 SCHOLARSHIPS

By way of equalising educational opportunities and providing facilities for higher and specialised education and training to Indian nationals in this country and abroad a number of scholarships programmes are handled by the Ministry of Education,. including those offered by other countries. The Ministry also handles quite a few programmes offering scholarships to nationals of other countries on a bilateral basis or otherwise. The programmes can be grouped in three broad categories, namely,

(a) Scholarships for Indian Students for Study in India

(b) Scholarships for Indian Students for Study abroad

A brief account of these programmes in given below.

A : SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS FOR STUDY IN INDIA

National Scholarships Scheme.-Started in 1961 with the objective of assisting poor but meritorious students to pursue their academic career, the scheme continued to make satisfactory progress from year to year. During 1973-74, 12,000 fresh scholarships were awarded on all India basis. The Sixth Finance Commission in its recommendations took into account the financial requirements of the States for scholarships under educational schemes (including this scheme) and provided requisite funds to them at the same level as reached at the end of 1973-74, as part of the committed expenditure of State Governments. During. 1974-75 and 1975-76, the number of fresh scholarships was raised to 15,000. During 1976-77, 17,000 fresh scholarships, were awarded.

National Loan Scholarships Scheme.-Started in 1963-64 with the object of providing financial assistance to needy and deserving students to complete their education, the scheme Continued to make steady progress from year to year. In 1976-77, 20,000 fresh scholarships were awarded on ail-India basis.

Under the rules of the scheme, scholars joining the teaching profession or as combatants in the Armed Forces, after completion of their studies, are not required to repay the loan while they continue to serve in these professions. In their cases the loin is reduced by one-tenth of the original loan for every year of service put in as a teacher/combatant until the entire amount of the loan, is written off. This rule also applies to scholars who die or become incapacitated between or after completion of their studies.

On the recommendation of the Sixth Finance Commission, the recovery of loans given to scholars up to 31st March 1974 will be shared equally between the Central and a State Government. Funds for meeting expenditure towards grants to be given to State Governments for their share of recoveries from scholars have been provided for 1977-78 to the extent of Rs. 22 lakh.

National Scholarships for the Children of Primary and Secondary School Teachers.-Started in 1961 as a token of recognition of the services rendered by school teachers to enable their meritorious children to pursue higher education, this scheme also continued to make valuable progress. In 1973-74, 500 fresh scholarships were awarded. In pursuance of the recommendations of the Sixth Finance Commission the State Governments were provided with funds for its implementation at the level reached at the end of 1973-74. In the first two years following 1973-74 only 500 scholarships (the level reached in 1973-74) were awarded by State Governments from the funds made available to them. In 1976-77, 250 fresh scholarships were awarded over and above the 500 awarded by the State Governments.

National Scholarships at the Secondary Stage for Talented Children from Rural Areas.-Started in 1971-72, the scheme aims to achieve greater equalisation of educational opportunities and to

provide a fillip to the development of rural talent. It also pro- gressed satisfactorily from year to year. As in the schemes indicated earlier, the Sixth Finance Commission also took into account this scheme, while working out the financial requirements of the States for scholarships and provided funds for implementing it at the same level as was reached at the end of 1973-74 as part of the committed expenditure of State Governments. Under it about 10,000 fresh awards (at the rate of 2 scholarships per community development block were awarded each year up to 1976-77). The budgetary provision made for the scheme for 1976-77 represented expenditure over and above the level of expenditure of 1973-74 which had already been provided to the State Governments in pursuance of the recommendations of the Sixth Finance Commission.

Scheme of Scholarships for Students from Non-Hindi-Speaking States for Post-Matriculation Studies in Hindi.-The main object of the scheme is to encourage the study of Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking States and to make available to the Governments of these states suitable personnel to man teaching and other posts where knowledge of Hindi is essential. Under this, scholarships are awarded to students from non- Hindi-speaking States for pursuing post-matriculation studies provided Hindi is studied as one of the subjects in that course. Started in 1955-56, the scheme continued to increase in coverage from year to year. During 1976-77, 2300 fresh scholarships were awarded.

Government of India Scheme of Scholarships in Approved Residential Secondary Schools.-Intended to provide financial as- sistance to talented children whose parental income is less than Rs. 500 p.m. 'and therefore are unable to avail themselves of the opportunities of studying in good public/residential schools, 500 scholarships are awarded under the scheme every year to children of 11-12 age-group on the basis of their performance in two examinations, a preliminary examination conducted by the State or Union Territory Governments and an all-India final examination conducted by the Ministry of Education. During 1976-77, it was decided to award 461 scholarships to deserving children

out of which 87 scholars would belong to scheduled castes or scheduled tribes. Altogether 1886 scholars are or will be studying in 68 residential/public schools approved for the purpose of the scheme.

Selected scholars are entitled to full school fees (including board and lodging expenses) and other compulsory charges. Besides this, uniform/clothing, pocket and conveyance allowance are given to those scholars whose parents'/guardians' income is not more than 250 p.m.

B. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS FOR STUDY ABROAD

National Scholarships for Student Abroad.-Intended to provide financial assistance to such students of merit as do not have the means to go abroad for further studies, 50 scholarships are earmarked every year under the scheme which are normally available for postgraduate studies leading to Ph.D. degree and post-doctoral research as well as training. A few scholarships are however reserved for undergraduate courses also.

Only those candidates whose parental income from all sources is less than Rs. 1000 per month are eligible for these scholarships. 38 students were selected for award during 1976-77. At present about 170 scholars are studying abroad. Each scholar is entitled to a maintenance allowance at $ 3000 per annum in the USA and(pound)1300 per annum in the UK and $ 2600 in other countries. Besides, the Government of India also defray tuition fees, other compulsory charges, and cost of books and equipment.

Partial Financial Assistance Scheme The scheme provides for the grant of loan towards international passage costs to such academically distinguished students as have obtained admission in foreign universities, institutions, etc. for study in subject-fields which are of national importance to India or for which adequate facilities do not exist in India. Emergency loans to bonafide Indian students are also given by our Missions in the USA, UK and West Germany. During 1976-77, such loans were granted to 12 students.

Scholarships Under Commonwealth Scholarship/Fellowship Plan :

(a) Australia 1977 : 5 nominations were sent.

(b) Canada 1976 : 12 candidates were selected.

(c) New Zealand 1977 : 1 candidate was selected, besides another who were nominated under the New Zealand Medical Awards Scheme, 1976.

(d) United Kingdom : Under the 1976-77 Commonwealth Education Fellowship Scheme, 32 candidates were selected, out of whom 31 joined their studies in UK. 19 candidates were nominated under the Short-term Education Fellowship 1976-77 scheme. 24 candidates were selected under the Commonwealth Scholarships 1976 scheme.

Scholarships/Fellowships Offered by Foreign Governments/or- ganisations/Institutions

(a) Austria 1976-77 : 5 candidates were selected, against an offer of unspecified number of scholarships.

(b) Belgium 1976-77 : Against an offer of 10 scholarships for postgraduate studies/research, Belgian Government finally accepted 5 candidates from India.

(d) Czechoslovakia 1976 : 5 candidates were selected.

(e) Denmark 1976-77 : 6 candidates were approved by the Danish authorities, besides 3 for research in adult education.

(f) Federal Republic of Germany : Derman Academic Exchange Service Fellowships Scheme, 1977 : 16 nominations were sent.

(g) France 1976-77 : Against an offer of 25 scholarships, 9 candidates left for France. Against another offer

of 6 scholarships for specialised training at IIPA Paris, 3 selected candidates left for France.

(h) GDR 1976-77 : 12 candidates were nominated.

(i) Greece 1976-77 : Against an offer of 3 scholarships 3 were approved by Greek authorities. Against another offer of 2 scholarships from the Foreign Ministry of Greece, 2 were finally approved.

(j) Italy 1976-77 : 2 candidates were nominated for geothermics course. Another candidate was selected for training in cheese-making, Besides, 2 were approved for course at the ISVE, Italy.

(k) Japan 1976-77 : Against the Japanese Government offer of 8 scholarships, 7 scholars left for Japan. Besides, 2 were selected under the Japan Foundation Fellowships scheme.

(l) Netherlands 1976-77 : 17 candidates were selected. Besides, against an offer of 4 reciprocal fellowships, 3 scholars left for the Netherlands.

(m) Norway 1976-77 : Out of 17 nominations, 5 candidates were awarded fellowships by the Norwegian Government.

(n) Poland 1976-77 : Against an offer of 18 scholars.Ships, 5 candidates were selected.

(o) Romania 1976-77 : 13 candidates were nominated.

(p) Sweden 1976-77 : 2 selected scholars left for Sweden for attending the International Seminar in Physics in the University of Uppsala, Sweden.

(q) Turkey 1976 : Against an offer of 4 scholarships, 1 was awarded the scholarship.

(r) United Kingdom 1976-77 and 1977-78 : 1 scholar selected under the Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship 1976 left for UK. 6 scholars selected under

British Council Scholarships 1976 left for UK. Against an offer of 5 scholarships under the Confederation of British Industry Overseas Scholarships 1976-77, one was accepted who left for UK. 9 nominations were sent against an offer of 5 scholarships for 1977-78. 1 scholar selected under the Nehru Memorial Trust (UK) Scholarship 1973, continued his studies in UK. Against an offer of 9 scholarships on 'global" basis under the Royal Commission Scholarships 1977-78, 3 nominations were sent.

(s) United States of America 1976-77 3 scholars left for USA.

(t) USSR 1976-77 : Under the scheme for postgraduate studies/research/higher specialisation, 68 scholarships were offered by the Soviet Government. Out of this, 10 scholarships were allocated for the children of Indian residents in USSR : 46 candidates were recommended against the remaining 58 scholarships,. out of which 38 were approved by the USSR authorities. Against the 10 scholarships earmarked for the children of Indian residents in the USSR, 7 were approved for award. Against an offer of 17 scholarships by the Peoples' Friendship University, Moscow, 10 scholars left for Moscow.

(u) Yugoslavia 1976-77 : Against an offer of 8 scholarships, 8 candidates were nominated.

C. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS FOR STUDY IN INDIA

General Cultural Scholarships Scheme.-Under the scheme, 180 scholarships are awarded every year to nationals of Africa, Asia and other countries. It was evolved to promote friendly relations between India and other countries and to provide for the nationals of selected countries all such facilities for higher education as are available in India. During 1976-77, 180

scholars were selected out of whom 151 scholars joined educational institutions in, India. Scholarships were awarded in agriculture, engineering and technology, medicine, pharmacy, arts and humanities.

With effect from 1st July, 1976, the rates of maintenance al- lowance were enhanced from Rs. 350 p.m. to Rs. 400 p.m. at undergraduate level and from Rs. 450 p.m. to Rs. 500 p.m. at postgraduate level ; other allowances were also suitably enhanced.

Scheme of Scholarships and Fellowships for Nationals of Bangladesh-Under this distinct scheme of assistance to Bangladesh, in operation since 1972-73, the Government of India provide facilities to Bangladesh nationals for study in certain specialised subjects in India. Against the offer of 100 scholarships for 1976-77, 45 scholars joined educational institutions in India, while 15 more were likely to join. Presently there are 195 scholars from Bangladesh in various educational institutions in India in the fields of medicine. engineering, technology, agriculture, fisheries and fine arts. Some were sponsored for specialised courses in institutions like the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, the National School of Drama and Asian Theatre, Delhi, the Film and Television Institute, Poona, the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, the Technical Teachers Training Institute, Bhopal and the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta. The rates of maintenance and other allowances were raised as in the cases of scholars under the General Cultural Scholarships Scheme. Besides, the scholar, who are employed in Bangladesh universities as lecturers and are already working in government or academic establishments are paid scholarships @ Rs. 1,000 p.m. generally and, in some exceptional cases like when they come for advanced research, are paid up to a maximum of Rs. 1250.

Special English Course for Foreign Students.-The Ministry of Education organises a special English course annually for such, foreign students as are not sufficiently proficient in English. The

last such course conducted at the Regional Institute of English, Chandigarh from March to June, 1976, was for foreign scholars under General Cultural Scholarships Scheme, 1976-77 and sonic self-financing foreign students.

Construction of International Students House, Calcutta.-The estimated cost of Rs. 1 8 lakh, for constructing the proposed Inter- national Students House, Calcutta is to be shared equally by the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal, Construction work is likely to start as soon as the International Students House Society, Calcutta, which has been entrusted with the task of supervising the work, is able to acquire land for the building.

Scholarships for Foreign Students for Study/Training in India :

(a) T.C.S. of Colombo Plan 1976-77.-127 scholars came to India and joined their studies.

(b) SCAAP (Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan) 1976-77-2 scholars came to India and joined their studies.

(d) Commonwealth Education Cooperation Plan- Training of Craft Instructors, 1976-77.-One scholar came under the scheme.

(e) Reciprocal Scholarship Scheme 1975-77.-16 scholars came under this scheme and joined their studies.

(f) Indo-American Fellowship Plan 1976-77.--One scholar came and joined the University of Madras.

(g) Indo-ARE Cultural Exchange Programme 1976-77.6 scholars came under the scheme during the year. Besides, one scholar under the 1975-76 scheme also came this year and joined the Central Food Techno- logical Research Institute, Mysore.