National Merit Scholarship Scheme was introduced by Department of Education in 1961- 62. It was available to brilliant but poor students from class XI to Post-Graduation level. In addition, a Scheme of Scholarship at the Secondary stage for talented children from rural areas was also introduced by Department of Education in 1971-72. It was available to talented but poor students from rural areas from class VI to class XII. These two Schemes were merged and a single Scheme, namely, the ‘National Merit Scholarship Scheme’ was established by Department of Education for implementation from 2005-06. This was available to meritorious students from class IX to Post-Graduation level. However, since funds were not provided by the Planning Commission for the year 2007- 08, the Scheme has been discontinued w.e.f. 1.4.2007. School Education has come under a new Department, namely, Department of School Education & Literacy w.e.f. the year 2007-08. The Department of School Education and Literacy has introduced a new Scheme: ‘National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme’. This Scheme will cover students from class IX to XII. The Department of Higher Education has introduced a new scheme for meritorious students from low income families going to colleges / universities for implementation during the XI Five Year Plan period with an approved outlay of Rs.1000 crore. This is a Central sector scheme titled “ Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students”.
Objective:
To provide financial assistance to meritorious students from low income families to meet a part of their day-to-day expenses while pursuing higher studies.
Allocation of Scholarships:
The total number of scholarships will be divided amongst the State Boards based on the State’s population in the age group of 18-25 years, after segregating share of CBSE and ICSE on the basis of number of students passing out from various Boards in the country. 50 % of the scholarships would be earmarked for girls. The number of scholarships allotted to a State Board would be distributed amongst pass outs of the Science, Commerce and Humanities streams of the State Board in the ratio of 3:2:1.
Eligibility:
Students who are above 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream for a particular Board of Examination, in class XII of 10+2 pattern or equivalent and not belonging to the creamy layer as defined by the Deptt. of Personnel and Training in their Notification No. 36012/22/93-Estt. (SCT), dated 8.11.93 (Annexure IV), and as modified vide their OM No. 36033/3/2004-Estt. (Res), dated 9th March, 2004 (Annexure V), and as may be further modified from time to time, pursuing regular courses (not correspondence or distance mode) from recognised educational institutions and not availing of any other scholarship scheme, would be eligible for consideration this Scheme. This is applicable to all categories of students both ‘general’ and ‘reserved’.
Selection Process:
The examining bodies will draw up a merit list of scholars [Annexure – I] likely to be eligible for scholarship within five weeks after the results of the examinations announced by the Boards/Universities/Authority for all students. The income of the students’ parents will be taken into account before preparing the list. The Boards/Universities/Authority in the State/Union Territory will write to the eligible students from the top of the merit list up to twice the number of scholarships available (to provide for possible refusal and ineligible cases) through a registered letter to confirm within 15 days whether he/she is prepared to accept the scholarship. The candidates from whom replies are not received within 30 days of the State Board / CBSE / ICSE seeking their willingness will not be considered for scholarship and the award will be given to the next eligible candidates in the merit list. The Boards/Universities in the State/Union Territory will send to each candidate shortlisted for consideration for award of scholarships the following :
- Entitlement Card
- Income Affidavit form
- A Form for ‘Statement of Particulars’.
The shortlisted scholars shall present the Entitlement Card (Annexure-II), Income Affidavit form (Annexure-III) and Statement of Particulars (Annexure-IV) duly filled-in to the Head of the Institution joined by him/her. The Head of the Institution will complete the Entitlement Card and send it to the concerned State Board, CBSE, ICSE, as the case may be.
On receipt of the ‘joining report’ along with the completed ‘Statement of Particulars’ and ‘Income Affidavit, the concerned Board wil then compile the list of scholarship awardees of that Board on the basis of merit, eligibility criteria and reservation guidelines of the Central Govt. and send the same to the National Scholarship Division of MHRD, Department of Higher Education which will arrange to pay the scholarship to the scholar through a designated bank. The Name, Address for communication and details of bank account of the student in which the scholarship is to be paid, is to be furnished by the Board along with the list.
If the concerned Board does not receive the joining report from the candidate duly signed by the Head of Institution, within 30 days from the date of closure of admission in the Institution, the case for award of scholarship to him/her will not be considered. The scholarship will then be offered to the next eligible candidate in the merit list.
If the concerned Board does not receive the joining report from the candidate duly signed by the Head of Institution, within 30 days from the date of closure of admission in the Institution, the case for award of scholarship to him/her will not be considered. The scholarship will then be offered to the next eligible candidate in the merit list.
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