The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir to encourage the youth of J&K to pursue higher studies outside their State. The total cost of the scheme will be Rs.1200 crore of which Rs.88 crore will be incurred in the current financial year.

It is proposed to provide 5000 fresh scholarships every year over the next five years. Of these 4500 scholarships will be for general degree courses, 250 for engineering and 250 for medical studies. Every scholar will get upto Rs.30,000 per annum for tuition fees for general degree courses, upto Rs.1.25 lakh per annum for engineering course and upto Rs.3 lakh per annum for medical studies. In addition to these, hostel fees and incidentals will also be given for all categories of courses upto a ceiling of Rs. one lakh per annum.

Only those students belonging to the State of Jammu & Kashmir, who pass the Class XII or equivalent exam from the J&K Board and pursue general degree courses, engineering, medical studies and other professional courses in Government colleges/ institute/ other reputed institutes, located outside the State of Jammu & Kashmir would be eligible for scholarship under this scheme. The income ceiling will be Rs.4.5 lakh per annum.

SH/SKS
(Release ID :73951)