SCHOLARSHIPS
The Union Government during the last few years, particularly since the commencement of the third Five-Year Plan have evolved a large programme of scholarships for study in India and abroad. The schemes of scholarships in the fields of education and science are designed for two main purposes: to ensure that able students get a full measure of educational facilities unhampered by financial handicaps, and secondly, to equalise educational opportunities by providing special assistance to students belonging to socially and economically weaker sections of the population. The scholarships schemes in scientific research and technical education are meant to promote these fields and help to improve the standard of teaching and research and to meet the shortage of trained personnel. Scholarships in the cultural field are made available for encouraging young persons of outstanding promise in the various activities. To promote cultural relations with other foreign countries and to accelerate progress in education, science, technology and culture, the Government of India also accept from time to time offers of scholarships from foreign Governments/Organisations for Indian nationals on the one hand, and on the other, it gives similar scholarships to nationals of foreign countries.
2. The various scholarship schemes have been classified into five sections:
I. Scholarships for Indian Nationals for Study in India,
II. Scholarships for Indian Nationals for Study Abroad,
III. Scholarships for Students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes,
IV. Programmes of Exchange of Scholars, and
V. Scholarships for Foreign Nationals for Study in India.
SECTION I
Scholarships for Indian Nationals for Study in India
A. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MERITORIOUS STUDENTS
FOR HIGHER STUDIES/RESEARCH 3. National Scholarships Scheme for Post-Matric Education.- Instituted in 1961-62, the scheme provides for the award of 2,400 scholarships in each year of the third Plan, which comprise-1,800 at the school leaving stage, 400 at the post-Intermediate stage and 200 at the post-graduate stage. With the amalgamation of the Schemes of post-graduate Scholarships for Humanities (80 awards) and Sciences (150 awards) from 1963-64 and the sanction of 20 extra awards for Nagaland, the total number of awards under the scheme has been raised to 2,650 every year. The total awards now comprise-1,820 at school- leaving stage, 400 at post-Intermediate
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stage and 430 at post-graduate stage. Selections for 2,630 scholarships for 1964-65 excepting 20 awards earmarked for Nagaland, have been finalised and the selected candidates are prosecuting their studies. Candidates for the remaining 20 awards will be selected as soon as the merit lists have been received from the Nagaland Administration.
4. Scholarships for the Children of Primary and Secondary School Teachers for Post-Matric Studies.-Also instituted in 1961-62, this scheme provides for the award of 500 scholarships each year during the third Plan to meritorious awards of primary and secondary school teachers. All the 500 scholarships for 1964-65 have been sanctioned and the selected candidates are prosecuting their studies.
5. Post-Matric Scholarships Scheme.-230 students continued their studies during 1964-65. This scheme has been replaced by the National Scholarships Scheme which has been instituted with effect from 1961-62.
6. Post-Graduate Scholarships in Humanities.-This scheme has been amalgamated with the National Scholarships Scheme with effect from 1963-64 and 80 scholarships per year available under it are being given under the National Scholarships Scheme since that year. Arrears of claims of 23 scholars of 1961-62 and 1962-63 batches have been paid out of the provision made for this scheme during 1964-65.
7. Post-Graduate Scholarships in Science.-This scheme also has been amalgamated with the National Scholarships Scheme from 1963-64 and 150 awards per year available under it are being awarded under the National Scholarships Scheme from that year. Arrears of claims of 60 scholars of 1961-62 and 1962-63 batches have been paid out of the provision made for this scheme during 1964-65.
8. National Loan Scholarship Scheme.-This scheme has been instituted since 1963-64 and provides for the award of interest-free loan scholarships to meritorious and needy students, tenable for the completion of the course. Maximum limits of loan vary with the stage of education at which it is given and the course offered. The loan is recoverable in monthly instalments commencing one year after the loanee secures employment. The scheme extends a special privilege to such of the loanees as join the teaching profession after completing their studies. In their case, one-tenth of the loan would be written off for every year of service put in. Based on the experience gained in the working of the scheme in the first year (1963-64), certain relaxations in the conditions of eligibility have been made for 1964- 65 awards. It was felt that the poor response for awards in 1963-64 was due to the ignorance of the eligible candidates about their eligibility for applying for these scholarships. To overcome this, the State Governments were requested to send personal intimations to eligible candidates upto one and a half times the quota allotted to a State. As a result, the response has considerably improved and over 15,000 applications of eligible candidates have been received upto the end of November, 1964 against 22,500 awards which are available for 1964-65. It is expected that upto 20,000 scholarships will be awarded.
9. Scholarships in Residential Schools.-Designed to provide opportunities of good school education to those who would not otherwise be in a position to afford it, the scheme has provision for two hundred fresh scholarships each year-70 under the normal budget and 130 under the third Plan.
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The all-India test for 1964-65 awards was held in December, 1964 and the selections are being finalised. In all 650 students are studying under the scheme at present.
B. SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUNG WORKERS IN DIFFERENT CULTURAL FIELDS 10. Awards under this scheme are made in cultural subjects to talented young persons of outstanding promise for advanced training in Hindustani Music (Vocal & Instrumental), Karnatak Music (Vocal and Instrumental) Classical Western Music, Rabindra Sangeet, Folk Song, Bharat-Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Folk Dance, Drama and Fine Arts (Painting and Sculpture). 50 scholarships are awarded every year. The normal duration of the scholarship is two years with a provision for extension by one or more years in exceptional cases. The value of each scholarship is Rs. 250 per month. At present, 68 scholars including 29 selected under 1963-64 scheme, are receiving training under this Scheme.
10.1 Selections for 1964-65 are likely to be finalised in March, 1965 and thereafter scholarships for 1965-66 will be advertised.
C. SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES UO THE
CHILDREN OF POLITICAL SUFFERERS 11. Administered by the State Governments and Union Administrations with Central assistance, facilities under the scheme, inter alia, provide the following concessions: (a) special consideration in the matter of admission and award of freeships and half-freeships in all recognised primary, basic, middle and high and higher secondary schools; (b) free seats in hostels attached to recognised schools and colleges; and (c) a limited number of stipends and book-grants to students from primary to post-graduate level. For the administration of the scheme, the Union Government give grants to State Governments on a 50:50 basis, while in the case of Union Administrations, the entire expenditure is met by the Centre.
D. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY BACKWARD
CLASSES FOR POST-MATRICULATION STUDIES 12. Details of this scheme are given under Section III.
E. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CADETS FROM UNION TERRITORIES STUDYING IN THE
R.I.M.C., DEHRA DUN 13. Under this scheme two scholarships are awarded annually to Cadets belonging to Union Territories studying in the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun. It has now been decided to raise the maximum value of scholarships from Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1900/- p.a. and the actual amount of the scholarships will be determined according to a graded scale of income of the parents.
F. THE SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FROM NON-HINDI SPEAKING
STATES FOR POST-MATRIC STUDIES IN HINDI 14. This Scheme was institued in 1955-56 on the recommendation of Hindi Shiksha Samiti with a view to expand the study of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking States and to make available to these States trained personnel for
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the teaching of Hindi and for other posts where knowledge of Hindi is required. The number of awards, which was 10 in 1955-56, has been increasing every year. During 1964-65, 1,000 scholarships have been awarded.
G. AWARD OF RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE PRODUCTS OF TRADITIONAL
SANSKRIT PATHSALAS 15. Thirty-five scholars of previous years continued studies under the scheme. 18 fresh scholars have been awarded scholarships during the year. About 30 more have been selected for the award.
H. AWARD OF MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS STUDYING SANSKRIT IN
HIGH/HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS 16. A sum of about Rs. 2.00 lakh has been paid to different State Governments and Union Territory Governments/Administrations for payment of scholarships at the rate of Rs. 10/- p.m. per student to the pupils of classes IX and X of high/higher secondary schools studying Sanskrit.
I. FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
AND PRACTICAL TRAINING 17. To encourage brilliant, young scholars to do research in science at the highest level, Research Fellowship of Rs. 400 p.m. for a period of 3-5 years are awarded to post-doctoral degree holders. 15 Post-Doctoral Research Fellows are also working at present and 20 candidates have been selected for similar awards in the current year.
18. Under the Research Training Scholarships Scheme, which aims to promote scientific and industrial research in the Universities and other institutions and to train research workers, 800 scholars are working at different universities, institutions and other research organisations. It is proposed to award 115 more scholarships during the current year. Scholarships of Rs. 250 p.m. and tenable for 3-4 years are available under the Scheme.
19. Under the Scheme of Merit-cum-Means Scholarships, 3,070 scholarships were awarded to fresh entrants to degree and diploma courses in different institutions in the country. Scholarships at the rate of Rs. 75/- p.m. for degree courses and Rs. 50 p.m. for Diploma courses are awarded to meritorious students whose family income per capita does not exceed Rs. 125 p.m.
20. Under the Practical Training Stipends Scheme, Senior stipend of Rs. 150 p.m. for graduate and junior stipends of Rs. 100 p.m. for Diploma holders are available for 1-2 years for organised practical training. Arrangements were completed for the training of 1,570 graduates and diploma-holders in industry in the current year.
J. FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY C.S.I.R. AND SURVEYS These are described under relevant chapters.
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SECTION II
Scholarship for Indian Nationals for Study Abroad
A. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SCHEME 21. Foreign Languages Scholarships Scheme.-Under this scheme, scholarships are available for specialisation in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Rumanian, Swahili, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Turkish, Persian, Burmese, Indonesian and Pushto languages. During 1964-65, nine scholars proceeded to foreign countries for specialised study of the languages as given below: Chinese-2, Japanese-3, Indonesian-2, and Pushto-2 (one against the scholarships allotted for 1962-63 and the remaining against 1963-64 scholarships). The question of continuance of the scheme beyond 1964-65 is under consideration.
22. Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Economically Backward Classes.-The details about this scheme are given in Section III.
23. Passage Grants for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Economically Backward Classes.-Details are given in Section III.
24. Union Territories Overseas Scholarships.-Five scholarships under the Scheme are offered annually to persons who by birth and/or domicile are residents of the Union Territories. These scholarships are for a duration of upto 3 years and are tenable in a country where excellent facilities in the subject of study/training/research exist. Of the 5 scholarships, 4 are for study/ training/research in any branch of Science/Engineering/Technology/Medicine/ Fine Arts for which suitable facilities are not available in India, and one scholarship is for Humanities. During 1964-65, one scholar of 1962-63 batch and two scholars of 1963-64 batch left for the United States of America for studies in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering and Petroleum Engineering. in the field of Humanities during the same year, two scholars one each of 1961-62 and 1962-63 batches continued their studies abroad. Applications for 5 scholarships tenable for 1965-66 academic session have been invited by 15th February, 1965.
25. Partial Financial Assistance (Loan Scheme)-This scheme provides for the grant of loans towards passage and other incidental expenses to such academically distinguished students as have obtained admission in foreign universities, organisations, etc. for subject fields for which adequate facilities are not available in India, but are still in need of some financial assistance. During 1964-65, regular loans have been sanctioned to 30 students. Specific sums out of the total provision for the scheme are placed at the disposal of the Indian missions in the U.K., the U.S.A., and West Germany to assist Indian students in urgent need of funds. 45 students received benefit through emergency loans given by the Indian missions.
B. COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIP PLAN AND COMMONWEALTH
EDUCATION COOPERATION SCHEME 26. The Commonwealth Education Conference held in July 1959 recommended a number of measures to enrich countries of the Common- wealth by enabling and increasing number of its able citizens to share the wide range of educational resources available throughout the Commonwealth
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and thus promote equality of educational opportunities at the higher level. The Plan which aims at achieving this objective has been in operation for the last 5 years and during the year under report scholarships have been offered to India by the following countries:
26.1. Australia.-Three candidates have been selected for the 1965 awards. Five nominations have been asked for the 1966 awards.
26.2. Canada.-Out of 32 candidates nominated for the 1964 awards, 20 candidates have been finally selected and are in Canada at present. Twelve candidates have been nominated for the scholarship offered for 1965.
26.3. Ceylon.-Two candidates have been selected for the 1964 awards. Against an offer of 3 nominations, 2 candidates have been nominated for the scholarships offered for 1965.
26.4. East Africa.-The Government of East Africa have not so far intimated their final decision about the nominations made for 1964.
26.5. Ghana.-The Government of Ghana have asked for 2 nominations for 1965. The offer has been advertised and the selections made.
26.6. Hong kong.-The Government of Hong Kong did not select any of the 2 candidates nominated for the 1964 award. Against a request for 3 nominations, 1 candidate has been nominated for 1965.
26.7. Jamaica.-The Government of Jamaica have not so far intimated their final decision about the nominations made for 1964. A request for 2 nominations for 1965 has been advertised, and the selections made.
26.8. Malta.-Offer of one scholarship by the Government of Malta could not be acceptd.
26.9. New Zealand.-The Government of New Zealand has selected one candidate for the 1965 awards. 5 nominations have been asked for the 1966 awards.
26.10. Nigeria.-The Government of Nigeria did not select any of the two candidates nominated for the 1964 awards. For 1965, 2 nominations have been asked for. The offer has been advertised, and the selections made.
26.11. United Kingdom.-All the 45 scholarships offered by the Government of the United kingdom for 1964 have been utilised. Sixty- seven nominations for 40 scholarships for 1965 have been made.
26.11.1. Teacher Training Bursaries.-Out of the 15 candidates nominated for the Teacher Training Bursaries in Science and Technology offered by the Government of the U.K. for 1964, 6 have been finally selected.
26.11.2. In the field of Humanities, against the 15 candidates who were recommended to the U.K. Government for 1964-65 Bursaries, 13 were approved by them. All of them availed of the award. Thirty one candidates have been nominated for the Teacher Training Bursaries for 1965.
C. SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED By FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTIONS/ORGANISATIONS 27. In the field of Humanities, during 1964-65, offers of fellowships and scholarships were received from the Governments of Austria, France, Iraq,
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Nepal, Norway and Denmark, and from the British Council, the German Academic Exchange Service (West Germany), the Imperial Relations Trust London, the Academy of Physical Culture and Sports (GDR), Leipzig, the Phillipines Board of Scholarships for South-East Asia (Phillipines University), the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, the People's Friendship University (Patrice Lumumba), Moscow, the Institute for the Study, of Economic Development, Naples and the University of Azhar, U.A.R. Offers were also received from three foreign organisations for 1965-66 and the same were processed.