STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU/NEW DELHI: The Union Government has extended scholarship scheme for students from Jammu and Kashmir for another five years in the wake of the encouraging response it has received. The government wants to continue the scholarship along with a simultaneous focus on opening new educational institutes in the newly created Union Territories.
On Late Saturday evening, LG Manoj Sinha posted on his twitter handle “Grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, Hon’ble MoE Shri @dpradhanbjp ji for extending PMSSS for J&K Students for another 5 years. With thousands of scholarships available every year, scheme will provide opportunities to our youth to dream big & means to realize their dreams.”
The Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) was introduced in 2011 to provide funding to 5,000 meritorious students each year to study in private and government educational institutions across the country. Aimed at promoting employment opportunities for students from J&K and Ladakh, the scheme, with an annual budget of ?180-?190 crore, is implemented by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
According to AICTE data, there was a substantial increase in the number of applications received in the academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22, following a dip in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The rise was recorded after J&K’s special status granted under Article 370 of the Constitution was revoked by Parliament in August 2019.
The term of the scheme was due to end last year, but the Centre decided to extend it for another five years for the benefit of students. This scheme offers 4,500 seats for general education courses (Bachelor’s in Arts, Commerce and Science), and 250 seats each for engineering and medical degrees. While the scholarship offered for general education courses is ?1.3 lakh, including a ?1 lakh maintenance fee to cover hostel and mess charges, it is ?2.25 lakh for engineering and ?4 lakh for medical degrees.