Intro
The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS-CU) is an initiative taken by the Department of Higher Education. The objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to meritorious students for pursuing higher studies whose family income is less than ₹4.5 lacs per annum. Students having above 80% marks in the relevant streams of any Board examination in class XII and pursuing a regular course, and not availing the benefits of any scholarship, are eligible to apply under this scheme. The scholarship rate of this scheme is ₹12,000.00 per annum for the first three years and ₹20,000.00 per annum for the fourth and fifth years. The scholarship is directly disbursed into the savings bank account of the scholarship recipients by the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) mode. The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students is covered under DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) w.e.f. 01-01-2013. The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students has been operational since 2008. This scheme is also known as the “Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana”.
Table of Contents
- Intro
- Objectives
- Key Features
- Benefits
- Eligibility criteria
- Reservation policy
- How to apply
- Documents required
- Selection process
- Scholarship renewal
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Objectives
The objectives of the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students are:
- Provide financial assistance to meet their day-to-day expenses while studying.
- Encourage meritorious students.
- Aim to reduce dropouts.
- Encourage pursuing higher education.
- Help the students from economically weaker sections of the society.
Key features
The following are the key features of the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students:
- Amount of Scholarship:
a) At the graduation level, ₹12,000.00 is provided @₹1,000.00 per month for twelve months.
b) At the post-graduation level, ₹20,000.00 is provided @₹1,666.00 per month for twelve months.
- Duration: The duration of the course is different according to the level or course.
a) Graduation: 3 years
b) Post-graduation: 2 years
c) For technical courses like B. Tech, B.E., B. Arch, etc., the duration may be 4-5 years
based on the courses.
- No. of Scholarship: Every year, around 82,000 scholarships are awarded, i.e., 41,000 for boys and 41,000 for girls.
- Age group: Those between the age range of 18-25 years are eligible for this scheme.
- Renewal: Scholarships are renewed every year if the student maintains the required academic performance.
- Mode of application: Students must apply online in the National Scholarships Portal www.scholarships.gov.in for the fresh or renewal scholarships.
Benefits
The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students has many benefits.
- Reduce financial stress or pressure on families.
- Support for higher education and professional studies.
- Motivate students to perform better academically.
- Promote education among deserving students.
- Contribute to nation-building by empowering youth.
Eligibility criteria
A student must fulfil the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for this scheme.
- The applicant must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream from the respective Board of Examination in Class 12th of 10+2 pattern or equivalent.
- The annual family income must be less than ₹4,50,000.00 from all sources.
- Pursuing a regular graduate or post-graduate course in any recognized college, university, or Institute but not correspondence or distance mode, or pursuing Diploma courses.
- Not availing the benefits of any other scholarship.
- For renewal of scholarship in each year of study, 75% attendance must be maintained.
Reservation policy
The Central Government follows a reservation policy for the scholarship allotment.
The reservations are:
i. SC – 15%
ii. ST – 7.5%
iii. OBC – 27%
iv. PWD – 5%
It ensures that students from all backgrounds get a fair chance of receiving the scholarship.
How to apply
To obtain scholarships, students must go through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) www.scholarships.gov.in.
The following steps are to be followed:
Step 1: Registration:
- You need to visit the National Scholarship Portal(NSP).
- Click on “New Registration”.
- Read the guidelines carefully and then click “Continue”.
- Fill in basic details like name, mobile number, email ID, etc.
- Create a Login ID and password
Step 2: Log in and Application
- Log in with your newly created ID
- Select “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students.”
- Fill in the Application form with requisite details
- Upload the necessary documents.
Step 3: Submission
- Review the form carefully
- Submit the Application form if it is found OK.
Documents required
The following documents are required for uploading while applying for a scholarship under this scheme.
- Marksheet of Class XII
- Admission proof, i.e., College/University ID or Admission receipt
- Income certificate issued by the competent authority.
- Caste certificate for availing the reservation quota.
- Aadhar card
- Bank Passbook (first page copy)
- Domicile certificate (if required)
- Disability certificate (if applicable)
Selection process
The selection of candidates is based on merit in class XII and the family income of the student.
- Students who get the highest marks will be given first preference.
- A separate list for Science, Commerce, and Arts streams will be prepared.
- In case of the same marks, the students with lower family income will be preferred.
Renewal of scholarship
Students must apply for Renewal every academic year. They must fulfil the following conditions.
- Must have secured at least 50% marks in the final examination of the previous year.
- Maintain 75% attendance.
- There should be no disciplinary issues during the course.
If a student fails to fulfil the above conditions, his or her scholarship may be discontinued.
FAQ
Q1: Who is eligible for the central sector scheme?
Ans: Having a family income up to ₹ 4.5 lakh per annum. Not receiving any other scholarship or fee reimbursement of any kind. Diploma students are not eligible under the scheme. Students who had dropped out after the 12th class are not eligible under the scheme.
Q2: What is the central sector scholarship scheme for colleges and universities?
Ans: The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP), offers financial assistance to meritorious students from poor families pursuing higher education. The scheme aims to help students meet their day-to-day expenses while studying.
Q3: What is the cost of a central sector scholarship?
Ans: ₹1000/- per month for (Subject to a Maximum of ₹10,000/- for an academic year) and
₹2000/- per month for Post-Graduate studies (Subject to a Maximum of ₹20,000/- for an academic year), provided they are selected for Scholarship at UG level.
Q4: How many students get an NSP scholarship?
Ans: The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) awards scholarships to a large number of students each year. For the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students, 82,000 fresh scholarships are awarded annually, with 41,000 for boys and 41,000 for girls. The National Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies provides scholarships to 10,000 students annually.
Q5: What is the Central Sector Scholarship eligibility?
Ans: To be eligible for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS), students must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in their Class XII stream from a particular Board of Examination. They must also be pursuing a regular degree course and not availing any other scholarship.
Conclusion
The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students is anopportunity for students of lower-income families to continue their higher studies without any financial barriers. The Central Government has launched this scheme to provide financial assistance to financially weaker students to pursue higher studies. This scheme ensures that money is never a barrier to your dreams. Higher education can change your life. If you have scored well in the XII standard and meet the eligibility criteria, don’t miss this chance!