 SCHOLARSHIPS

The Government of India administers a large number of scholarships in different fields which may be divided into seven groups. The objective of the first group is to provide facilities for Indian nationals for study abroad and that of the second group is partly to encourage and assist foreign nationals to study in India and partly to foster cultural contacts. A third category of scholarships has been instituted as a result of bilateral agreements with other countries under which Indian nationals go abroad for studies and foreign nationals come to India. The fourth group includes special scholarships awarded by the Government of India to Indian nationals for higher studies and also for research in India. The fifth group is specially meant for students of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and 'other backward classes' for studies in India at the post- matriculation stage. The sixth group of scholarships is for studies in residential schools and the seventh group is meant for assistance to children of political sufferers.

1. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE TO INDIANS FOR STUDY ABROAD

The facilities available under this group fall into three broad categories : (a) scholarships, fellowships and passage-grants instituted by the Government of India; (b) scholarships and fellowships instituted by the U.N. and its allied organisations and under multilateral programmes such as the Commonwealth Education Cooperation Plan and the Technical Cooperation Scheme (Colombo Plan), and (c) scholarships and fellowships offered by foreign Governments and institutions.

(A) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SCHEMES

The first category of scholarships includes the following schemes:

(i) 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; the last three languages have been included with effect from 1961-62. During the current year, 14 candidates (11 of 1959-60 and 3 of 1960- 61) were prosecuting their studies abroad and 9 scholars of 1960-61 will go as soon as their admissions/passages have been arranged. Applications for 15 scholarships for 1961-62 have been invited and selections will be made shortly.

(ii) Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.-

Twelve overseas scholarships (4 for each of the three categories) are available every year. In place of the 12 scholarships for 1959-60 which could not be awarded, it has been decided to award 10 additional scholarships (two every year) commencing from 1960-61. Out of the 14 candidates who have been selected for 1960-61, 8 are already studying abroad. The remaining will leave India as soon as their admissions/passages have been finalised. Recommendations for 1961-62 scholarships have been received from the Union Public Service Commission. Awards to seven candidates have been made and the cases of the remaining seven are under consideration. The candidates will proceed abroad during 1962- 63.

(iii) Passage Grants for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.-

Twelve passage grants (4 for each of the three categories) are available every year for candidates who are in receipt of merit scholarships which do not provide passage costs. During 1961-62, four students from the 'other backward classes' have been awarded these passage grants. Return passage grants have also been given to two students of the 'other backward classes'.

(iv) Union Territories Overseas Scholarships.-

One scholarship for studies in the humanities, is available every year for a person who, by birth or domicile, is a native of any of the Union Territories. During the current year, two candidates of 1959-60 and 1960-61 were studying abroad, and the award for 1961-62 was being finalised in cooperation with the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs.

(v) Agatha Harrison Fellowship.-

This fellowship (instituted in 1956-57 in the memory of the late Miss Agatha Harrison) envisages the study of Asian problems with special reference to India at the St. Anthony's College, Oxford, and is of five years' duration. The first selected candidate is still working in the College.

(B) SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS INSTITUTED UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS, UNESCO AND OTHER BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS

This category of scholarships includes the following schemes:-

U.N. and Unesco Programmes

(i) U.N. Social Welfare Scholarships and Fellowships 'Programme.-

This programme is designed to train suitably qualified social welfare workers through observation and study abroad so that additional knowledge and experience may be gained in special subjects. The Government of

India or the sponsoring authority has to meet the inland cost, actual passport, visa and medical examination fees and 50 per cent of the cost of round-trip air travel, while the rest of the expenditure is met by the United Nations. One Fellow of the 1959 batch has gone to U.K. Out of the five candidates of 1960, whose candidatures were deferred by the U.N. for 1961, a study programme for one candidate has been arranged and he is scheduled to reach Geneva by 4th April, 1962.

(ii) Unesco Fellowships for Production of Reading Material (1962).-

The names of two candidates have been recommended to the Unesco for the award of the two fellowships.

(iii) Unesco-Thai Government Fellowships (1962).-

Against 6 fellowships offered by the Thai Government to the nationals of certain countries including India, the names of three candidates have been recommended to the Thai National Commission for Unesco.

Commonwealth Education Cooperation Plan

Under the Commonwealth Education Cooperation Plan, the following offers were dealt with by the Ministry during the period under report:-

(i) Teacher Training Bursaries-

Offer from the U.K. Government.Out of the seven candidates who have been awarded the bursaries for 1961-62, six are studying in U.K. and one candidate has died. The names of seven other candidates have been recommended to the U.K. Government for the award of 1962-63 bursaries.

(ii) Supply of Indian Teachers to Commonwealth Countries.-

The Government of Malaya and Northern Rhodesia have asked for the services of teachers from various Commonwealth countries. The offer has been widely advertised and the applications of over 500 candidates have been received and are under consideration.

The names of seven Indian teachers have been recommended to the Government of Malaya against their request for the services of Com- monwealth teachers for 22 key posts at Kuala Lampur.

(iii) Supply of Teachers for Service in India-

Offer from the U.K. Government.-The consolidated requirements of State Governments, universities and public schools have been communicated to the U.K. Government.

(iv) Facilities for Medical Education in India-Request from the Nigerian Government.-

The Nigerian Government has requested that facilities may be given to two members of the staff of the Medical Faculty, University College, Ibadan, Nigeria, for studying the progress of medical

education in India. A tentative programme of study has been drawn up and sent to the Nigerian Government for approval.

(v) Visiting Fellowship-Offer from the Government of Australia.-

The Australian Government has offered one visiting fellowship to an Indian teacher. The award provides for a study-tour and for discussions on educational subjects with the Australian educationists. Nominations have been received and are under consideration.

Technical Cooperation Scheme (Colombo Plan)

The following offers for Indian nationals have been received from foreign Governments under the Colombo Plan during 1961-62:-

(i) Correspondence Course in English-Offer of Facilities from the Australian Government (1962-63).-

Nominations have been received from the directors of public instruction/education and are being examined.

(ii) Training in Librarianship-Offer of Two Scholarships from the Canadian Government (1962-63).-

Names of two candidates have been recommended to the Canadian Government for the award of two scholarships.

(iii) Training in Librarianship-Offer of Two Scholarships from the Australian Government (1962-63).-

The offer is under consideration; some details have been called for from the Australian Government.

(C) (1) SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS

The following foreign Governments offered scholarships to Indian nationals during 1961-62:-

             1. Danish Government        Four  scholarships for the  study  of 
                                         folk high school movement; all the  4
                                         selected  candidates are studying  in 
                                         Denmark.
        
             2. French Government       (i) Five scholarships for postgraduate
                                         study  in the humanities  in  France; 
                                        three selected candidates are
                                        studying  abroad;  the remaining  two  
                                        have yet to go.
        
                                        (ii) Applications for 10  scholarships
                                        for  1962-63 for specialised  training    
                                        in education, etc. have been invited.
                  
                                       (iii) Applications for two scholarships 
                                        for  1962-63  for young  Indian  Roman 
                                        Catholic priests have been invited.
        
           3.  U.S.S.R. Government      Two scholarships for  Indian  teachers
                                         for the study of Russian languge.
        
          4.  West  German  Government   Ten scholarships  for  the  study  of
                                         physical education, German  language, 
                                         etc. ; seletions have been made.

        
        
             5. Polish Government       (i) Two scholarships for  postgraduate
                                         study in the humanities; the names of 
                                         the  selected  candidates  have  been
                                         recommended to the Polish Government.
                                         
                                        (ii) Four fellowships for the study of
                                        economic  planning for 1962-63  ;  the 
                                        selected    candidates    have    been 
                                        recommended tot he Polish Government.
        
             6. Belgian Government      One scholarship for studying economics 
                                        for  1962-63 ; applications have  been
                                        invited.
        
             7.  Hungarian  Government  Six scholarships for  studies  in  the
                                        humanities for 1962-63 ; the offer  is
                                        under consideration.
        
             8.  Norwegian Government   One scholarship for study in Norway  ;
                                        the offer is under consideration.
        
             9.  Austrian Government       Two scholarships  for  postgraduate
                                        study  in the  humanities;  selections  
                                        have been, made.

(C) (II) SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS

The following foreign institutions offered scholarships or fellowships

to Indian nationals during 1961-62:-

         
        1. British Council, London      Ten scholarships for 'postgraduate
                                        study/research  in U.K.  for  1962-63; 
                                        the  names of 15  selected  candidates
                                        have  been recommended to the  British
                                        Council, London for final selection.
        
        
        2. Walkers' Travelling Ass-
           ociation, U.K.               The names of three selected candidates 
                                        have   been  recommended  to   Swansea
                                        University   for  the  award  of   one
                                        scholarship.
        
        3. Imperial Relations Trust
          (London University Institute 
           of Education),               (i) The two fellows of 1961-62 are
                                         studying at the Institute.
           London                        (ii)  Offer of  two  fellowships  for 
                                         1962-63  has been received and  under
                                         consideration.
        
        4. Philippines Board of Scho-
           larships  for  South-East Asia
          (University of Philippines).  The names of three selected candidates
                                        have been recommended to the Board for
                                        award  of scholarships;  for  1962-63;
                                        there is no special allocation for any
                                        country.
        
        5.  Peoples' Friendship (Patrice   Five scholarships for  1962-63  for
        Lumumba)  University,  U.S.S.R.        the study  of  the  humanities; 
                                           selections are being.made.

The expenditure on the above scholarships is borne by the awarding authority or the candidate or the sponsoring authority, except in the case of the Imperial Relations Trust Fellowships, where the expenditure is borne by the Government of India and the Trust on a 50 : 50 basis.

II. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS FOR STUDY IN INDIA

These facilities fall into two groups : (a) scholarships offered by Government of India; and (b) scholarships and fellowships offered by other agencies.

(A) SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO FOREIGN NATIONALS FOR STUDY IN INDIA

These include the following schemes:-

(i) General Scholarships Scheme.-

Scholarships are awarded to students of certain Asian, African and foreign countries and to students of Indian origin domiciled in those countries for studies in India to the extent of 140 every year. During 1961-62, 123 students accepted the offer; all have come and are prosecuting their studies in the country. A total of 484 scholars are studying at present under the scheme. Applications for 1962-63 have been received and 82 candidates have been provisionally selected so far. To supplement this programme, additional scholarships are also proposed to be offered under Unesco's Emergency Programme for Educational Development in African countries.

(ii) Commonwealth Education Cooperation Plan.-

Out of a total of 100 scholarships and fellowships which were offered to the nationals of the other Commonwealth countries for 1961-62, only 22 have been availed of so far. All the 22 selected candidates are prosecuting their studies here. Against the offer of 50 scholarships and fellowships made for 1962-63, 38 nominations have been received out of which 31 candidates have been selected.

It has also been decided to offer 225 bursaries to the nationals of the other Commonwealth countries for teacher training in India during the third Plan. Applications for 50 bursaries for 1961-62 and 75 for 1962-63 have been invited.

(iii) French Fellowships Scheme.-

Fellowships are offered to French nationals for postgraduate research in India. The fellows are required to teach French and to do research in their field of interest. The expenditure is shared by the Government of India and the universities concerned on a 50 : 50 basis. One fellow of the period 1959-61 has completed her tenure and another is continuing his studies. One fellowship, however, has not been availed of. The question of offering 3 fellowships for 1961-63 is under consideration.

(iv) Indo-German Industrial Cooperation Scheme.-

Fellowships are awarded to German nationals, as a measure of reciprocity for the gesture

of goodwill on the part of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in offering facilities to Indian nationals for postgraduate study/ training in Germany. Four fellows of the 1956-57 batch have returned home after completing their stary in India. The number of fellowships, has been increased from 10 to 20 every alternate year from 1961-62; applications for 1961-62 awards have been invited by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs. The awards will be processed by the Ministries of Education, and Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, according to the subjects in their respective charge.

(v) Reciprocal Scholarships Scheme.-

Three scholars (one each from Italy, Yugoslavia and Norway) of the 1958-59 batch are still continuing their studies in India. The number of scholarships has been raised to 30 every alternate year from 1961-62. Applications for the 1961-62 awards (one each for Austria, Norway, Spain, Sweden; two each for Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Yogoslavia, four for Italy and five each for East Germany and the U.S.S.R.) are being received and the candidates will be selected early during the next financial year.

(vi) Scholarships to Bhutanese Students.-

Fifteen scholarships (10 for school study and 5 for degree/diploma courses) are available every year. All the 15 scholars of the 1961-62 batch are studying here. Besides, 38 students (33 for school study and 5 for degree/diploma courses) of the earlier batches are continuing their studies. Applications for 15 scholarships for 1962-63 will be invited during the current year.