With ~250 million Indians under the age of 25 (as of 2023), there’s going to be a dearth of high-skill labour to support the growing economy, and educating our population is the only way to invest in the future of India’s growth and development. To enable this, the central government has launched various schemes that provide financial help for student education.
In this blog, we explore the different government schemes for students in India.
List of Government Schemes for Students in India
- Bihar Free Laptop Yojana
- Prerana Scheme for SC/ST Students for Higher Education
- Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS)
- Samriddhi Scheme for SC/ST Students
- Saksham Scholarship Scheme
- National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
- Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities
Bihar Free Laptop Yojana
Under this government scheme, the Bihar government offers free laptops worth ₹25,000 each to students who have passed their 10th and 12th-grade exams. This program aims to support students as they pursue their academic goals and make them digitally savvy.
Eligibility Criteria for Bihar Free Laptop Yojana
- Bihar Laptop Yojana launched by the Government of Bihar
- Scheme provides ₹25,000 financial assistance to students for buying laptops
- SC/ST students require minimum 75% marks, general category students need 85%
- Aims to encourage education and distribute over 30 lakh laptops
- Eligible for students in government schools, both regular and private medium
- Kushal Yuva program graduates also qualify for laptops
Prerana Scheme for SC/ST Students for Higher Education
This is one of the government scholarship schemes for SC/ST students, intended to provide financial assistance to institutions that are prepared to make additional efforts to help and prepare SC/ST students for the GPAT, GATE, CAT, CMAT, and GRE exams. The scheme's main goal is to support aspirant SC/ST kids who want to pursue higher education through admissions tests like CAT, TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, and GATE.
Eligibility Criteria for Prerana Scheme for SC/ST Students for Higher Education
- AICTE approved institutes with at least 50 SC/ST students and infrastructure
- Duration: 2 years (pre-final and final year of graduation)
- Funding: ₹10 lakh (non-recurring and recurring)
- Expert committee assesses proposals, includes associate professors
- Terms include honorarium to faculty, recurring grant, adequate space, dedicated staff
- Feedback mechanism and curriculum updates for effective implementation.
Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS)
The AICTE J&K cell is responsible for the proper implementation of the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme to J&K Students to pursue undergraduate studies outside the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The cell offers financial support to students from J&K who are studying outside the state for their undergraduate studies.
- Along with financial aid, the cell also provides counseling and guidance to students, helping them with various aspects of their education.
- Thanks to the cell's efforts, many students from J&K have been able to pursue their undergraduate studies outside the state successfully.
- The cell is dedicated to ensuring that students from J&K receive a high-quality education and reach their fullest potential.
Eligibility Criteria for Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS)
- Students must be residing in the J&K and Ladakh Union Territories.
- Students must have graduated from the J&K Board or CBSE-affiliated schools in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
- Students must have completed the 10+2 exam.
- Students must have a family income of less than ₹8 Lakhs per year.
Samriddhi Scheme for SC/ST Students
The main goal of this government scheme is to support SC/ST students who want to start their own businesses or startups after completing their formal education or in their last year of study. The government provides financial assistance of ₹20 Lakhs.
Eligibility Criteria for Samriddhi Scheme for SC/ST Students
- The candidate must belong to the SC/ST caste.
- The applicant must be enrolled in or a graduate of an AICTE-approved college or university.
- A minimum of five years should have passed since the institution or university was opened.
- There should be at least 50 candidates that fall into the SC/ST caste group.
- The candidate must have worked at the Institute for the previous three years.
- Educational institutions should follow the regulations of the Indian government's scheduled caste or tribal sub-plan.
Saksham Scholarship Scheme
The AICTE Saksham Scheme is a scholarship program designed to support specially-abled students in India pursuing degree level courses. Open to all specially-abled students enrolled in full-time degree programs at AICTE approved institutions, the scheme provides a scholarship amount of ₹50,000 per year for up to 3 years of study. This initiative aims to empower and assist specially-abled students in their educational journey by offering financial aid throughout their degree program.
Eligibility Criteria for Saksham Scholarship Scheme
- They must have a disability of not less than 40%.
- Their family income from all sources should not exceed ₹8 lakh per annum.
- They must have been admitted to a full-time degree course in an AICTE approved institution.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is a government scheme for students to promote apprenticeship in India. It provides financial incentives to employers hiring apprentices and offers basic training and includes sharing 25% of prescribed stipend (up to ₹1500/month) with employers and sharing basic training costs (up to ₹7,500/apprentice).
Eligibility Criteria for National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
- The applicant must have reached the age of 14 and complies with all other provisions of the 1961 Apprentices Act.
- Each apprentice must create an account on the site.
- It is mandatory to have an Aadhaar card.
- The applicant must meet the minimum age, educational, and physical requirements.
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities
The Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities (PMMS) is a government program that helps students from minority communities pay for post-secondary education in India. The scholarship is based on merit and financial need. To be eligible, students must have passed their 10th or 12th grade exams with at least 50% marks and belong to a minority community.
Eligibility Criteria for Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities
- Students from 11th grade to PhD level are eligible.
- Students from minority communities who received at least 50% in their prior exam or an equal grade are eligible to apply for this grant.
- Their family's total annual income should be less than ₹2 Lakhs.
Conclusion
The various government schemes for students by the Indian government include the Bihar Free Laptop Yojana, Prerana Scheme for SC/ST Students, PMSSS, Samriddhi Scheme, AICTE Saksham Scheme, NAPS, and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities. These government schemes for students provide financial aid, counseling, and support to students from different backgrounds, including specially-abled individuals and minority communities. The initiatives aim to bridge the skill gap, encourage higher education, and invest in the future of India's growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many government schemes for students are there in India?
The various government schemes for students by the Indian government include the Bihar Free Laptop Yojana, Prerana Scheme for SC/ST Students, PMSSS, Samriddhi Scheme, AICTE Saksham Scheme, NAPS, and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities.