Question : Special Scholarship Scheme

(a) the salient features of the Special Scholarship Scheme being implemented by the
Government for the students of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) the eligibility criteria to avail the benefits of the scheme along with the number of
students availing benefits of the Scheme during each of the last three years and the current year;
(c) whether cases of denial of benefits to eligible students and granting benefits to ineligible
students under the Scheme have come to the notice of the Government during the said period;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the corrective steps
taken/being taken by the Government in such cases so far; and
(e) the details of the funds sanctioned, released and utilised under the Scheme during the
said period?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)
(a) The Special Scholarship for Jammu & Kashmir aims at encouraging the youth from Jammu
& Kashmir to take advantage of the educational institutions outside the state, which would provide
them an opportunity, to interact with their counterpart in the rest of the country, thereby to be part
of the mainstream. It is envisaged to provide 5000 fresh scholarships every year. There is a
provision of inter-changeability of slots among Medical and Engineering stream, subject to the
savings accruing from any shortfall in the number of students opting for General Degree courses.
Scholarship is provided towards Tuition fee and Maintenance allowance. The rate of scholarship
towards tuition fee for General Degree courses is Rs.30,000 per annum, for Engineering course
Rs.1.25 lakh per annum and for Medical studies Rs.3.0 lakh per annum. Fixed Maintenance
allowance of Rs. 1.0 lakh per annum is provided for all students. Inter Ministerial Committee is
constituted to oversee the implementation and monitoring of the scheme. Under the scheme,
students are allotted seats in the institutions which are approved under section 12 B of University
Grant Commission Act, or recognized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
(b) Eligibility criteria
The students of Jammu & Kashmir having family income of less than Rs.6.0 lakh per annum, who
have passed class XII from the State and secured admission outside the State in institutions which
are either approved under Section 12 B of the UGC Act or recognized by AICTE or respective
regulatory body are eligible to apply. The students are required to apply online on the AICTE web
portal – http://aicte-jk-scholarship.in/
The number of beneficiaries under the scheme during the last three years and the current
year is as per the table given below:
<pre>
Year No of Beneficiaries
2013-14 3940
2014-15 1508
2015-16 1402
2016-17 2240
</pre>
(c) and (d) No eligible students who were in the merit list and followed the prescribed
procedure, have been denied the benefit under the scheme.
(e) The details of the funds sanctioned and utilised are as under:
<pre>
(Rs. in crores)
Year Sanctioned Released Utilised
2013-14 124.23 124.23 59.82
2014-15 50.00 50.00 85.25
2015-16 74.77 74.77 96.83
2016-17 99.00 99.00 70.91
</pre>
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