New Delhi, 6 May 2022: The Ministry of Education has extended the application deadline for the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Special Scholarship Scheme for students of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to 31 March 2026 with a budget of Rs. 10,158 crore.
As per the ministry, 5,000 fresh scholarships are available per annum for poor students of Jammu & Kashmir – as well as Ladakh – for studies in India outside Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh under the PM-USP Special Scholarship.
Note: The ministry is all set to introduce a facility for the interchangeability of slots among medical and engineering students. It will be done on the basis of savings resulting from any shortfall in the number of students opting for general degree courses.
PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme: Overview
| Revised Application Deadline | 31 March 2026 |
| Number of Scholarships | 5000 |
| Sub-components of PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme |
|
| Scholarship Amount |
|
| Upper Limit of Family Income | Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum |
| Maintenance Allowance | Rs. 1 lakh per annum |
Under PM-USP Special Scholarship for Students of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, 5000 fresh scholarships are available per annum for poor students of J&K and Ladakh for study in India outside Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/ns6EF3fCs7
— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) May 2, 2022
PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme: Details
- Under the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme, up to 82,000 fresh scholarships are awarded each year to students pursuing graduate/post-graduate degree courses.
- The scholarship amount for the first 3 years has been increased to Rs. 12,000 per annum from the academic year 2022–23.
- This scheme has been introduced for students who wish to pursue higher education without any limitations.
PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme: Revised Upper Family Income Limit
From the 2022-23 financial year, the upper limit of family income for eligible students has been revised to Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum under the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme for college and university students and the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme.
Note: Earlier the upper limit of family income for students from Jammu and Kashmir was Rs. 6 lakh per annum.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme?
- Students who have passed Class 12 from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are eligible to apply.
- Students should also have secured admission outside the state in institutions that are either approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
What are the Scholarship Benefits of PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme?
- The scholarship is provided in the form of the student’s tuition fees and maintenance allowance.
- The rate of scholarship towards tuition fee varies as per course:
- for general courses is Rs. 30,000 per annum.
- For engineering courses, it is Rs. 1.25 lakhs per annum.
- For medical courses, it is Rs. 3 lakhs per annum.
- A fixed maintenance allowance of Rs. 1 lakh per annum is provided to all the students under the scheme.
Note: The implementation and monitoring of the scheme fall under the Inter-Ministerial Committee which is formed to supervise the scholarship disbursement procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the revised date for applying to PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme?
The last date to apply for the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme is 31 March 2026.
What are the benefits of the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme?
The benefits of the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme entail the disbursement of scholarships of Rs. 30,000 per annum to students enrolled in general courses, Rs. 1.25 lakhs per annum for students enrolled in engineering courses, and Rs. 3 lakhs per annum for students enrolled in medical courses.
What is the upper limit of family income of the students to claim the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme?
The upper limit of family income of the students to claim the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme is Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum.
