PM Scholarship: Know benefits and application process

What is the PM Scholarship?

The PM Scholarship or Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme is a prestigious program handled by the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its primary objective is to encourage and motivate the wards and widows of CAPFs and ARs (Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles), former Coast Guard Personnel, and State Police Personnel to pursue higher education in professional and technical fields. 

Started 2006-07, the PM scholarship, so far, has helped millions of students in India meet their dream careers despite financial constraints. 

see also about: APF

PM Scholarship: Benefits

The most important benefit of this scheme is helping the dependent wards and widows of the ex-servicemen in various armed police forces realise their dreams of a stable professional career. It helps them become self-sufficient and run the family without anybody’s sympathy or aid. 

The scheme offers a reward of Rs 3,000 to female students and Rs 2,500 to male students every month for 1-5 years. More than 5000 candidates are selected for the scholarship every year, and the reward amount is transferred to their bank accounts annually. 

PM Scholarship: Eligibility criteria

Can you apply for the scholarship if you are a ward/widow of an ex-serviceman? What other eligibility criteria do you need to meet? Here are the details:

• You have to be a financially-dependent ward/widow of retired/deceased CAPFs & AR/State Police Personnel
• You may also be the ward/widow of State Police Personnel martyred in the Naxal/terror attacks 
• You must be pursuing professional/technical courses covered in the scheme
• You must have the minimum academic qualification of class 12/graduation or a diploma
• You should have passed the qualification mentioned above with at least a 60% aggregate

PM Scholarship: What are the courses covered in the scholarship?

Although the scholarship covers most professional and technical courses, specifications are essential for better understanding. They are as follows:

• Engineering courses – BTech, BE, BArch (max five years)
• Medical courses – MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BHMS, BSc. BPT, BSc. MLT, BUMS, BVSc. & AH, BSc. Nursing, B.Pharma, BNYS, BSc. Optometry, Dr Of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (max five years)
• Management courses – MBA, BBA, BBM, BCA, MCA, BPlan
• Professional courses – BSc. Agriculture, BVSc./ B. Fisheries, Coy Secretary, BSc. Horticulture, B.Ed., BSc. Bio-tech, BMC, Hotel Management, BPEd, BFT, BASLP, BSc. Microbiology, BSc. HHA, Bachelor of Elementary Education, LLB, BFA, BFD, BA LLB (max five years)

PM Scholarship: Documents required

The process of application is online. Hence, it is required for the candidates to make scanned copies of all the supporting documents given:

• Certificate of serving issued by the HOO
• Certificate issued by the State Government declaring that the concerned police personnel was killed in Naxal/terror attacks
• Certificate of educational qualification of the ward/widow
• Discharge Certificate or PPO for A-F categories
• Death certificate of deceased police personnel (Central or State)
• Disability proof/certificate (in case of disabled servicemen)
• Gallantry Award Certificate, if applicable

See also: MahaDBT Scholarship 2023: Everything you should know

PM Scholarship: Application Process

The entire process is conducted online in the following steps:

Step 1: Visit the National Scholarship Portal or NSP

Step 2: Click on “New Registration”, as shown in the picture below

Step 3: Read the application guidelines carefully and click on “Continue”

Step 4: Register on the portal by filling in all the required details. 

Step 5: Now, go back to the main page and log in using the user ID and password that you have received on registration. 

Step 6: An OTP will be sent to the mobile number given while registering for successful login on the NSP portal. 

Step 7: Carefully fill in the application form for the PM Scholarship and upload all the supporting documents. 

Step 8: Submit the application after reviewing it. 

PM Scholarship: What is the selection process for the scholarship?

So, you have submitted the application for PMSS; now what? 

The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for evaluating each application and selecting deserving candidates for the scholarship. The process is carried out in order of preference as prescribed below:

Category A: Wards/widows of CAPFs & AR servicemen killed while on duty

Category B: Wards/widows of former CAPFs & AR servicemen disabled while on duty

Category C: Wards/widows of former CAPFs and AR personnel killed for causes attributable to the government

Category D: Wards/widows of former CAPFs and AR personnel disabled while imparting their duty to the government

Category E: Wards/widows of Gallantry Award holders

Category F: Wards of serving CAPFs and AR personnel, depending on the number of scholarships available

Another category was included in 2019, comprising the wards/widows of State Policemen killed in Naxal/terror attacks. 

PM Scholarship: Scholarship renewal

As with any other scholarship offered by the Government of India, the PM scholarship too needs to be renewed yearly for subsequent payments. The first payment will be made after the list of selected candidates is announced. For the following year’s payment, one has to prove their eligibility every time by scoring at least 50% aggregate marks in that academic year or semester. Further, the candidate must also pass every subject in the first attempt to apply for a renewal. The renewal process is also conducted online, and the students can follow the aforementioned steps to apply for a renewal. 

Important dates concerning the PM Scholarship 2022-23

Fresh applications are accepted only within a definite time frame, but renewals can be requested throughout the year. This is because, in some institutes and universities, the results are declared late, so the process of renewal can be delayed. 

For the year 2022-23, the application and other important dates are as follows:

By the 2nd week of March, every selected candidate will receive personal letters from the PMO as a sign of honour and motivation. 

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