Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the changes in the PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund after taking oath of office on Thursday. Under the scheme, sons and daughters of slain soldiers and police officials will get enhanced monthly scholarships.
Taking to Twitter, Modi wrote, “Our Government’s first decision dedicated to those who protect India! Major changes approved in PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks.”
Our Government’s first decision dedicated to those who protect India!
Major changes approved in PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks. https://t.co/Vm90BD77hm pic.twitter.com/iXhFNlBCIc
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2019
After the changes, the rates of scholarship have been increased from Rs. 2000 per month to Rs. 2500 per month for boys and from Rs. 2250 per month to Rs. 3000 per month for girls. The ambit of the Scholarship Scheme has also been extended to the ‘wards of State Police officials who are/were martyred during terror/naxal attacks.’ The quota of new scholarships for wards of state police officials will be 500 in a year. The Ministry of Home Affairs headed by Amit Shah will be the nodal Ministry in this regard.
The National Defence Fund (NDF) was set up in 1962 to take charge of the voluntary donations in cash and kind received for promotion of the national defence effort, and to decide on their utilisation.
Currently the fund is being used for the welfare of the members of the Armed Forces, Para Military forces and Railway Protection Force, and their dependents. The fund is administered by an Executive Committee with the Prime Minister as the Chairperson and the Defence, Finance and Home Ministers as Members.
Under National Defence Fund major scheme of ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)’ is being implemented to encourage technical and post-graduate education for the widows and wards of the deceased/ex-service personnel of Armed Forces and Para Military Forces and Railway Protection Force. Scholarships are available for education at technical institutions (medical, dental, veterinary, engineering, MBA, MCA and other equivalent technical professions with suitable AICTE/UGC approval).