Scholarships under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) scheme increased by 31.64% across India between 2020-21 and 2024-25, according to data shared by the Ministry of Education in Parliament. However, the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh witnessed a 10.9% decline during the same period. The information was provided by Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar in response to a question in the Lok Sabha regarding the status of education loans, scholarships and financial support schemes for students.
PM-USP Scholarship Growth Across India
The PM-USP scheme supports college and university students through financial assistance and interest subsidies for education loans. Government data indicates that the number of scholarships distributed under the central sector component of the programme has grown significantly in recent years. The scholarship numbers over the last five years are as follows:
- 2020-21: 1,55,007 scholarships
- 2021-22: 1,77,615 scholarships
- 2022-23: 1,80,075 scholarships
- 2023-24: 1,69,790 scholarships
- 2024-25: 2,04,049 scholarships
Overall, this represents a 31.64% increase in scholarship disbursements during the five-year period.
Decline in Scholarships for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Despite the overall national increase, the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recorded a drop in the number of beneficiaries. The scholarship distribution figures for these regions show the following trend:
- 2020-21: 12,573 scholarships
- 2021-22: 13,253 scholarships
- 2022-23: 14,389 scholarships
- 2023-24: 11,887 scholarships
- 2024-25: 11,212 scholarships
This indicates a 10.9% decline over five years, even though the total budget allocated for the scheme increased by about 12.42% during the same period.
Trends in Education Loan Support Schemes
The ministry also presented data related to education loan assistance programmes linked to the PM-USP framework. While claims under the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS) fell by 10.5% between 2020-21 and 2024-25, the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans recorded significant growth. Key highlights include:
- Interest subsidy claims: Declined by 10.5%
- Credit guarantee cases: Increased by 143.6% during the same period
These schemes operate alongside the PM Vidyalaxmi initiative, which provides collateral-free education loans and interest support for meritorious students pursuing higher education.
States With Highest Scholarship Disbursements
The data also highlighted differences in scholarship distribution among states. Bihar recorded the highest number of scholarships under the central sector component in 2024-25, followed by Karnataka. For example:
- Bihar: 55,255 scholarships worth INR 66.97 crore
- Karnataka: 16,877 scholarships in 2024-25
The figures reflect regional variations in participation and access to higher education support schemes across India. Officials indicated that the government continues to review scholarship and education loan programmes to expand financial support for students pursuing higher education across the country.