest subvention on education loans up to ₹10 lakhs for students with annual family income up to ₹8 lakhs.
* Up to one lakh fresh students not receiving other scholarships or interest subventions are eligible.
* Applications are submitted via the PM Vidyalaxmi portal (https:pmvidyalaxmi.co.in).
Impact Analysis:
Students:
Impact: Increased access to financial aid for higher education through scholarships and loans, particularly for those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Action Required: Check eligibility criteria for various schemes, apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or PM Vidyalaxmi portal (https:pmvidyalaxmi.co.in), and provide necessary documentation.
Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs):
Impact: Potential increase in enrollment due to improved financial access for students.
Action Required: Inform students about the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme and other scholarship opportunities and assist them with the application process.
Government (Ministry of Education and other Ministries):
Impact: Fulfillment of the objective to support talented students and improve access to higher education.
Action Required: Maintain and update relevant websites, ensure timely disbursement of scholarships and loans, and monitor the effectiveness of the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
National Scholarship Portal NSP: Online portal used for implementing Central Sector Scholarship CSS Schemes.
Direct Benefit Transfer DBT: A mechanism for transferring benefits directly to the beneficiaries; in this context, scholarships are paid through DBT.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana PMUSP: A scheme with three components related to scholarships and interest subsidies for higher education.
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students CSSS: A component of the PMUSP scheme providing scholarships to college and university students.
Special Scholarship Scheme for the students of JK and Ladakh SSS for JKL: A component of the PMUSP scheme specifically for students from Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
PM Vidyalaxmi: A central sector scheme launched to provide collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans.
University Grants Commission: A statutory body established by the Indian Union government responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No.- 4068
ANSWERED ON-18/08/2025
Scholarship to Talented Students
†4068. Shri Chhotelal:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that many talented students aspiring to
pursue higher education are unable to complete their studies due to the lack of financial
resources;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to provide scholarship, loan and
other financial assistances to such students?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (c): The Government is implementing different scholarship schemes for providing
financial assistance in higher education to all categories of students, subject to extant scheme
guidelines. In Academic Year 2023-24, more than one crore students were granted scholarships
for Post-Matric and Higher Education, which included about 39.3 lakh scholarships for Other
Backward Classes (OBC), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and Denotified Tribes (DNT)
students; about 47 lakh scholarships to Scheduled Castes (SC) students and about 20.5 lakh
scholarships for ST students. The details of these schemes including the eligibility criteria laid
down for scholarship are available in the following websites:
Sl. Ministry/ Department Website links
No.
1. Ministry of Social Justice & https://socialjustice.gov.in/scheme-cat
Empowerment
2. Ministry of Tribal Affairs https://tribal.nic.in/ScholarshiP.aspxSl. Ministry/ Department Website links
No.
3. Ministry of Minority Affairs https://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/show_c
ontent.php?lang=1&level=2&ls_id=661&li
d=823
4. Department of Higher https://www.education.gov.in/en/scholarship
Education s-education-loan-0
5. University Grants Commission https://www.ugc.gov.in/Home/student_Cor
ner
6. All India Council for Technical https://www.aicte.gov.in/schemes/students-
Education development-schemes
7. Department of Science and https://dst.gov.in/inspire-scheme-
Technology innovation-science-pursuit-inspired-
research
The Central Sector Scholarship (CSS) Schemes are implemented online through
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and Payment to the students eligible to receive scholarships
available on NSP is done in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode through Aadhaar Based
Payment Bridge (ABPS).
The Department of Higher Education (DHE) is implementing the Pradhan Mantri
Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP) which has three components namely Central
Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS), Special
Scholarship Scheme for the students of J&K and Ladakh (SSS for JKL) and Central Sector
Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS). Further, the 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
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.
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