Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana 2023-24 guidelines for the component scheme – central sector scheme of scholarship for college and university students (PM-USP CSSS)

The ability to further one’s education through financial aid is what we mean when we talk about scholarships. It helps cover tuition costs so that students can get an education they might not be able to afford otherwise. If you’re looking for financial aid for college, here’s one possible scholarship opportunity. What follows is a complete rundown of the Component Scheme – Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS) scholarship and all the information you’ll need to apply for it.

Highlights

What is Component Scheme – Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students?

These grants are intended to alleviate some of the financial burdens that attending college places on students from low-income families. The education ministry of the Indian government awards scholarships to deserving students based on their scores on the Higher Secondary / Class XII Board Exam. Up to 82,000 new scholarships are awarded annually by the government to students so that they can continue their education past the undergraduate level and into professional disciplines like medicine, engineering, and the like.

Allocation of Scholarship

After dividing the total number of scholarships between the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (CBSE and ICSE, respectively) based on the number of students graduating from various Boards across the country, the scholarships are then allocated to the State Education Boards in accordance with each State’s population between the ages of 18 and 25. There are more women than men receiving these scholarships.

The scholarships for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh’s union territories will be distributed as follows: Only UT of Ladakh students will receive 3% of the total. A State Education Board’s scholarship money is divided equally among graduates of the Humanities, Science, and Commerce departments, with each department receiving three awards and the other two receiving one prize each.

If the instructions of the Ministry of Finance and the NITI Aayog governing SC/ST fund allocation of the schemes are implemented, scholarship seats will be interchangeable between categories (Gen, OBC, SC & ST), gender (Female, Male), and State Quota beginning in the 2022–2023 academic year.

Scholarship Eligibility

Scholarships are available to students who have completed the equivalent of Class XII (10+2) and have scored in the top 80th percentile of successful applicants in the relevant stream from the relevant Board of Examination:

• Attending classes to acquire a degree as opposed to studying in distance mode or in correspondence;
• Studying at institutions recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education and other Indian regulatory bodies;
• In addition to this award, you are not participating in any other scholarship programs, including any state-sponsored programs;
• Students whose families earn up to Rs. 4.5 lakh per year are eligible for the program’s scholarships. Proof of income will be required only from new applicants;
• If the new school and program both have valid AISHE codes (which can be verified at https://aishe.gov.in/aishe/aisheCode), the student will be able to keep their scholarship.
• In the event that a student fails to meet the renewal eligibility requirements before the application deadline, he or she may still apply for the scholarship on NSP the following year.

The Conditions for Continuation of Scholarships

Every year, you’ll need to show that you’ve earned your scholarship by maintaining a 75% attendance rate and an average exam score of at least 50%. It is not the policy of this institution to automatically revoke a student’s scholarship if the renewal or verification process is delayed. However, students must act quickly to submit renewal applications before the deadline. If a renewal request is submitted after the deadline has passed, it will not be processed until the following year.

Scholarship Cancellation

If the student receives any complaints about their lack of discipline or criminal behaviour, including ragging, they will lose their scholarship.

Reservation

Students from reserved categories/weak sections/minorities etc. are eligible to receive the benefit of reservation based on merit in accordance with the Central Reservation Policy [i.e. 15% of seats are earmarked for SCs, 7.5% for STs, 27% for OBCs, and 5% horizontal reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in all the categories]. Annual quota slots shall be filled in accordance with the Central Reservation Policy. If there are any unused slots in a given group after all of the States/UTs have been accounted for, those spots will be reassigned to other groups to ensure that as many deserving students as possible receive the benefit (up to the total number of available slots).

Procedure for Application

You must apply for a new or renewed scholarship through the National Scholarships Portal if you want to participate in this program (www.scholarships.gov.in). Enrollment and renewal applications sent directly to the Ministry of Education will not be reviewed.

1. Only applications submitted online will be considered. 
2. The DIGILOCKER service provided by the MeITY, Govt. India verifies students’ identities and information including caste, education, and more.
3. Timelines for the portal’s opening and closing may be found on the NSP’s website (www.scholarships.gov.in).
4. Each step of the scholarship application, verification, selection, and awarding process must adhere to the NSP.
5. The finalized list would be displayed using NSP.
6. Online applications must be verified twice: first by the student’s existing institution, and then by the State Higher Education Department or another Agency/Official recognized by the State.
7. NSP will feature the latest recent iteration of the Timeline guidelines

Scholarship Award Amount and Time Period (from the financial year 2023-24)

Scholarships cover tuition for the first three years of college or university study (at a rate of Rs.12,000/- per year) and tuition for four years of college or university study (at a rate of Rs.20,000/- per year) for those pursuing a post-graduate degree. If a professional degree program lasts five (5) years or is an integrated program, students in their fourth and fifth years will each get a yearly stipend of Rs. 20,000.

However, students enrolling in technical programs such as B.Tech or B. Eng will only be eligible for scholarships to the graduation level (Rs. 12,000 each year for the first three years of study and Rs. 20,000 for the final year of study).

Please take note that the rate of scholarship for the first three years of new and renewed scholarships with reference to the academic year 2022-23 is Rs.10,000/- per year, regardless of when the actual distribution occurs (FY 2023-24).

Scholarship Funds Disbursement

The benefits of the program are only available to students who have a bank account set up specifically in their name. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) will be used to electronically transfer the awarded funds straight into the recipients’ savings accounts. By entering their Aadhaar number, bank account number, or NSP Application ID into the “Know Your Payment” template on the PFMS site [https://pfms.nic.in/Users/LoginDetails/Login.aspx], students can view their payment status.

For Universities and Colleges

All admitted students will be informed of the “PM-USP CSSS” by their respective institutions. Institutional/State Nodal Officer (INO/SNO) authentication by Aadhaar is required prior to application verification. An INO/SNO should be treated like any other worker.

For the State Government and State Boards

Schools, colleges, and other institutions can help spread the word about the program and make it easier for people in rural areas to apply for scholarships through the National Scholarship Program (NSP).

Dispute Resolution

If you have any problems or complaints with the aforementioned program, please submit the form located at http://pgportal.gov.in/grievancenew.aspx. the NSP’s designated Nodal Officer, whose contact info can be found on the NSP website (Services Tab).

Concluding Remarks

The Government of India created this scholarship program so that students like you might get the education and training they need to succeed in life. It releases you from financial constraints, allowing you to focus on your goals without interruption. This strategy will help you achieve any and all of your academic objectives. Students like you are without a doubt the future, so it is critical that everyone is aware of this strategy.