 APPENDIX S(B)--
REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF
 INDIA'S SCHEDULED CASTES,
 SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER
 BACKWARD CLASSES SCHOLARSHIPS
 SCHEME (PLACED BEFORE THE
 TWENTY FIRST MEETING)

The progress with regard to the Government of India Scheme of Scholarships to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, in addition to that reported to Central Advisory Board of Education at its 20th meeting held in November, 1953, is as stated below:

Scholarships for Studies abroad.-It has since been decided to award not more than six scholarships during 1953-54 for overseas, studies to candidates (two for each group) belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. The work of inviting applications and recommending suitable candidates for these scholarships has been entrusted to the Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi. The Commission has invited applications for these scholarships and the last date for the receipt of applications is fixed as 26th December, 1953 (9th January, 1954, for applicants from abroad).

The period of scholarships is of two years' duration for post- graduate courses or research work, preferably in Medicine, Engineer- ing, Agriculture, Science and Technology in the United, Kingdom or other suitable countries. Candidates must be citizens of India or persons migrated from Pakistan with the intention of permanently settling in India or subjects of Sikkim or Jammu and Kashmir. The qualifications prescribed in the case of Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes candidates is a First Class Master's degree or equivalent qualification and a Second Master's degree or equivalent qualification for Scheduled Tribes.

The present rate of scholarships is (pound) 420 p.a. In Oxford and Cambridge and (pound) 382 in other institutions in the United- Kingdom and $1,500 p.a. in the United States of America, excluding the cost incurred on books and study tours, equipment allowance, sea passage, tuition and examination fees which will be paid by the Government of India in addition.

Scholarships for inland studies.-In addition to the grant or Rs. 50 lakhs sanctioned for scholarships to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes for their post-matriculation studies in India during 1953-54 as already reported to the Board at its last meeting, the Government have made available further funds amounting to Rs. 10 lakhs, thus raising the total grant to Rs. 60 lakhs for 1953- 54. With the increased funds, 1,089 more scholarships to candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes to cover all eligible cases and 852 to those belonging to Backward Classes have been awarded. The allocation of scholarships and the

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funds amongst the three groups viz., Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes is now as under :-

                                          
        
                                           No. of Scho-        Estimated
                                           larships award-     Expenditure
                            Community      ed during
                                           1953-54
                                          
                                                               Rs.
        
             Scheduled Castes    .    .    6,099               28,00,000
        
             Scheduled Tribes    .    .    1,644               9,00,000
        
             Other Backward Classes   .    3,881               23,00,000
        
        
                                 ToTAL     11,624              60,00,000

On the recommendation of the Scholarships Board made at its meeting held on 24th December, 1953, the Government of India have further sanctioned an additional ad hoc grant of Rs. two lakhs for the award of 351 more scholarships to those First Class applicants (belonging to Other Backward Classes) who could not qualify under the first batch. With the total grant of Rs. 62 lakhs now available, it has been possible to award scholarships to all eligible Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes' candidates as well as all women candidates and 3,509 men applicants from Other Backward Classes.

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APPENDIX S(B)-- REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA'S SCHEDULED CASTES, SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES SCHOLARSHIPS SCHEME (PLACED BEFORE THE TWENTY FIRST MEETING)