Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice
& Empowerment
(Backward Classes
Division)
SCHEME OF POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS
TO THE OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES FOR STUDIES
IN INDIA
I)
OBJECT
II)
SCOPE
III)
CONDITIONS
OF ELIGIBILITY
VI)
DURATION
AND RENEWAL OF AWARDS
VII)
PAYMENT
VIII)
OTHER
CONDITIONS FOR THE AWARD
IX)
ANNOUNCEMENT
OF THE SCHEME
XI)
MONITORING
XII)
EVALUATION
I. OBJECT
The Government of India has since independence initiated a
number of steps for improving the level of literacy and education. In this
context, the Government has recognized that educational and economic support
for backward classes has not been adequate and that there is disparity between
them and the non-backward sections of the population at every level. It is
self-evident and universally accepted that education is one of the key
instruments of effective development of weaker sections.
Based on the recommendations of the Working Group on
Development and Welfare of Backward Classes, it is proposed to launch a new
centrally sponsored Scheme of Post-matric Scholarship for Other Backward
Classes (OBCs) students.
The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial
assistance to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) students studying at post
matriculation or post secondary stage to enable them to complete their
education.
II. SCOPE
These scholarships shall be available for studies in India
only and will be awarded by the Government of State/ Union Territory to which
the applicant actually belongs, i.e. permanently settled, 100% central
assistance will be provided to State Governments/UT Administrations for this purpose.
III. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY
(i) The scholarships will be open to Indian
nationals belonging to Other Backward Classes as notified by the Central Govt./
State Govt./ UT Admn.
(ii) These Scholarships will be given for the
study of all recognized post-matriculation or post-secondary courses pursued in
recognized institutions with the following exceptions
"Scholarships shall
not be awarded for training courses like Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's Courses
and Private License Courses, Courses at Training-Ship Dufferin (now INS
Rajendra), Courses of training at the Military College, Dehradun, courses at
Pre-examination Training Centers of All India and State levels and Trade
Courses at the Industrial Training Institutes."
(Iii) Only those candidates who belong to Other
Backward Classes so specified in relation to the State/Union Territory to which
the applicant actually belongs i.e. permanently settled and who have passed the
Matriculation or Higher Secondary or any higher examination of a recognized
University or Board of Secondary Education, will be eligible.
(iv) Candidates who after passing one stage of
education are studying in the same stage of education in a different subject
e.g. I.Sc after I.A. or B.Com. after B.A. or M.A. in other subject will not be
eligible.
(v) Students who, after having completed their
educational career in one professional line, e.g. LLB after B.T./B.Ed. will not
be eligible.
(vi) Students studying in Class XI of the
Higher Secondary Schools which courses or the XII class of the Multipurpose
High School will not be eligible for it being a continuous school courses.
However, in cases, where tenth class examination of such courses is treated as
equivalent to Matriculation and students who after passing tenth class join
other courses, such students will be treated as post-matric students and will
be eligible for the award of scholarships.
(vii) Students pursuing Post-graduate courses in
medicine will be eligible if they are not allowed to practice during the period
of their course.
(viii) Students who after failing or passing the
under graduate/post-graduate examinations in Arts/Science/Commerce join any
recognized professional or Technical certificate/diploma/degree courses will be
awarded scholarships if otherwise eligible. No subsequent failure will be
condoned except courses in Group A, and no further change in the course will
be allowed.
(ix) Students who pursue their studies through
correspondence courses will be eligible towards reimbursement of non-refundable
fee. The term correspondence includes distant and continuing education. Besides
reimbursement of non-refundable fee, such students will also be eligible for an
annual allowance of Rs. 500 for essential/ prescribed books, as applicable.
(x)
Employed students whose income combined with the
income of their parents/guardians does not exceed Rs. 44,500 per annum shall be
eligible for post-matric scholarships to the extent of reimbursement of all compulsorily
payable non-refundable fees.
(xi) Only two children of the same parents/
guardian will be entitled to receive scholarships. This restriction will,
however, not apply to girls. Accordingly, scholarships availed by girls of same
parents/ guardians will not adversely afect admissibility of availing
scholarship upto two boys of same parents/ guardian.
(xii) A scholarship holder under this scheme will
not hold any other scholarship/stipend. If awarded any other
scholarship/stipend, the students can exercise his/her option for either of the
two scholarships/stipends, whichever is more beneficial to him/her and should
inform the awarding authority through the Head of the Institution about the
option made. No scholarship will be paid to the students under this
scheme from the dates he/she accepts another scholarship/stipend. The
student can however, accept free lodging or a grant or adhoc monetary help from
the State Government or any other source for the purchase of books, equipment
or for meeting the expenses on board and lodging in addition to the scholarship
amount paid under this scheme.
(xiii) Students who have already received coaching
in any of the pre-examination training centers with financial assistance from the
Government will not be eligible.
(xiv) In case of unemployed students whose
parents/ guardians' income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 44,500 per
annum will be entitled for the scholarship under the scheme.
Note 1:
So long as either of the parents (or husband in the case of married unemployed girl student) are alive, only income of the parents/ husband, as the case may be, from all sources has to be taken into account and of no other members even though they may be earning. In the form of income declaration, income is to be declared on this basis. Only in the case where both the parents (or husband in the case of married but unemployed girl student) have died, the income of the guardian who is supporting the student in his/her studies has to be taken into consideration. Such students whose parent's income is affected due to unfortunate death of one of earning parents and resultantly comes within the income ceiling prescribed under the scheme, shall become eligible for scholarship, subject to their fulfilling other conditions of eligibility, from the month in which such sad incidence takes place. Applications for scholarships from such students can be considered even after lapse of last date of receipt of applications, on compassionate grounds.
Note 2:
House Rent Allowance received by the parents of a student shall be exempted from the computation of "income" if the same has been permitted to be exempted for purpose of Income Tax.
Note 3:
Income Certificate is required to be taken once only, i.e. at the time of admission to courses which are continuing for more than one year.
IV. VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP
The value of scholarship
includes maintenance allowance, reader charges for blind students, reimbursement
of compulsory non-refundable fees, study tour charges, thesis typing/printing
charges and book allowance for students pursuing correspondence courses,
for complete duration of the course. The details are given below :-
(i)
Maintenance allowance :
|
Course of |
Rate of Maintenance
allowance (Rupees per month) |
|
|
Hostellers |
Day Scholars |
|
|
Group A Medical/Engineering including Degree level courses in Indian Medicine, B.A.M.& S. and Comparable courses in Ayurvedic, Unani/Tibbia and Homeopathic System of Medicines. B.Sc. (Agriculture/B.V. Sc./B.F.Sc. (Fisheries) Higher Technical and all professional studies like degree and post graduate courses in Agricultural and Veterinary Science |
425 |
190 |
|
Group B Diploma level courses in Indian Medicine and Comparable courses in Ayurvedic, Unani/Tibbia and Homeopathic System of Medicine. Diploma & comparable courss in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, medicine, diploma level courses in printing technology and courses for overseer draftsman, surveyor, commercial pilot license, diploma and higher courses in Hotel Management catering technology and applied nutrition. Degree and post-graduate course in nursing and pharmacy. Wireless and television operators/ sound recording and sound engineering motion picture, photography, film direction/ acting/ screenplay/ writing. Degree/post graduate Diploma courses in business management, chartered and cost/works accountancy. Post
Graduate courses in Science subjects |
290 |
190 |
|
Group C Certificate course in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture and
Medicine Diploma and Certificate courses in Agriculture, Pharmacy, Veterinary
Science, Fisheries, Dairy Development, Hygiene and Public Health, Sanitary
Inspector's course, Courses for Rural Services, Cooperation and Community
Development, Sub-Officers' Course at the National Fire Service College,
Nagpur, Library Science. Degree/ Post Graduate Diploma and Post Graduate Courses in Teacher's Training, Library Science and Physical Education, Music Fine Arts and Law, Craft Instructor's Training Course, Certificate Course in Hotel Management/ Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition. Passenger Transport Management, Associate Degree in Pharmacy. Post Graduate courses in Arts and Commerce subjects. |
290 |
190 |
|
Group D General Courses upto Graduate level (2nd year and onward). |
230 |
120 |
|
Group E Classes XIth and XIIth in 10+2 System Intermediate courses and first year of General courses upto graduate level |
150 |
90 |
Note 1 Commercial Pilot License Course (CPL)
CPL course shall be
covered under Group B. The number of awards for CPL will be 20 per
annum. Consequent upon receiving applications from concerned students concerned
State Governments/ UT Admns. should scrutinize them for determining their
eligibility under the Scheme and thereafter intimate the number of eligible
applications for CPL training (with their names) for each financial year to
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (the applications themselves need
not be sent to the Ministry). Upon receipt of such information, Ministry of
Social Justice & Empowerment will give clearance to the concerned
States/UTs on the first-come first-serve basis upto 20 awards for the country
as a whole. The selected candidates will be provided a maintenance allowance at
rates applicable to Group "B" courses, i.e. Rs.290 per month for
hostlers and Rs. 190 per month for day scholars. In addition all compulsory
fees, including flight charges are to be provided in fee.
Note 2 M.Phil and Ph.D courses are post-graduation courses. Scholarship
to such students may be paid at the rates of maintenance allowance for Group
A, 'B' or C depending on the course under these groups.
Note 3 Scholars who are entitled to free board and / or lodging will be
paid maintenance charges at 1/3rd of Hostlers' rate.
(ii)
Reader Charges for blind students (Blind
Scholars)
The blind scholars will be given additional
amount as "Readers Charges" as mentioned below :
|
Group |
Reader Allownace (Rs.
per month) |
|
Group A, B, C |
100 |
|
Group D |
75 |
|
Group E |
50 |
(iii)
Fees :
Scholars will be paid
enrolment/registration, tuition, games, Union, Library, Magazine, Medical
Examination and such other fees compulsorily payable by the scholar to the
institution or University/Board. Refundable deposit like caution money,
security deposit will, however, be excluded.
(iv)
Study Tours :
Study tour charges upto a
maximum of Rs.500 per annum, limited to the actual expenditure incurred by the
student on transportation charges etc. will be paid to the scholars studying
professional and technical courses, provided that the head of the institution
certifies that the study tour is essential for the scholar for completion of
his/her course of study.
(v)
Thesis Typing/Printing Charges :
Thesis typing/printing
charges upto a maximum of Rs.600 will be paid to research scholars on the
recommendation of the Head of the Institution.
V. SELECTION OF CANDIDATES
All the eligible Other Backward Classes
candidates will be given scholarships subject to the condition of eligibility
prescribed in para III of this scheme. Candidates belonging to one State but
studying in other State will be awarded scholarship by the State to which they
belong and will submit their applications to the competent authorities in that
State. In the matter of exemption from fees or other concessions also they
will be treated as if they were studying in their own State.
VI. DURATION AND RENEWAL OF AWARDS
i)
The award once made will be tenable from the
stage at which it is given to the completion of course subject to good conduct
and regularity in attendance. It will be renewed from year to year
provided that within a course which is continuous for a number of years, the
scholar secures promotion to the next higher class irrespective of the fact
whether such examinations are conducted by a University of the Institution.
ii)
If an OBC scholar pursuing Group-A courses fails
in the examination for the first time, the award may be renewed. For
second and subsequent failures in any class, the student shall bear his/her own
expenses until he/she secures promotion to the next higher class.
iii)
If a scholar is unable to appear in the annual
examination owing to illness and/or on account of any other unforeseeable
event, the award may be renewed for the next academic year on submission of
medical certificate and/or other required sufficient proof to the satisfaction
of the Head of the Institution and his/her certifying that the scholar would
have passed had he appeared in the examination.
iv)
If according to the Regulations of a
University/Institution, a student is promoted to the next higher class even
though he/she may not have actually passed in lower class and is required to
take examination of the junior class again after sometime, he/she will be
entitled to scholarship for the class to which he/she is promoted if the
student is otherwise eligible for scholarship.
VII. PAYMENT
i)
Maintenance charges shall be payable from 1st
April or from the month of admission, whichever is later, to the month in which
the examinations are completed, at the end of the academic year (including
maintenance during holidays), provided that if the scholar secures admission
after the 20th day of a month, the amount will be paid from the
month following the month of admission.
ii)
In case of renewal of scholarship awarded in the
previous years, maintenance charges will be paid from the month following the
month upto which scholarship was paid in the previous year, if the course of
study is continuous (e.g. from inter-mediate, Jr. Inter-mediate Sr. Class).
iii)
All scholars are exempted to purchase the
necessary text books, stationary, etc. out of the maintenance allowance
sanctioned. If it is reported by the Head of the concerned Institution that a
scholar is without text-books stationary etc. the value of the scholarship may
be reduced at the discretion of the authority sanctioning the scholarship.
iv)
The scholarship money will be paid to the
selected students by the Government of the State/Union Territory's
Administration to which they belong in accordance with the procedure laid down
by them in this regard.
v)
Scholarship will not be paid for the period of
internship/ housemanship in the M.B.B.S. course or for a practical training in
other course if the student is in receipt of some remuneration during the
internship period or some allowance/stipend during the practical training in
other course.
VIII. OTHER CONDITIONS FOR THE AWARD
i)
The scholarship is dependent on the satisfactory progress
and conduct of the scholars. If it is reported by the Head of the
Institution at any time that a scholar has by reasons of his/her own act of
default failed to make satisfactory progress or has been guilty of misconduct
such as resorting to or participating in strikes, irregularity in attendance
without the permission of the authorities concerned etc., the authority
sanctioning the scholarships may either cancel the scholarships or stop or
withhold further payment for such period as it may think fit.
ii)
If a student is found to have obtained a
scholarship by false statements, his/her scholarship will be cancelled
forthwith and the amount of the scholarship paid will be recovered, at the
discretion of the concerned State Government. The student concerned will
be blacklisted and debarred for scholarship in any scheme forever.
iii)
A scholarship awarded may be cancelled if the
scholar changes the subject of the course of study for which the scholarship
was originally awarded or changes the Institution of study, without prior
approval of the State Government. The Head of the Institution shall
report such cases to them and stop payment of the scholarship money. The
amount already paid may also be recovered at the discretion of the State
Government.
iv)
A scholar is liable to refund the scholarship
amount at the discretion of the State Government, if during the course of the
year, the studies for which the scholarship has been awarded, is discontinued
by him/her.
v)
The regulations can be changed at anytime at the
discretion of the Government of India.
IX. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SCHEME
All the State
Governments/UT Admns. will announce in May-June, the details of the scheme and
invite applications by issuing an advertisement in the leading newspapers of
the State and through other media outfits. All requests for application
forms and other particulars should be addressed to the concerned State/UT to
which students actually belong. The applicant should submit the completed
application to the prescribed authority before the last date prescribed for
receipt of applications.
X. PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING
i)
An application for scholarship should comprise :
a)
One copy of the application for scholarship in
the prescribed form (separate application forms have been prescribed for
fresh and renewal scholarship).
b)
One copy of the passport size photograph with
signatures of the student thereon (for fresh scholarship).
c)
One attested copy of certificates/ diploma/
degree etc. in respect of all examinations passed.
d)
A certificate (in original) of Caste duly signed
by an authorized Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar.
e)
An income declaration by the parents/guardians,
stating definite income from all sources.
f)
A receipt in acknowledgement of the scholarship
in the previous year on the form attached to the application only duly
counter-signed by the Head of the Institution concerned, if the application was
in receipt of a scholarship under this scheme in the preceding year.
ii)
Application complete in all respects shall be
submitted to the Head of the Institution being attended or last attended by the
candidates and shall be addressed to an officer specified for this purpose by
the Government of State/Union Territory to which the student belongs, in
accordance with the instructions issued by them from time to time.
iii)
Incomplete applications or applications received
after the prescribed date will not be considered.
XI. MONITORING
The monitoring of the
financial and physical performance of the scheme will be done through seeking
detailed information from the Agencies implementing the Scheme. On the physical
aspects the Agencies implementing the scheme will be required to furnish
quarterly progress reports regarding the number of beneficiaries receiving
award under the scheme, both class-wise and gender-wise. On the financial side
details of actual expenditure incurred during the last financial year and
expenditure proposed for the present financial year will be submitted by the
Agencies concerned. The Agencies implementing the scheme will also be insisted
upon to submit the latest audited accounts.
XII. EVALUATION
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
may get the scheme evaluated by entrusting a research study to reputed
institutions/ agencies, on the performance of the Scheme in different parts of the
country, under this Ministry's centrally sponsored Scheme of Research and
Training.
* *
*