By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Central Government yesterday approved changes in the eligibility criteria for meritorious students from low income background to avail themselves of the benefits of central government scholarship scheme. The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, took the decision.
The Cabinet approved the changes in the eligibility norms for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students.
Under the existing eligibility criteria, students who secured above 80 per cent marks in Class-XII could avail themselves of the assistance. This was blocking from benefit most of the students from Hindi belt like Bihar, UP and Madhya Pradesh as students of government schools there hardly get 80% marks.
In the changed norms now, students figuring above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant scheme of a particular board examination could take advantage of the scheme. Under the percentile system, the highest marks secured by a student in a particular subject would be considered the 100th percentile.
Accordingly, the percentile of other students would be decided.
Even if a student secured less than 80 per cent marks, he could still figure above 80th percentile. The amended eligibility criteria would be applicable from the current academic year, says a PTI report.
The Human Resource Development Ministry started the scheme two years ago.
Nearly 82,000 fresh scholarships annually, including 41,000 for boys and 41,000 for girls, are to be awarded for graduate and postgraduate studies in colleges and universities and for professional courses.
The monthly scholarship amount is Rs 1,000 at the graduation level for the first three years of college and university courses and Rs. 2,000 at the post graduation level. Students pursuing professional courses will get Rs. 2,000 a month in the 4th and 5th year.
The scholarship will be paid for 10 months in an academic year.