INTRODUCTION
The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) was launched in the academic year 2006-07 to promote higher technical and professional education among the dependent wards and widows of Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and Ex-Coast Guard personnel. Funded by the National Defence Fund and administered by the Prime Minister’s Office, the scheme aims to provide financial assistance to deserving students, enabling them to pursue their academic and career aspirations. Scholarships are available for various technical institutions, including medical, dental, veterinary, engineering, MBA, MCA, and other equivalent technical courses approved by AICTE/UGC.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Annually, 5,500 scholarships are awarded, equally distributed among boys and girls. The scholarship amounts, which were initially Rs. 2,000 per month for boys and Rs. 2,250 per month for girls, were increased in FY 2019-20 to Rs. 2,500 per month for boys and Rs. 3,000 per month for girls. The payments are made directly into the bank accounts of the selected students. Since the academic year 2016-17, the scheme has migrated from offline to online mode, managed by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), allowing students to apply online through the KSB website.
Also Read I How to register on the KSB Website.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To qualify for PMSS, applicants must meet specific criteria:
- Eligible Students: Students who have taken admission in the first year (excluding lateral entry and integrated courses) are eligible to apply for PMSS. They must apply online through the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) web portal at www.ksb.gov.in. Applicants should have scored at least 60% in their Minimum Educational Qualification (MEQ), such as 10+2, Diploma, or Graduation. Students studying in the second or subsequent years are not eligible, except for integrated courses where the first portion is academic and the second portion is professional.
- Dependency Status: The scholarship is open to the dependent wards and widows of Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Coast Guard personnel. Initially, it primarily focused on the Armed Forces. However, over time, the eligibility criteria expanded to include wards/widows of retired and serving Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) & Assam Rifles (AR) personnel as well.
PRIORITY FOR GRANT OF SCHOLARSHIP
The selection of candidates follows the order of preference listed below:
- Wards and widows of ESM/Ex-Coast Guard personnel killed in action.
- Wards of ESM/Ex-Coast Guard personnel disabled in action and boarded out of service with a disability attributable to military or Coast Guard service.
- Wards and widows of ESM or Ex-Coast Guard personnel who lost their lives while in service due to causes related to their military or coast guard duties.
- Wards of ESM/Ex-Coast Guard personnel disabled in service with a disability attributable to military or coast guard service.
- Wards and widows of ESM/Ex-Coast Guard personnel in receipt of gallantry awards.
- Wards and widows of ESM/Ex-Coast Guard personnel (PBOR only).
ELIGIBLE COURSES
PMSS covers various professional courses, ensuring students from different fields have access to financial aid:
- First Professional Degree Courses: Courses such as BE, B.Tech, BDS, MBBS, B.Ed, BBA, BCA, B.Pharma, etc., recognized by respective government regulatory bodies like the AICTE, Medical Council of India, UGC, etc.
- Master Degree Courses: MBA and MCA courses are eligible. Other master’s degree courses are not eligible.
- Exclusions: Students studying abroad and those enrolled in distance learning courses are not eligible. The PMSS can be utilized for only one course.
SCHOLARSHIP FOR INTEGRATED COURSES
For dual-degree integrated courses, the PMSS selection is governed by the following parameters:
- Minimum Educational Qualification (MEQ): 10+2 is required. Students need to upload 10+2 mark sheets and first and second-year mark sheets for integrated courses.
- COURSE TYPES:
- Both Degrees Professional/Technical: For example, BE+ME, B.Tech+M.Tech, BBA+MBA. The scholarship will be awarded only for the first professional degree.
- First Degree Academic, Second Degree Professional/Technical: For example, BA+LLB, B.Com+LLB, B.Sc.+B.Ed. Scholarships will be provided for the professional part of the course only.
- Professional Component: Students must complete the academic part of the course without fail to be eligible for the professional component scholarship. Failing any subject in the academic portion disqualifies the student from receiving the scholarship.
MINIMUM ELIGIBLE MARKS IN MEQ
Candidates must have achieved at least 60% marks in their Minimum Educational Qualification (MEQ) to be eligible for the PMSS. This requirement varies by course, e.g., for MBBS it is 10+2, while for BE/B. Tech is 10+2/Diploma, and for B.Ed and MBA it is graduation. All subjects, including optional ones, are considered for calculating 60% marks.
OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS FOR ESM/STUDENTS
- Timely Response: Students must promptly reply to SMS or email notifications from the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB).
- Contact Information: The email and mobile number provided in the application should belong to the student, with an additional mobile number of the Ex-Serviceman (ESM). Ensure these contact details remain unchanged as all communications are directed to them.
- Application Processing: New applications are processed from January to May, while renewal applications are handled throughout the year except during this period. Students should regularly check their KSB accounts for updates on their application status.
- Application Status: Although the status may display as pending, the application is being processed at various levels within KSB.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applying for PMSS involves the following steps:
In the primary step The ESM has to register in the KSB portal to avail this facility if not registered follow the below steps after opening the KSB website (If registered jump to step 5 directly):
- Register: If you have not registered earlier, please fill all the boxes in Part-1 and Part-2 with details of ESM and click submit.
- Get Login Credentials: After registration, a login ID, password, and a link will be automatically generated by the system and sent to the email mentioned in Registration Part-I.
- Activate Account: After registering, the user will get an activation link to their email. Click on the activation link.
- Login: Enter your User Name (Login ID) and Password, and it will take you to your dashboard. Visit www.ksb.gov.in, click on the login button, and log in with your credentials.
- Visit the KSB Website: www.ksb.gov.in and go to the PMSS option in the header click on “New Application” and choose Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme. click on “List of documents to be uploaded ” link and download the Annexures, you can click the following link to download them:
Download Annexure-1: Certificate in lieu of discharge Book
Download Annexure-2: Bonafide Certificate
Download Annexure-3: Certificate to be signed by Bank
- Fill Application: Fill all the boxes in Part-1, Part-2 & Part-3 and scan all required documents in original and upload legible documents in the right place of the application.
- Complete Annexures: Fill out these annexures in all respects (do not use your own format or any other format).
- Upload Photo: Upload your passport size photo and click on the “Upload” icon.
- Save and Forward: Save and forward the application. Ensure that your ZSB has access to your application on their portal (if required).
LIST OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TO BE SCANNED AND UPLOADED
- Ex-Servicemen/Ex-Coast Guard Certificate signed by ZSB/Coast Guard HQ.
- Bonafide Certificate signed by relevant authorities of the Institute/College.
- Bank certificate stating Aadhaar Card linkage with the student’s bank account.
- Matriculation Certificate for verifying the date of birth.
- MEQ certificate (10+2-mark sheet/Graduation/Diploma mark sheets).
- First page of the bank passbook showing the student’s name, account number, and IFSC code.
- Student’s Aadhaar Card.
- PPO/ESM Identity Card for Category 6, with supporting documents for Categories 1 to 5.
RENEWAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS/ESM
After receiving the scholarship amount from KSB, students are required to update Column 14 of the Renewal Application. Log in to your KSB account using your Login ID and Password, and enter the ‘Date of Payment’ and ‘Amount Received’ in the respective columns. This is a mandatory audit requirement. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the scholarship and recovery of any funds already disbursed. A SAVE button is provided at the bottom of Column 14. This action must be completed immediately upon receipt of each scholarship instalment.
The first instalment of the scholarship will be paid immediately after selection in the merit list. For subsequent payments, students must submit the Online Renewal Application at the end of each academic year until the completion of their course. Maintaining a minimum of 50% marks in each semester/academic year and passing all subjects on the first attempt are mandatory for the continuation of the scholarship. If a student fails or receives an RA in any subject, their scholarship will be permanently closed, and they will not be eligible for further instalments of PMSS. Students can apply for renewal within one year from the declaration of their results.
Renewal applications are processed as they are received, except from January to May, when PMSS staff are occupied with the selection and preparation of the merit list for first-year students. During this period, even if the application status shows as pending, it is being processed at various levels—User, Supervisory, and finally by JD (PMSS) of KSB. Once approved by JD (PMSS), the list of students is sent to the KSB Account Officer for payment processing through the relevant bank. Typically, renewal applications and payments are processed within a month if the application is complete and accurate. Please be patient and regularly check your email or KSB account for updates.
Students must ensure that the Mobile Number and Email ID provided for PMSS remain functional until the completion of their course, as all alerts and notifications about the status of your application are sent to these contacts. In case of any changes, inform KSB promptly to update your records.
Students who have already been selected for PMSS and are currently in their second or subsequent year should not apply as new applicants. These students are only required to submit the Renewal Application.
CONCLUSION
The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) is a vital initiative supporting the higher education of the wards and widows of Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Coast Guard personnel. By providing financial assistance, the scheme enables these deserving students to pursue their academic dreams and contribute to the nation’s growth. The detailed application process, eligibility criteria, and course coverage ensure that the scholarships are awarded to the most deserving candidates, making PMSS a beacon of hope for many across India.
Additional details are available on the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) website and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) website. For any queries or support, use the helplines provided on these websites.