National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme

• 07 Feb 2020

Why in News

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development updated the progress of National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) in the written reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha during Budget Session 2020.

Key Points About NMMSS

• Aim:
  
  • The objective of the National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to reduce drop-outs in class VIII. It also intends to encourage students to continue the study at a secondary stage.
• Type:
  
  • It is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) which was launched in 2008.
• Details about Scholarship:
  
  • Scholarship of Rs. 6000/- per annum (Rs.500/- per month) per student is awarded to selected students every year for study in classes from IX to XII in State Government, Government aided and local body schools.
    
    • The selection of students award of the scholarships is made through an examination conducted by the State Governments.
    • Scholarships are disbursed by the State Bank of India directly into the bank accounts of students on a quarterly basis
• Eligibility Criteria:
  
  • Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum are eligible to avail the scholarships.
  • The students studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Residential Schools run by the State Government Institutions and private schools are not eligible for the scholarship under this scheme.
• Performance of the Scheme:
  
  • An evaluation study conducted by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in 2017 states that about 70.1% beneficiary students would have been unable to continue their studies without this scholarship.
  • Additionally, students selected under NMMSS register better performance in Class IX, X, XI and XII in order to continue getting the scholarship for the next four consecutive years.

National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration

• The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) was established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
  
  • The National Institute has its origin dating back to 1962 when the UNESCO established the Asian Regional Centre for Educational Planners and Administrators which later became the Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration in 1965.
  • After 4 years of its existence, it was taken over by the Government of India.
  • Subsequently, with the increased roles and functions it was renamed as the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in 1979.
• The Government of India has empowered it to award its own degrees by way of conferring it the status of Deemed to be University in August, 2006.

Source: PIB