National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme
This topic of “National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.
Introduction:
- National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
- Offered to gifted or meritorious students from economically weaker sections
- Implemented since 2008 to encourage students to continue their studies and prevent dropouts at class 8th
Ministry/Agency:
- Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
Objectives:
- To award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections
- To prevent dropouts at class 8th and encourage students to continue their studies at the secondary stage
Benefits:
- 1,00,000 fresh scholarships @ Rs. 12,000/- per annum (₹1,000 per month) are awarded to meritorious students every year at the Class IX level, which can be continued up to Class 12th
- Sanction of funds done from the Annual Budget Provision and disbursed to students directly into their bank accounts by electronic transfer through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Eligibility:
- Parental income not more than ₹3,50,000/- per annum from all sources
- Regular student entering class 9th in a government, Government-aided, local body school
- Minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade in Class 7th examination for appearing in selection test conducted during class 8th for the award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students)
Implementation strategy:
- Each State/UT conducts its own test at the stage of class 8th for the selection of students
- Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) are conducted for the selection of students
- Awardees should satisfy the other eligibility conditions mentioned in the scheme
- No claim for scholarship arrears will be entertained after the expiry of 12 months of the academic session for which one has applied for the claim
