PM-YASASVI Scheme
Why in News?
The PM-YASASVI Scheme is in the news because the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to expanding educational opportunities under this umbrella scheme in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Architecture & Key Information
- Full Name: Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India.
- Nodal Ministry: Implemented completely by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Primary Objective: To remove geographical and financial barriers, providing inclusive and equitable quality education to marginalized groups.
- Target Beneficiaries: Meritorious students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT).
- Income Eligibility Criteria: The total annual family income of the applicant must not exceed ₹2.50 Lakhs.
- Funding Model: Formulated as a comprehensive centrally-funded scheme with specific sub-components running on a 100% central sector basis.
The Four Major Scholarship Components
- Pre-Matric Scholarship: Designed for students in Classes 9 and 10 to receive an academic allowance of ₹4,000 per annum.
- Post-Matric Scholarship: Financial assistance ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 per year depending on the course category to complete post-secondary education.
- Top Class School Education: Covers complete education from Class 9 up to Class 12, offering scholarships up to ₹2 Lakhs per annum for short-listed top schools, including financial provisions for laptops up to ₹45,000.
- Top Class College Education: Full financial grant covering tuition fees, living expenses, and material support for students gaining admission into designated premier institutions.
Infrastructure & Operational Framework
- Hostel Scheme Integration: Includes a sub-component for constructing safe residential hostels near educational institutes, specifically targeting rural youth to bridge regional access disparities.
- Inclusivity & Reservations: Built-in statutory reservations exist within components, including a mandatory 30% slot reservation for female applicants and 5% for students with disabilities.
- Application Mode: Run entirely online via the integrated portal layout of the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
