Regular and continued disbursal of scholarships during COVID-19, informs AICTE

– For scholarship disbursement concerns, students can approach via the appropriate grievance redressal mechanisms: AICTE

– There is timely disbursal of scholarships/fellowships to eligible students, even during COVID-19 times

– Grievance redressal mechanisms for any issues or complaints have been actively functioning, having resolved queries previously and still continuing to address and resolve student concerns

– Students can approach through the respective portal for necessary action

New Delhi: In order to promote technical education in the country, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is supporting students by way of different initiatives including timely disbursement of scholarships in students account. During the year 2019-20 AICTE has disbursed an amount of approximately Rs 335 Cr as scholarship to 41,195 beneficiaries across different schemes. The amount is being disbursed using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode in to bank accounts of the students. Besides these, AICTE also disburses scholarship to students from J&K under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) to support students for pursuing higher education across India.

As a part of AICTE’s Post Graduate (PG) Scholarship Scheme and National Doctoral Fellowship (NDF), monthly scholarship (@ Rs. 12,400/- & Rs. 31,000/- per month respectively) is credited in to account of students at the end of each month . In case of research scholars, the NDF is further enhanced to Rs 35,000 per month for the third year. In addition to this, HRA is also provided to eligible research scholars at the rate of 8%, 16% and 24% (as per city classification). An additional contingency grant of Rs. 15,000/- per annum is also provided to the research scholars meet the miscellaneous expenditures. Both these scholarships have also been linked to the attendance which is marked by the parent institute and sent directly on the portal. This ensures continuity of the student pursuing the programme as well as discard dubious candidate.

AICTE is also disbursing the scholarships to girl students under Pragati Scholarship Scheme and to specially abled students under Saksham Scholarship Scheme. The AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students was started in the year 2014 and awards scholarships of upto Rs 50,000/- per annum to meritorious girl students to encourage them to pursue higher education. Similarly, scholarship of upto Rs 50, 000/- per annum is given to specially abled students for supporting them for higher education. AICTE credits the amount through DBT mode directly in the bank account of scholars on a yearly basis in these two schemes.

Even during the COVID 19 period in the current financial year, AICTE has disbursed the fellowship to the students in time. AICTE has a robust grievance redressal mechanism for timely resolution of the students concerns and is handled in a time bound manner within 7 days. For any grievance related to the AICTE scholarship schemes, the students may contact on following Email IDs/Phone Numbers:

1. P G Scholarships – Email id: [email protected], Phone No 011-29581119
2. National Doctoral Fellowship (NDF)-Email id: [email protected], Phone No 011-29581119
3. Pragati scheme-Email id: [email protected], Phone No: 011-29581118
4. Saksham scheme- Email id: [email protected], Phone No: 011-29581118

The Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) was transferred to AICTE in the AY 2012-13 for implementation. It aims to support the students of J&K and Ladakh to enhance employability by imparting undergraduate level studies in various Colleges and Universities across the country (except J&K Ladakh) in Professional/Engineering, Medical and General Degree Courses. Every year 5000 scholarships are offered to the students of J&K and Ladakh where actual academic fee up to a ceiling of Rs 3 lakhs for medical, Rs 1.25 lakhs for professional and Rs 30,000 for all other general programmes is provided. Apart from the academic fee, every student is also paid Rs. 1 Lakh per annum towards maintenance allowance to bear the expenditure on account of Hostel Room Rent, Mess and Books etc.

The Academic fee is paid directly to the institute’s bank account where the students join allotted college through counselling. The maintenance allowance is however paid in smaller tranches over a period of time through DBT mode directly in the student’s Aadhar seeded bank account. While an amount of Rs. 20,000/- is released as an immediate relief, subsequently, eight more monthly instalments of Rs. 10,000/- each is released in forthcoming months.

Grievance redressal mechanism is also incorporated in all the respective Academic Years on the PMSSS Portal where students can share their issues through specific email ID. This facility has been provided along with their respective login. Grievances are replied to/resolved in a time bound manner within five working days.