Question : NMMS SCHOLARSHIP

(a) the number of students benefited under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship scheme (NMMS)during the last two years and the current year, State/UT-wise and year- wise;

(b) the criteria laid down for award of scholarships to the students;

(c) whether scholarships, under the said scheme, have not been granted to a number of eligible students in the country including Gujarat;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore; and

(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) 54564 scholarships were sanctioned to the selected students of class IX of 33 States/UTs for the year 2008-09. For the year 2009-10, 24521 selected students from 27 States/UTs were sanctioned scholarships. For the current year, scholarships have been sanctioned to 6788 students of 16 States/UTs so far. Year-wise and State-wise details of number of scholarships sanctioned are annexed.

(b) Those students studying as regular students in class VIII in Government, local body and Government-aided schools and whose parental income from all sources is upto Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum are entitled to appear in the selection test under the scheme. The selected students will continue to get scholarships from class IX to class XII subject to fulfillment of certain conditions.

(c) No such instance has come to the notice of the Government.

(d) to (e) The scholarships are sanctioned in favour of eligible students on receipt of the proposals from the concerned States. The amount of scholarship is deposited in the accounts of selected students by State Bank of India on quarterly basis. Sometimes, there is delay in crediting the amount due to error in the bank account details provided by the States. State Bank of India has been asked to disburse the scholarships promptly after getting the correct account numbers from the State Govts.