PM YASASVI: Scholarships Enabling Disadvantaged Students’ Quality Education

PM YASASVI Scheme

The purpose of the PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (YASASVI) is to provide scholarships to Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Class (EBC) and Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes De-notified Tribe (DNT) students for their continued education. Under this scheme, scholarships are awarded at two levels – for students studying in Class 9 and for students studying in Class 11.

In order to select candidates for these scholarships, a written entrance examination known as the YASASVI Entrance Test (YET) is conducted annually by NTA. The transparent, standardized YET test aims to assess students across various subjects and award scholarships ranging from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1,25,000 per year to the most meritorious OBC/EBC/DNT students.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an independent and autonomous organization established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India to conduct efficient, transparent and international standard tests.

Component of PM YASASVI Scheme

The PM YASASVI scholarship scheme includes five components:

1. Pre-Matric Scholarships: These scholarships worth Rs. 4000 per annum are provided to OBC/EBC/DNT students studying in Classes 9 and 10 in government schools only, with an annual family income up to Rs. 2,50,000.
2. Post-Matric Scholarships: Students pursuing education after Class 10 can avail scholarships ranging from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 20,000 per annum depending on their program, subject to meeting the income criteria of Rs. 2,50,000 per family per year.
3. Top Class School Education: Under this component, OBC/EBC/DNT students from Classes 9-12 with family income below Rs. 2,50,000 per annum can receive scholarships covering tuition fees, hostel expenses etc. worth Rs. 75,000-1,25,000 per year to study in premium schools.
4. Top Class College Education: Meritorious students admitted to designated institutions can receive scholarships covering full tuition fees, living expenses, books/devices etc. ranging from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3.72 lakh per year for completing professional courses.
5. Construction of Hostels for OBC: This component of the scheme provides hostel/residential facilities to OBC students near schools/colleges to enable them access quality education. Grants are provided to states/UTs by the Ministry for Hostel construction under the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria of PM YASASVI

To be eligible to apply for the PM YASASVI scholarship entrance test, students need to fulfill certain criteria:

1. They must be permanent residents of India.
2. They must belong to the defined categories – Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC) or Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes De-notified Tribe (DNT).
3. Educational qualification required is – Class 8 pass for applying to Class 9 scholarships and Class 10 pass for Class 11 scholarships.
4. Annual family income should be less than Rs 2.5 lakhs from all sources. This income limit is applicable for all components across both school and higher education scholarships.
5. The scheme is open to students of all genders.

The eligibility norms on residency, social & economic backwardness, academic merit and income level thus aim to facilitate continued, quality education of disadvantaged students through standardized selection based on the YASASVI entrance test performance.

Objective of the PM YASASVI Scheme

The broad aim of the PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (YASASVI) is to provide need-based scholarships and financial assistance to meritorious students belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged sections.

Specifically, the scheme intends to enable continued education of high performing Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC) and Nomadic/Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) students by supporting them academically and financially from Class 9 till the completion of their higher education. The various components under PM YASASVI spanning pre-matric, post-matric, professional degree courses, residential expenses and premium institutions collectively aim to aid these students in pursuing quality education.

By eliminating financial barriers through structured scholarships at multiple levels, the scheme thus seeks to tap the potential of disadvantaged communities for vibrant and inclusive national progress.

Benefits for Students

Students from economically disadvantaged OBC/EBC/DNT categories selected under the PM YASASVI Scheme receive significant financial assistance in the form of scholarships to enable their continued quality education. Those qualifying in Class 9 receive Rs 75,000 per annum while students selected in Class 11 receive Rs 1,25,000 per year during their school education.

Further, the standardized YASASVI entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency ensures transparent, non-discriminatory selection of the most meritorious students for award of scholarships. The computer-based test format, internationally benchmarked examination design and scholarship award process thus make PM YASASVI Scheme advantageous for deserving students at critical academic stages.

The scheme thereby provides both direct academic support and fair, unbiased growth opportunities to talented youth from disadvantaged sections.