In News:

• The Central government has extended the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for students from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for another five years in the wake of the encouraging response it has received.

What’s in today’s article:

• About PMSSS (Objective, Features, Benefits, Eligibility, Performance, etc.)

Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS):

• The Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) was introduced by the Central government in
• Objective:
  • To promote employment opportunities for students from J&K and Ladakh.
• Under the scheme, funding is provided to 5,000 meritorious students each year to study in private and government educational institutions across the country.
• The scheme offers 4,500 seats for general education courses (Bachelor’s in Arts, Commerce and Science), and 250 each for engineering and medical degrees.
• Budget: Rs 180-190 crore annually
• Implementing Agency: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

Eligibility:

• Students who are the domiciles of Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
• Those who have passed the 10+2 exam from the J&K Board or CBSE affiliated schools located in UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
• Students who have passed 10+3 diploma from UTs of J&K and Ladakh Polytechnic.
• Students having an annual family income of less than Rs 8 lakh.

PMSSS Benefits:

• A total of 5,000 scholarships are awarded for students pursuing courses in General Degree, Professional Degree, and Medical Streams.
• Students selected for the scholarship will receive the following benefits:
  • For General Degree-
    • Up to RS 30,000 per annum for the academic fee (payable to the institution)
    • Maintenance charges of RS 1 lakh per annum (hostel and mess charges-payable to the student)
  • For Professional Degree-
    • Up to RS 1.25 lakh per annum for the academic fee (payable to the institution)
    • Maintenance charges of RS 1 lakh per annum (payable to the student)
  • For Medical stream
    • ₹ 3 lakh per annum for the academic fee
    • Maintenance charges of RS 1 lakh per annum (payable to the student)

Recent performance of the scheme:

• There are not many takers for general education seats. When these seats are not filled, they are converted on a pro rata basis into engineering and medical seats, raising the 500-seat limit.
• 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 Central government decided to extend it for another five years for the benefit of students.