Replying today an un-starred question of Shri Ganesh Singh the Union Minister of State For Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the following Scholarship Schemes to promote and encourage basic and higher education amongst ST population in the country including the tribal girls and also the remote regions like Madhya Pradesh's Vindhya region:-

i) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)

ii) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)

iii) National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.

iv) National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students(Top Class)

v) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

Out of the schemes mentioned above, the scholarship schemes at Sr. No. (i) to (ii) are Centrally Sponsored Schemes and implemented through respective State/UT. Both Pre& Post Matric Scholarship Schemes are open ended Schemes wherein scholarships are given to all eligible students including girls for pursuing studies from class 9th to Post-Graduation courses whose parental income is not more than Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum.

The inviting of applications, verification, selection of beneficiaries and disbursement of scholarship amount is the responsibility of the respective State/UT. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, releases central share funds to States/UTs based on proposals submitted by them and after examining financial and physical progress. State Governments/Union Territory Administrations disburse the scholarship amount to all the eligible ST Student's bank account through DBT mode.

The scheme of National Fellowship at Sr. No. (iii) is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to grant fellowship to meritorious ST students for pursuing Ph.D in India after completion of Master degree. The total number of fresh fellowships for Ph.D every year is 750. ST students with a minimum of 55% marks in Master Degree up to the age of 36 years are eligible to apply for fellowship under the Scheme. The value of fellowship is at par with UGC rates. Under this Scheme 30% slots (i.e. 225 out of total 750) is reserved for Women.

The scheme of National Scholarship at Sr. No. (iv) is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Under this Scheme, Scholarship is provided for pursuing Graduate/Post Graduate courses in the selected top-class Government and Non-Government Institutes in professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc. All the ST students, with annual parental income is not exceeding Rs. 6 lakhs and studying in the 265 notified institutes by the Ministry, are eligible to receive scholarship. This is an open ended scheme where all eligible Girl ST students are covered.

The scheme of National Overseas Scholarship at Sr. No. (v) is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs under which scholarships are given to the meritorious Schedule Tribe (ST) students for pursuing higher education in top 1000 ranked (as per latest QS world ranking) Institutes/Universities abroad. The Scheme is implemented through the Indian Embassies/Missions abroad, Ministry of External Affairs. Twenty awards are given every year. ST students with annual family income not exceeding Rs. 6 lakhs are eligible to apply for the Scholarship under the Scheme. Under this scheme 30% slots (i.e. 6 out of total 20) is reserved for Women.

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(Release ID: 2159040)