Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students
The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from poor families to meet part of their day-to-day expenditure for pursuing their higher studies.
The scholarships are awarded by Ministry of Education, Government of India on the basis of results of Higher Secondary / Class XII Board Examination. A maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships per annum are provided for pursuing graduate / postgraduate degree in colleges and universities and for professional courses, such as Medical, Engineering etc. 50% of the scholarships are earmarked for girls.
The total number of scholarships is divided among the State Boards on the basis of the population of the State in the age group of 18-25 years, the number of students passing from various Boards in the country after setting aside the share of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE). Out of the total scholarship slots earmarked for UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, 3% slots shall be earmarked for the students from the UT of Ladakh. The number of scholarships allotted to a State Education Board is distributed amongst pass outs of the Humanities, Science and Commerce streams in the ratio of 3:3:1. In case of shortfall in the number of applications, the scholarship slots shall be interoperable among categories (Gen, OBC, SC & ST), gender (Female, Male) and State Quota to maximize use of slots for fresh scholarships with effect from academic year 2022-23, subject to the condition that guidelines of Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog regarding SC/ST fund allocation of the schemes are adhered to.
Students studying regularly (not through correspondence or distance education mode) in recognized educational institutions in 10+2 pattern or equivalent class XII who have passed the relevant subject for the particular board examination and are not availing any other scholarship scheme and whose family income is upto Rs. 4.5 lakhs are eligible to be considered under this scheme.
Students belonging to reserved categories/weaker sections /minorities etc. are eligible to get benefit of reservation on the basis of merit, subject to Central Reservation Policy [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 (Disability of 40% or more) in all the categories].