Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved changes to the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for wards of deceased defence personnel under the National Defence Fund — his first decision on assuming office, a statement from the PMO said on Friday.
This was “in line with the Prime Minister’s vision for India’s safety, security and the well-being of those who protect the nation...,” the PMO statement read.
Police too covered
Mr. Modi approved the increase from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 a month for boys and from ₹2,250 to ₹3,000 a month for girls.
The ambit of the scheme was widened to cover the wards of State police officials martyred in terror or Naxal attacks.
The scheme is meant to encourage technical and postgraduate education for widows and wards of deceased personnel of the armed forces, the paramilitary forces and the Railway Protection Force, the PMO statement said. The National Defence Fund is administered by an executive committee that has the Prime Minister as the chairperson and the Defence, Finance and Home Ministers as members.
Under the scheme, new scholarships are given to 5,500 wards of armed forces personnel, 2,000 wards of paramilitary forces personnel and 150 wards of forces under the Railways Ministry every year.
