Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) scholarship is a helping hand for all those candidates who belong to the economically marginalised community but have a zeal to complete their studies. This scholarship ensures no candidate will be barred from getting the best quality education just because they lack the money to afford it. The scholarship is an initiative by the Department of Higher Education, which comes under the Ministry of Education. This aims to provide a scholarship to the meritorious students who come from poor-income families. The money provided by this scholarship is enough to carry out the everyday costs of studying with ease, both for their graduate and postgraduate degrees.
Eligibility Criteria for the PM-USP Scholarship
Not every student can apply for this scholarship. The government has set some specific rules, or eligibility criteria, to ensure the help reaches the right students. Let’s break down these requirements in a simple way.
The Most Important Eligibility Conditions:
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Academic Performance: This is a scholarship for meritorious, or high-achieving, students. The selection is based entirely on your marks in the Class 12th or Higher Secondary Board Examination. You need to have scored within the top 20% of successful candidates in your particular board exam to be considered.
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Family Income: Your family’s total income from all sources must be less than Rs. 8 lakh per year. This is to ensure that the scholarship is given to students who genuinely need financial assistance.
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Course of Study: You must be pursuing a regular, full-time degree course. This includes:
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Other Conditions: You should not be receiving any other scholarship or financial help from any other source for your studies.
To make it even clearer, here is a simple table summarizing the eligibility:
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Based on | Class 12th / Higher Secondary Board Exam Marks |
| Academic Rank | Must be in the top 20% of your board’s successful candidates |
| Family Income | Less than Rs. 8 Lakh per annum |
| Course Level | Graduation or Postgraduation (full-time, regular courses) |
| Other Scholarships | Cannot be availing any other scholarship |
Benefits of the PM-USP Scholarship
Winning this scholarship is a great honor and a significant financial help. The government provides a certain amount of money each year to cover your day-to-day expenses.
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For Graduate Students: If you are studying for a bachelor’s degree (like B.A., B.Sc., B.Tech, etc.), you will receive Rs. 12,000 per year.
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For Postgraduate Students: If you are studying for a master’s degree (like M.A., M.Sc., M.Tech, etc.), you will receive Rs. 20,000 per year.
Total number of Students who Get This Scholarship
A total of 82,000 fresh scholarships are given to the students per year. There is a fixed number of scholarships that are to be given every year.
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Girls will get a total of 50% of the scholarships.
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The rest of the scholarships are disbursed among all the candidates, including boys, based on the merit of the candidate.
Step-by-step procedure for the Application
Applying for the PM-USP scholarship is an online process. It is designed to be straightforward.
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Keep Your Documents Ready: The following documents are to be kept ready for the application process:
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The candidates’ Class 12th mark sheet and passing certificate.
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The candidates’ family’s income certificate.
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The candidates’ bank account details.
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The candidates’ email ID and mobile number.
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A recent photograph of the candidates.
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Visit the Official Portal: The Candidates are requested to visit the official portal to fill in their application form.
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Registration: Register yourself on the portal using the basic details.
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Fill the Application Form: Carefully fill in the application form with all the required details.
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Uploading of the required Documents: Upload clear and scanned copies of all the documents required.
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Submit the Application: Carefully check your application form and click on the submit option.
Most Asked Questions
Am I eligible to get this scholarship if I am already getting any other scholarship?
No, you surely cannot. It is strictly mentioned in the rules of the scholarship scheme that if any candidate is already benefiting from any scholarship, he is not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Do I need to give the scholarship amount back after I complete my studies?
No, absolutely not. This scholarship amount is provided by the government for the students, and they don’t need to pay even a penny of the scholarship amount during or after they complete their studies.
Am I guaranteed to get the scholarship if I have scored 85% in my Class 12th?
Sadly, but no. The scholarship is based on the top 20% of your specific board. If many students scored above 90%, an 85% might not place you in the top 20%.
