Latest news with #CSSS
Indian Express
30-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Former JNU professor Nandu Ram, pioneering sociologist who brought Dalit studies to mainstream, passes away
'A simple man', 'gentle in manner': this is how family, friends and colleagues remember Professor Nandu Ram, a pioneering sociologist who is hailed for helping bring Dalit perspectives to the heart of Indian academia. In a career spanning more than four decades, Professor Ram is credited with reshaping the field of Indian sociology. He was among the first to rigorously explore the social, political, and economic dynamics of caste in modern India, from lived experience. He died on July 13 at the age of 78. His son, Siddharth (46), who lived with him in West Delhi's Dwarka, said the death was caused by a heart attack following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. 'He loved to write,' Siddharth said. '… and through his writing, he wanted to uplift people from the Dalit community.' Despite holding senior academic positions, Professor Ram lived with remarkable modesty. 'He never bought a car. He always walked…,' Siddharth recalled. 'Even if his own pockets were empty, he would help others.' Born on July 28, 1946, in Marhia village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, Professor Ram came from a family of labourers. His parents, Janaki Devi and Pattu Ram, ensured he could study even when such aspirations were rare. 'He grew up in a basti outside the main village,' Siddharth said. 'He had seen segregation firsthand.' Professor Ram excelled early, topping his district in high school and later moving to Varanasi for his higher secondary education. At Queen's College, he was often mocked for being a 'villager,' but he remained undeterred. He earned his MA from Banaras Hindu University and completed a PhD in Sociology from IIT Kanpur in 1976, where he also taught for several years. In 1978, he joined the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he would go on to teach, mentor, and lead for more than three decades. He served as the Chairperson of the CSSS from 1999 to 2001, and later as the first Dalit Dean of the School of Social Sciences. In 1995, he was appointed the founding Ambedkar Chair Professor in Sociology at JNU. He was instrumental in creating the Ambedkar Chair and became the first Ambedkar Chair professor. Between 2001 and 2004, he also served as Director General of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Institute of Social Sciences in Madhya Pradesh. As a researcher, his work was foundational. His 1988 book — 'The Mobile Scheduled Castes: Rise of a New Middle Class' — gave scholars a new lens to examine social mobility. His five-volume 'Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Castes' (2007–2011) remains a landmark in the field. 'Beyond Ambedkar' (1995) pushed the boundaries of Dalit political thought. 'He taught us sociology that spoke from the bottom,' said Maithrayee Chaudhuri, who was among his first students and later a colleague at JNU. 'Over the decades, he built a generation of scholars who created a distinct body of knowledge on marginalised communities. He was a lone voice back then — and it was not easy.' Even as his influence grew, he stayed clear of campus politics and public grandstanding. 'He was never into sloganeering,' said Anand Kumar, another long-time colleague. 'He never wore his Ambedkarite identity on his sleeve. He respected people regardless of caste or class, and that's why people respected him.' In 2017, the Indian Sociological Society honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The JNU Teachers' Association describes him as 'quiet but firm,' 'gentle in manner,' and 'a person who shall be remembered fondly by colleagues, students, and the academic community worldwide.' His personal life was marked by joy and tragedy. He raised four children and lost his first wife — Siddharth's mother, Rajvanti Devi — suddenly in 1989 to a brain haemorrhage. 'It felt like an entire household crashed,' Siddharth said. 'She was his connection to the village. After her, he was deeply depressed for a long time.' Despite his declining health in recent years, worsened by the Covid pandemic, Professor Ram remained mentally alert, continuing to mentor and read, according to his family. 'His muscles wasted away…,' Siddharth said. 'Eventually, he caught an infection and had a heart attack.' One of his most cherished memories of his father takes Siddharth back to the quiet days at JNU in the 1980s. 'I was about 10 or 11. Papa would take me to the SSS-I canteen and buy me a samosa with chutney. I would be adamant about going there every day as a child, and he would take me along,' he said. 'I used to draw cartoons of his colleagues and hand them out.' It was a simple ritual, samosas, sketches and sociology— but it captured the essence of an academician who lived quietly, taught deeply, and carried his ideals until his last day. Apart from Siddharth, Professor Ram is survived by three other children. 'Yesterday was Papa's birthday. Had he been alive, he would've turned 79,' Siddharth said.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
CBSE invites applications for CSSS for college, university students
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has started the online application process for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) for College and University Students. The scholarship for the academic year 2025-26 and 1st renewal for the year 2024, 2nd renewal for the year 2023, 3rd renewal for the year 2022 and the 4th renewal for the year 2021 are available on the National Scholarship Portal. Students who want to renew or file a fresh application for the scholarship have to visit The NSP comes under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. The last date for submission of the online application form for renewal and fresh scholarship is July 31. All the candidates are advised to apply online within the deadline mentioned in the notification. Candidates will also need to verify their online applications with the respective institutions and also show the original required documents; otherwise, their application will be considered invalid. Students will have to register themselves using a time registration number (OTR), password, and a Captcha code. Using the OTR way, details of the student, like photography and demographics, will be fetched automatically. In case of any changes, students will have to update their Aadhaar card. These changes will be reflected in the student's OTR profile through fresh eKYC. After updating, the details in the NSP OTR will be reflected in the NSP application form automatically. — Students will have to register their mobile number and mention the OTP received on the registered mobile number. — Any wrong or false information can result in rejection of the scholarships. — Students, parents or legal guardians are advised to submit their active mobile number and e-mail address in the OTR registration form. All correspondence and communication from the authority will be done on the submitted mobile/e-mail only. All the respective modal officers of the institutes are requested by the NPS officials for a timely verification (defection or rejection) of the online applications at their institute login.
NDTV
28-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
CBSE Invites Applications For Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship, Check Details
The application window for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) for the academic year 2025-26 is now open. Eligible students can apply for fresh scholarships as well as renewals for previous years through the National Scholarship Portal at According to the notification issued by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, the scholarship application process includes: Fresh applications for 2025-26 1st renewal for 2024-25 2nd renewal for 2023-24 3rd renewal for 2022-23 4th renewal for 2021-22 The deadline for both fresh and renewal applications is October 31, 2025. Students are advised to submit their online applications well before the deadline. Where required, original documents must be presented to the respective institutions for verification. Applications not verified by the institutions will be considered invalid. Institutional Nodal Officers have also been requested to verify, mark defects, or reject applications through their respective login portals in a timely manner to ensure smooth processing. For further details and to apply, visit the official National Scholarship Portal.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2025: CBSE asks students to apply by 31 October
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship 2025. (AI Image) Central Sector Scholarship 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a public notice inviting applications from eligible students for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) for the academic year 2025–26. The scholarship is sponsored by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and aims to support meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in pursuing higher education. The online application process is now open on the National Scholarship Portal ( Students seeking fresh applications or renewals for 1st year (2024), 2nd year (2023), 3rd year (2022), and 4th year (2021) are encouraged to submit their applications online. The last date to apply for both fresh and renewal scholarships is October 31, 2025. Scholarship aims to support students in higher education The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to deserving students to help meet part of their daily expenses during their graduation and postgraduation studies. Under this scheme, selected undergraduate students receive Rs 12,000 per annum for the first three years, while postgraduate students are awarded Rs 20,000 per annum. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3.5, 4.5 BHK Homes starting at ₹4.89 Cr.* Hero Homes Learn More Undo Read the official notice here CBSE has asked all students affiliated with its institutions to apply through the National Scholarship Portal within the stipulated deadline. The board emphasised that all applications must be verified by the respective institutions. In cases where verification is required, students must present their original documents to their institute authorities. Institutional verification is mandatory The board has also issued a directive to the Nodal Officers of respective institutions to ensure timely verification of applications. Officers are expected to verify, flag defects, or reject applications as necessary via their institute login on the portal. Failure to complete this process may result in applications being marked as invalid. "All the candidates are advised to apply online within the stipulated time and get their online applications verified by the institutions (if required show the original documents to institute), else the application would be treated as INVALID," CBSE stated in its official notice. Application process available only through online portal To apply, students must visit and complete the online application process. It is crucial that both fresh applicants and those seeking renewal follow the specified procedure carefully to avoid rejection. Students and institutions are advised to adhere strictly to deadlines and verification requirements to ensure the successful processing of scholarship applications under the CSSS scheme. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
NDTV
28-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Applications Invited For Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship, Check Deadline
The application window for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) for the academic year 2025-26 is now open. Eligible students can apply for fresh scholarships as well as renewals for previous years through the National Scholarship Portal at According to the notification issued by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, the scholarship application process includes: Fresh applications for 2025-26 1st renewal for 2024-25 2nd renewal for 2023-24 3rd renewal for 2022-23 4th renewal for 2021-22 The deadline for both fresh and renewal applications is October 31, 2025. Students are advised to submit their online applications well before the deadline. Where required, original documents must be presented to the respective institutions for verification. Applications not verified by the institutions will be considered invalid. Institutional Nodal Officers have also been requested to verify, mark defects, or reject applications through their respective login portals in a timely manner to ensure smooth processing. For further details and to apply, visit the official National Scholarship Portal.
