Annual report - Performance Management Division

CHAPTER 8MERIT-CUM-MEANS BASED SCHOLARSHIPSCHEME8.1 The merit-cum-means scholarship scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launchedin 2007. It is being implemented through State Governments/Union TerritoryAdministrations. The entire expenditure is being borne by the Central Government.Scholarships are available for pursuing professional and technical courses, at graduate andpost-graduate levels, in institutions recognized by appropriate authority Under the scheme20,000 scholarships are proposed to be awarded every year in addition to the renewals.8.2 30% of these scholarships are earmarked for girl students, which may be utilized byeligible boy students, if adequate number of eligible girl students are not available.8.3 70 institutes for professional and technical courses have been listed in the scheme.Eligible students from the minority communities admitted to these institutions arereimbursed full course fee. A course fee of ` 20,000/- per annum is reimbursed to studentsstudying in other institutions.8.4 To be eligible, a student should have secured admission in any technical orprofessional institution, recognized by an appropriate authority. In case of students admittedwithout a competitive examination, students should have secured not less than 50% marks.The annual income of the family from all sources should not exceed ` 2.50 lakhs.On-line Scholarship Management System (OSMS)8.5 An Online Scholarship Management System (OSMS) for Merit-cum Means Basedscholarship scheme has been introduced as a pilot project from the current financial yeari.e. 2011-12. Depending on its success, the system would be extended to other scholarshipschemes. Prior to launch of the project, a series of meetings were held with the States toconceptualize the scheme and reach a consensus. The work was entrusted to NationalInformatics Centre (NIC).The dedicated website for online scholarship can be accessed through URLwww.momascholarship.gov.in. A link to the same is also available in the website of thisMinistry i.e. www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.A total number of 1,05,046 online scholarship applications, of which 77,046 were for freshscholarships and 28,000 for renewal.The OSMS has proved to be useful both from the user and the stakeholder point of view.28