Question : PRIME MINISTER S SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

(a) the aims and objectives of the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for the students of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K);

(b) the number of students from J&K who have been enrolled in various colleges/ professional insti- tutions in the country under PMSSS, State-wise;

(c) whether some of the students had to leave studies midway under the scheme and if so, the details thereof, the reasons therefor and the corrective action taken by the Government thereon; and

(d) the funds allocated and utilised under PMSSS during the last three years and the current year, State and year-wise?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.134 FOR 04.03.2015 ASKED BY MS. MEHBOOBA MUFTI, REGARDING PRIME MINISTER’S SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

(a) The Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir has been in operation since 2011 after the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The Scheme was formulated based on the key recommendations of the Expert Group consti- tuted by the Prime Minister.

The Scheme aims to provide tuition fees, hostel fees, cost of books and other incidental charges to students belonging to Jammu & Kashmir who, after passing Class XII or equivalent examination through the State Board of Jammu & Kashmir and from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools located in Jammu & Kashmir, pursuing general degree courses, engineering and medical studies in govt. colleges/ institutes/ other non-govt. institutes recognized by AICTE or UGC, or institutes created through an Act of the State Govt., located outside the State of Jammu & Kashmir. It is envisaged to provide 5000 fresh scholarships every year. Out of these, 4500 scholarships is for general degree courses (courses such as Agriculture, Fisheries, Horticulture, Veterinary Science etc. would form part of general degree courses), 250 for engineering and 250 for medical studies. The number of scholarships for engineering and medical studies is kept flexible i.e. more than or less than 250 scholarship per annum, for each of these streams, subject to the ceiling of 5000 fresh scholarships per annum and subject to the savings accruing from any shortfall in the number of students opting for general degree courses.

(b) No. of students approved for award of schola- rship under the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir during the last 3 years and current year (State Wise) is at Annexure-1

(c) Scholarships have been awarded to the students who have been found eligible and were approved for award of scholarship under the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir. Candidates who did not meet the eligibility criteria as laid down in the scheme guidelines were not considered for award of scholarship. There is no case where students who were recipient of the scholarships being forced to leave the institute.

(d) The Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir is meant for students of J&K, who are pursuing undergraduate degree course outside the state of J&K. No state-wise allocation of fund is made under the scheme. Fund made available and disbursed to the institute till date, is at Annexure-2.