CHAPTER IV 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.
(c) Scholarships for Foreign Students for Study in India.
A brief account of these programmes is given below.
A. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS FOR STUDY IN INDIA
National Scholarships Scheme This scheme was started in 1961 and has been continuing from year to year since then with the objective that no brilliant student should be prevented on ground of poverty from pursuing an academic career. The rates of scholarships under this scheme vary from Rs. 50/- to Rs. 125/- p.m. depending upon the stage of education and course of study followed by the scholar. The Sixth Finance Commission in its recommendations took into account the financial requirements of the States for scholarships under educational Scheme (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 the State Governments. In 1977-78, 19,000 fresh scholarships were awarded under this Scheme.
National Loan Scholarships Scheme Started in 1963-64 with the object of providing financial assis- tance to needy and deserving students to complete their education, the Scheme continued to make steady progress. In 1977-78, 20,000 fresh scholarships were awarded on an all-India basis.
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Under the Rules of the Scheme scholars who join 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 in these professions. In their case the loan is reduced by one tenth of the original loan for every year of service put in as a teacher or as combatant until the entire loan is written off. This Rule also applies to scholars who die or become incapacitated between or after completion of their studies. On the recommendations of the Sixth Finance Commission the recovery of loan given to scholars upto 31-3- 1974 is being shared equally between the Central and the State Governments.
National Scholarships for the Children of Primary and Secondary
School Teachers This Scheme was started in 1961 as a token of the recognition of the services rendered by the School Teachers to enable their meritorious children to pursue higher education. 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 the State Governments from the funds made available to them. In 1977-78, 250 fresh scholarships were awarded over and above the 500 fresh scholarships awarded from the resources made available to the State Governments in pursuance of the recommendations of the Sixth Finance Commission.
National Scholarships at the Secondary Stage for Talented Children
from Rural Areas Started in 1971-72 the scheme aims to achieve greater equa- lisation of educational opportunities and provide a fillip to the development of rural talent. The Scheme has continued to make satisfactory progress from year to year. As in the Schemes indicated earlier the Sixth Finance Commission took this Scheme also into account while working out the financial requirements of the States for Scholarships and provided them with funds for implementing it at the same level as reached at the end of 1973-74 as part of the committed expenditure of the State Governments. Under it about 10,000 fresh scholarships ( @ 2 scholarships per Community Development Block) were awarded each year upto 1976-77. In 1977-78 15,000 fresh scholarships ( @ 3 per Community Development Block) were awarded under this Scheme.
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Scheme for Scholarships for Students from non-Hindi Speaking States
for Post-Matric 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- Matric studies provided Hindi is studied as one of the subjects in that course. Started in 1955-56 the coverage of the Scheme continued to increase from year to year. During 1977-78, 2450 fresh Scholarships were awarded under this Scheme.
Government of India Scheme of Scholarships in Approved Residential
Secondary Schools The scheme is intended to provide financial assistance to talen- ted children whose parental income is less than Rs. 500 per month 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 1977-78. 449 students have been selected for award of scholarships out of which 69 scholars belong to Scheduled castes/Scheduled tribes. During the current year, approximately 2050 scholars would be studying in 69 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 uniform/clothing, pocket and conveyance allowances.
B. SCHOLARSHIPS, FOR INDIAN STUDENTS FOR STUDY ABROAD
National Scholarships for Study Abroad The Scheme is 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/specialised
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training. A few scholarships are however reserved for under gra- duate courses in subjects" for which a degree course is not available in India
Only those candidates whose parental income from all sources is less than Rs. 1000 per month are eligible for these scholarships. 50 students were selected for award of scholarships during 1977-78. At present about 175 scholars under the scheme are studying abroad. Each scholar is entitled to a maintenance allowance at $ 4,000 per annum in the USA and Canada and US $ 3,000 per annum in the UK and 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 to needy scholars towards international passage costs to such academically distinguished scholars 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 sparingly by our Missions in the USA, UK and West Germany. During 1977-78, such loans were granted to 4 students.
Scholarships under Commonwealth Scholarship/Fellowship Plan
(a) Australia, 1977 5 candidates were nominated for
studies in Australia.
(b) Canada, 1977 24 have been accepted by Canada.
(c) Maw Zealand, 1978 One candidate has been accepted
by New Zealand.
(d) Sri Lanka, 1978 4 candidates have been nominated
(e) United Kingdom Under the 1977 Commonwealth
Scholarship Scheme, 45 have been
accepted. Under the 1977-78
Commonwealth Education Fellowship
Scheme, 20 scholars were selected
under the Long-term awards. Of
the 28 nominated under the short-
term awards, 23 have been
accepted so far by UK.
Scholarships/Fellowships offered by Foreign
Governments/Organisations/Institutions
(a) Austria, 1977-78 3 candidates were awarded scholarships.
(b) Belgium, 1977-78 Of the 5 nominated, Belgian Government
has approved 1 candidate so far.
(c) Bulgaria, 1977-78 Bulgaria has approved 3 of 6 nominations
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(d) Czechoslovakia,
1977-78 9 nominations have been sent to
Czechoslovakia.
(e) Denmark,1977-78 Of the 13 nominations sent 8 were
accepted.
(f) Federal Republic
of Germany, 1977-78 10 scholars were selected under the 1977
scheme. For 1978, 12 candidates have
been nominated.
g) France, 1977-78 23 candidates were accepted by France.
(h) GDR, 1977-78 3 candidates were selected for Physical
Education Training and they left for
GDR. 4 candidates have been awarded
scholarships so far, for postgraduate
studies.
(i) Greece, 1977-78 5 scholars were selected.
(j) Hungary, 1977-78 6 candidates were selected and they have
been approved by Hungary.
(k) Italy, 1977-78 3 candidates have been sent to Italy
under the ISVE Scholarships, for
Economics.
(l) Japan, 1977-78 7 candidates were selected, they had
been approved by the Japanese
Government.
(m) Netherlands,
1977-78 14candidates have been awarded fellow-
ships for International Courses. Bes-
ides, under the Reciprocal Fellowshi-
ips Scheme, one candidate has been
selected.
(n) Norway, 1977-78 Of the 18 nominations sent, 11 candidates
were awarded Fellowships by Norway.
(o) Poland,1977-78 11 scholars have been recommended
to Poland.
(p) Sweden, 1977-78 3 scholars were selected and sent to
Sweden for attending the International
Seminar in Physics in the University
of Uppsala, Sweden.
(q) Turkey, 1977-78 2 candidates have been nominated.
(r) United Kingdom 1 scholar was sent to the UK under
the Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship
Scheme, 1977-78.
7 scholars left for the UK under the
British Council Scholarships Scheme,
1977-78.
2 Engineers left for he UK under the Con-
federation of British Industry Scholar-
ships Scheme, 1977-78.
(s) United States
of America 3 scholars left for USA.
1977-78
(t) USSR, 1977-78 Under the Scheme for Post-graduate
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,
Out of 51 candidates recommended against the
remaining 58,29 candidates have been
approved so far by the USSR. 11
scholarships were awarded under the Peop-
le's Friendship University, Moscow,
Scholarships Scheme.
(u) Yugoslavia, 1977-78 5 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 foreign countries. The scheme is designed 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 1977-78, 180 scholars were selected out of whom 155 scholars joined educational institutions in India. Scholarships were awarded in the fields of agriculture, engineering and technology, medicine pharmacy, arts and humanities. At present 728 scholars from various countries are studying in India under the scheme.
Scheme of Scholarships and Fellowships for Nationals of
Bangladesh Under the 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 1977-78, 18 scholars have so far joined educational institutions in India. Presently there are 140 scholars from Bagladesh studying in various educational institutions in India in the fields of medicine, engineering technology, agriculture, fisheries and fine arts.
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
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in English. The last such courses was conducted at the Regional
Institute of English, Chandigarh from March to June, 1977 and 39 scholars selected under the General Cultural Scholarships scheme, 1977-78 took advantage of this course besides a large number of foreign self-supporting students who also attended this course.
Construction of International Students House, Calcutta The estimated cost of Rs. 18.00 lakhs for constructing the pro- posed International Students House, Calcutta is to be shared equally between the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal. The State Government of West Bengal has already released, a, sum of Rs. 9,23,000 towards the cost of land and construction of building against a sum of Rs. 4.0 lakhs released by the Ministry for the purchase of the land. The Ministry proposes to release another sum of Rs. 5.0 lakhs during the current financial year to help towards early commencement of the construction work on the project.
Scholarships for Foreign Students for Study/Training in India (a) T.C.S. Colombo Plan, 1977-78 : 83 scholars came to India and joined their studies.
(b) SCAAP (Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan) : 6 scholars came to India under this scheme.
(c) Commonwealth Scholarship/Fellowship Plan 1977-78 : 28 scholars came to India and commenced their studies.
(d) Commonwealth Education Cooperation Plan-Training of Craft Instructors 1977-78 : 5 scholars came to India for Craft training under this scheme.
(e) Reciprocal Scholarship Scheme : 5 scholars came to India and joined their studies.
(f) Indo-Afghan Cultural Exchange Programme, 1977-78 : 11 scholars came to India.
(g) Indo-ARE Cultural Exchange Programme 1977-78: 5 scholars came.
(h) Indo-Belgian Cultural Exchange Programme 1977-78 : 2 scholars came to India.
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(i) Indo-FRG Cultural Exchange Programme, 1977-78: 10 scholars came to India and joined their studies.
Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme, 1977-78 : 6 scholars came to India under this scheme.
(k) Indo-Iraqi Cultural Exchange Programme, 1977-78:9 scholars came to India and joined their studies.
(l) Indo-Soviet Cultural Exchange Programme,1977-78 : 17 scholars came to India.
(m) Indo-Yugoslav Cultural Exchange Programme, 1977-78 : 3 scholars came to India and joined their studies.
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