 SCHOLARSHIPS

6.01. The schemes of scholarships operated by the Ministry- (excluding those operated by the UGC and NCERT) broadly fall under three categories: (i) scholarships for Indians for study in India; (ii) scholarships for Indian students for study abroad; and (iii) scholarships for foreign students for study in India.

A. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIANS FOR STUDY IN INDIA

6.02. National Scholarships Scheme: Initiated in 1961, the National Scholarships Scheme is by far the largest in coverage and most extensive in character. An earnest of the Government of India to equalise educational opportunities, its objective is to, ensure that no meritorious student is denied the opportunity of pursuing higher studies beyond the secondary stage, only due to the lack of financial support. The number of fresh awards per year was increasingly raised from year to year to 8500 in 1969-70 and this level was maintained in 1970-71 and is proposed to be maintained next year also.

6.03. National Loan Scholarships Scheme: As a supplementary to the National Scholarships Scheme, the scheme of National Loan Scholarships was started in 1963 to enable talented but economically weaker students to complete their education. The rate of loan scholarships varies from Rs. 720 per annum to Rs. 1750 per annum. depending on the course of studies. The loan is recoverable in monthly instalments commencing from the, year after the loanee secures employment, or three years after the, completion of his studies, whichever event is earlier. The scheme envisages that if the loanee Joins the teaching profession, 1/10th, of the loan is written off for every completed year of service put in as a teacher. The present coverage of 20,000 awards per year, as followed in previous years, would be maintained in. 1971-72 also.

6.04. National Scholarships Scheme for Children of School, Teachers: In recognition of the services rendered by school teacers to the community and as a measure of indirect assistance to them, a scheme of awarding 500 scholarships every year to the meritorious children of working school teachers for post-matriculation studies was started in 1961. 500 fresh awards were given in 1970-71 and it is proposed to maintain the level during, the subsequent years of the Fourth Plan.

6.05, Scholarships to Students from Non-Hindi Speaking States for Post-Matrik Studies in Hindi: The scheme seeks to promote study of Hindi beyond the secondary stage in non-Hindi-speaking States so as to make trained personnel available to teach Hindi and to man those posts where knowledge of Hindi' is necessary. Its coverage has been increasing from year to year. Starting with only 10 scholarships in 1956-57, the number was raised to 1000 in 1968-69 and in 1969-70. For 1970-71, the number was raised to 1500 scholarships, while in 1971-72, it is proposed to offer 1750 scholarships under this scheme.

6.06. Merit Scholarships for Studies in Residential Schools: The only scheme of scholarships operated by the Ministry in the field of school education, it is designed to provide opportunities of good all- round education in residential schools to talented children from low- income families. 200 fresh scholarships are awarded every year, on the basis of competitive tests. The number of awards will continue to be 200 in 1971-72 also.

6.07. Scholarships to Young Workers in Different Cultural Fields: The scheme seeks to provide opportunities to talented young persons for advanced training in both Hindustani and Karnatak music (instrumental and vocal), classical western music, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri and Odissi dances, drama, painting, sculpture, book illustration land design. Twenty-five fresh scholarships are awarded under the scheme every year. It is proposed to make the same number, of awards in 1971-72 also.

B:SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN NATIONALS FOR STUDY ABROAD

6.08. The scholarships in this category may be grouped under three heads: (1) scholarships offered by the Government of India; (2) scholarships under Commonwealth programmes; and (3) scholarships offered by foreign governments, organisations or institutions.

I. SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED By THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

6.09. Overseas Scholarships to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, etc. Students for Studies Abroad: Nine scholarships (scheduled caste 4, scheduled tribe 4, and denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic 1) are available each year to these category of students for studies abroad. Nine scholars have been selected for 1970-71. An equal number of scholarships will be available during 1971-72.

6.10. Passage Grants to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe etc. Students for Studies Abroad: Nine passage grants, four for scheduled caste, four for scheduled tribe and one for denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribe students are available each year for studies abroad. The grants are available to such students as have received scholarships for studies abroad but without the element of passage cost included in them. An equal number of passage grants will be available during 1971-72 also.

6.11. Partial Financial Assistance (Loan) Scheme: The scheme provides for the grant of loans towards passage to such academically distinguished students as have obtained admission to foreign universities, organisations, etc. for study in subject-fields for which adequate facilities do not exist in India. Emergency loans to bonafide Indian students are also given by our Missions in the USA, the UK, and West Germany. During 1970-71, such loans have been sanctioned to 46 students.

6.12. Special Educational Loans (Consequent on Devaluation) to Parents/Guardians of Indian Students Studying Abroad: This scheme was introduced in 1966 consequent upon the deva-

luation of the Rupee and is intended to assist the parents/guardians of Indian students studying abroad to meet the increased cost of remittance attributable to the devaluation. The scheme has been of benefit to a very large number of students.

6.13. National Scholarships for Study Abroad: It has been decided to award fifty scholarships every year to meritorious students who do not have the means to go abroad for further studies. The scholarships will mainly be available for postgraduate studies. The awards will be made for the duration of the course for which a scholar is initially selected. The period will ordinarily be not more than 3 years but shall in no case exceed 4 years. The minimum qualification for eligibility will be a first class in engineering/technology or a first class honours or master's degree in other subjects. The implementation of the scheme will begin from 1971-72.

II. SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS PLAN

6.14. The Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan has been in operation for the last eleven years owing its origin to the Commonwealth Education Conference held in July, 1959 that had recommended a number of measures for sharing the wide range of educational resources available throughout the Commonwealth and thus promoting equality of educational opportunities at higher level. Scholarships offered to India under this Plan and processed during the year are as below:

(a) Australia: Two selected scholars left for postgraduate studies in Australia against the offer for 1970-71. Five nominations for scholarships for 1971-72 have been sent to the Government of Australia for final selection. For 1972-73, five nominations have been offered.

(b) Canada: Eighteen scholars have left India for postgraduate studies in Canada on scholarships for 1970-71. The Canadian Government invited twenty- four nominations for 1971-72, for which selections have been completed and nominations sent.

(c) Hong Kong, Jamaica, Ceylon, Ghana and East Africa: Offers of two nominations each from Hong Kong,, Jamaica, Ghana and East Africa and three nominations. from Ceylon for further studies for 1971-72 were being processed.

(d) Malaysia: Against an offer of two scholarships, two nominations have been sent to the Malaysian Government for 1971-72.

(e) New Zealand: Two nominations were sent to the Government of New Zealand against the offer for 1971-72 scholarships, while an offer of two nominations for 1972-73 was being processed. Three doctors selected for the 1970-71 awards left for New Zealand, while under the Commonwealth Medical Aid Programme, 1971-72 an offer of an unspecified number of awards was being processed.

(f) United Kingdom: Against the offer of 40 scholarships for postgraduate studies/research in the U.K. for 1970-71, 35 selected scholars left India. Selections for 1971-72 scholarships were over and 67 nominations were sent to the UK Government for final selection. Against United Kingdom Teachers' Training Bursaries for 1970-71, 33 selected candidates proceeded to the UK. For similar bursaries for 1971-72, 35 nominations had been sent and the results of the final award were awaited.

III. SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, ORGANISATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS

6.15. As in earlier years, a number of scholarships were, offered by governments, organisations or institutions in other countries for studies or research in various disciplines, particularly specialised training and education. An idea of the offers received and processed during the period is outlined below.

1. Austria: Four scholarships for 1970-71 for studies in veterinary medicine were offered. Nomination of one candidate

could be sent to the Austrian authorities, who was finally selected. Besides, the authorities granted scholarships to two Indian scholars who went to Austria in 1969 and to another two private candidates already studying there. For the postgraduate course of physicians and surgeons in medicine and surgery, 1970-71, against an unspecified number of scholarships, nominations of seven candidates were sent, of whom five were finally selected. Against another offer of an unspecified number of scholarships for 1970-71, for the postgraduate course in mineral prospection, exploration and mining at the College for Mining and Metallurgy, nominations of five candidates were sent to the Austrian authorities who finally selected one candidate.

2. Belgium: Against an offer of five fellowships for 1970-71 made by the Belgian Government, nominations of six candidates were sent and five were finally awarded the fellowships.

3. Czechoslovakia: Against an offer of 7 scholarships for 1970- 71 from the Czechoslovak Government, 13 candidates including six on a reserve list, were nominated. Final decisions were awaited from the authorities.

4. Denmark: Against an offer of 8 scholarships, 18 candidates including 10 on the reserve list, were nominated. The Danish Government had accepted two candidates till the end of March, 1971 and decisions on the remaining were awaited. Another offer of 2-3 scholarships for studies in seed pathology, 1970-71 was finalised and the nominations of two candidates sent to them had been accepted by the authorities.

5. France: From the French Government were received three offers for 1971-72. The first related to 56 scholarships for higher studies or training or research. The offer was processed and nominations sent to the French Embassy, New Delhi. The second was an offer of two fellowships for 1971-72 to enable Indian professors of French to learn the latest techniques of teaching French. Nominations were sent to the French Embassy,

New Delhi. The third was an offer of one scholarship for special interpreters' and translators' course for 1971-72 organised by the Audio-Visual Centre for Modem Languages of Vichy (France), One candidate was nominated.

6. Finland: Two candidates selected against the offer of Finnish Government scholarships for 1969-70 left for Finland, and the approval in respect of the third candidate was awaited.

7. Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany): Alexander-Von- Humboldt Foundation of West Germany has been offering fellowships for advanced academic research. Against the offer of an unspecified number of fellowships for 1970, seven selected candidates left for West Germany. Against a similar offer for 1971, 40 nominations have been made. Final selection was awaited. The German Academic Exchange Service also has been offering similar fellowships.

Against an offer of 24 fellowships for 1970, 23 scholars were selected. Against a similar offer for 1971, nominations of 31 candidates have been sent.

8. German Democratic Republic (East Germany): Quite a number of offers of scholarships for postgraduate studies, training of physical education coaches and training of physicians in combating tuberculosis were processed during the year.

Against the 1969 offer for postgraduate studies, eight scholars went to East Germany. Against a similar offer of 10 scholarships for 1970, ten scholars were selected. For training of coaches in physical education, an offer of five scholarships was made for 1970, against which five selected scholars left for that country while a similar offer of five scholarships for 1971 was being processed. Two scholarships were offered for training of Indian physicians in combating tuberculosis. The nomination of two candidates was accepted by the, German Democratic Republic authorities.

9. Greece: Against the offer of two Greek Government, scholarships for 1970-71, extension was granted to two Indian scholars already in that country.

10. Hungary: Against the offer of six Hungarian Government scholarships for 1969-70, six scholars were selected, of whom two have already left for Hungary.

11. Italy: The Italian Government offered four scholarships for 1970-71. All the four scholars nominated by the Ministry were finally selected. An offer of an unspecified number of scholarships was received from the Italian Institute for Economic Development (ISVC) for 1970-71. Two candidates were finally selected against this offer.

12. Japan: The Japanese Government offered six scholarships for 1971-72. Seven candidates including one on the reserve list, had been nominated, but final selection was awaited. One candidate was awarded a scholarship against the offer of two scholarships, made by the Tohoku University of Japan for 1970-71.

13. Netherlands: Against an unspecified number of fellowships for 1970-71 offered by the Netherlands Government, 29 candidates were selected.

14. Norway: Five different offers from Norway were processed during the year. The first was an offer of an unspecified number of fellowships made by the Government of Norway. Against this, 39 candidates were nominated, of which the Norwegian authorities selected 22. A similar offer for 1971-72 fellowships was received and processed. The third was an offer of three scholarships for 1970-71 for the postgraduate training course in naval architecture and marine engineering. The Norwegian Government granted scholarships to three candidates out of five names recommended by this Ministry. The fourth related

to the offer of three fellowships for 1970-71 for special post- doctorate and postgraduate courses in soil science. Three candidates were recommended to the Norwegian Government, but the final acceptance was awaited. The fifth related to the offer of the Norwegian Government of scholarships for 1970-71 for Indian oceanographic scientists. The Ministry of Food and Agricuture (Department of Agriculture) were requested to recommend five candidates against this offer which was being processed.

15. Poland: Against the offer of vocational/practical training scholarships for 1969-70, made by the Polish Government, 35 candidates were selected; placements for only 17 candidates could be arranged till the end of March, 1971. The Government of Poland also offered three scholarships for 1970-71 in economic planning. But the offer could not be utilised, because there was no response to the advertisement put out by the Ministry. For studies/training in town and country planning, for 1970-71, an offer of three scholarships was received. Against the offer, five candidates (including two in the reserve list) were nominated.

16. Sweden: An offer of an unspecified number of fellowships for 1971-72 for International Seminar in Physics in the University of Uppsala was received. The offer was being processed.

17. Turkey: Against the offer of three Turkish Government scholarships for research for 1970-71, the Turkish Government have finally selected three candidates out of four nominated.

18. Romania: The Government of Romania offered one scholarship for 1969-70. The selected candidate was still to go to that country.

19. UAR: The UAR Government has been offering 10 scholarships for Indian nationals annually. Against this usual quota,

the UAR Government granted extension to the existing Indian scholars in that country, including some earlier awardees who were already studying there on their own initiative.

20. USSR: For 1970-71 for postgraduate studies/research and higher specialisation, the USSR Government offered 50 scholarships, which included five scholarships each for the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and the Institute of Russian Studies, New Delhi. In all, 76 candidates were nominated, of which 40 were approved by the Soviet authorities till the end of the year. For the same courses, and for training in translation techniques for 1971-72, an offer of 50 scholarships was received and processed. People's Friendship (Patrice Lumumba) University, Moscow offered 30 scholarships for 1970-71. 35 candidates including five in the reserve list were nominated. The University approved 30 candidates, of whom 27 left for Moscow.

21. Yugoslavia: Against an offer of three scholarships for 1970- 71 made by the Yugoslav Government, five candidates were nominated, but final approval was awaited.

22. United Kingdom: Apart from those offered under Commonwealth programmes, a number of associations/institutions/ trusts offered scholarships/fellowships to Indian nationals. Nine such offers were processed during the year. Against apprenticeships offered by M/s. Rolls Royce Ltd., London, three graduate apprentices and four engineering apprentices proceeded to the UK under the offer for 1969- 70. For 1971-72, an offer of five apprenticeships (three graduate and two engineering) was received and processed. 14 scholars left for studies in the UK under 1970-71 scholarships offered by the British Council. A similar offer of ten scholarships for 1971-72 Was received and processed. Two scholars selected under Imperial Relations Trust UK Fellowships, 1970-71, proceeded to the UK for research in education. A similar offer of two fellowships was received for 1971- 72 and processed. The Nehru Memorial Trust UK offered one scholarship for study/research in the UK for 1971-72. The