Latest news with #States
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
No plan to scrap post-matric scholarship for ST/SC students: Centre
The Centre has said there is no proposal to discontinue the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme for Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste students. There have been concerns about whether the scheme will continue beyond 2025-26. Also Read | Pre-matric scholarship for minority students was discontinued based on 'cogent reasons': Minister In a written response in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said the objective of the scheme is to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of SC and ST students in higher education and that there is no plan to scrap the scheme. Both schemes are currently being implemented with funding and eligibility parameters approved by the Cabinet and Expenditure Finance Committee, which remain valid from financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Centre-State funding patterns differ for SC and ST students. For SC students, the cost-sharing ratio is 60:40 between the Centre and the States, except for the North-Eastern States, where it is 90:10. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment releases the central share directly to students' Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), but only after the State has disbursed its 40% share. For ST students, the fund-sharing ratio stands at 75:25 between the Centre and the States. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs releases 75 per cent of the amount to State governments or Union Territories, which then contribute the remaining 25% and transfer the full amount to students via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in a single instalment.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Education Minister reports 87.14 lakh dip in govt school enrolment, defends data changes as cause
NEW DELHI: Enrolment in government schools across the country in 2023-24 dipped by 87.14 lakh as compared to the previous academic year, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Minister added that there was no need to read too much into the drop in figures as there has been a complete change in the manner of collection of data from 2022-23, making comparison of data from previous years 'statistically different/inchoate'. Replying to a question from MPs Sougata Ray and Kishori Lal regarding 'Drop In enrolment in government schools, Pradhan also highlighted the schemes initiated to reduce the dropout rate. The Minister said financial assistance provided to States/UTs for the year 2024-25, central release under Samagra Shiksha stood at Rs 34,45,820.90 lakh. Pradhan claimed that it may not be justified to compare dropout rate data from previous years, as there has been a complete change in the manner of collection of data from 2022-23 onwards, from gross enrolment data to individual student data. "It makes comparison of data from previous years statistically different/inchoate," said the Minister in his reply, adding that based on the recommendations of National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), with effect from 2022-23 the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) system has been revitalised, to capture individual student wise data and created student's registry. He said the UDISE+ system, to records data on indicators of school education provided by all the States and Union Territories, has been developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education. The data presented by the Minister indicated that in the National Capital Delhi, the enrolment in government schools in 2023-24 stood at 25,71,404 as compared to 27,76,216 in 2022-23 - a drop of over 2.04 lakh. In Karnataka, the enrolment in government schools in 2023-24 stood at 49,85,661 as compared to 53,27,221 in 2022-23 - a drop of over 3.41 lakh. In Kerala, the enrolment in government schools in 2023-24 stood at 18,01,570 as compared to 18,54,934 in 2022-23 - a fall of 53,364. In Punjab, the drop in enrolment in government schools in the 2023-24 academic year as compared to the previous year was 78,955; in Tamil Nadu, it was 2.01 lakh, in Maharashtra, it was 1.55 lakh, and in Himachal Pradesh, it was 40,213. While highlighting steps taken to check the dropout rate, Pradhan said, "Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution, and the majority of the schools are under the domain of respective state and UT governments. Central government assists States and UTs through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha and Mid Day Meal provided from Balvatika to class 8 under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Yojna." Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SC seeks Centre, States responses on Presidential reference on timeline for assent to state bills
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response of the Centre and all States on a Presidential reference whether timelines could be imposed for dealing with bills passed by assembly. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai sought the responses of the Centre and the States by next Tuesday, observing the issue concerns not only one state but the entire country. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Technology Data Science Cybersecurity Product Management MCA Data Analytics Leadership Healthcare MBA Degree others Project Management healthcare PGDM Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Finance Design Thinking Others CXO Public Policy Data Science Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details The bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar said it will fix the schedule for hearing on July 29 and plans to start the hearing by mid-August. In May, President Droupadi Murmu exercised her powers under Article 143(1) and posed 14 crucial questions to the Supreme Court over its April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for governors and the President to act on bills passed by state assemblies. Article 143 (1) of the Constitution deals with the power of President to consult the Supreme Court "if at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon". Live Events The April 8 verdict, which was passed in a matter over the powers of the governor in dealing with bills questioned by the Tamil Nadu government , for the first time prescribed that the President should decide on the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor within three months from the date on which such reference is received. In a five-page reference, President Murmu posed questions to the Supreme Court and sought to know its opinion on the powers of governors and the President under Articles 200 and 201 in dealing with bills passed by the state legislature.
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Enrolment in govt schools dipped by 87.14 lakh in 2023-24: Union Education Minister
New Delhi: Enrolment in government schools across the country in 2023-24 dipped by 87.14 lakh as compared to the previous academic year, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Minister added that there was no need to read too much into the drop in figures as there has been a complete change in the manner of collection of data from 2022-23, making comparison of data from previous years 'statistically different/inchoate'. Replying to a question from MPs Sougata Ray and Kishori Lal regarding 'Drop In enrolment in government schools, Pradhan also highlighted the schemes initiated to reduce the dropout rate. The Minister said financial assistance provided to States/UTs for the year 2024-25, central release under Samagra Shiksha stood at Rs 34,45,820.90 lakh. Pradhan claimed that it may not be justified to compare dropout rate data from previous years, as there has been a complete change in the manner of collection of data from 2022-23 onwards, from gross enrolment data to individual student data. 'It makes comparison of data from previous years statistically different/inchoate,' said the Minister in his reply, adding that based on the recommendations of National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), with effect from 2022-23 the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) system has been revitalised, to capture individual student wise data and created student's registry. He said the UDISE+ system, to records data on indicators of school education provided by all the States and Union Territories, has been developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education.
Hans India
20 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
PM POSHAN Scheme covers about 11 cr kids in over 10.35 lakh schools: Centre
New Delhi:The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme, earlier known as the mid-day meal scheme, covers about 11 crore children in more than 10.35 lakh schools across India, said Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament on Monday. PM POSHAN scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented in partnership with the States and UTs for providing one hot cooked and nutritious meal to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class I) and classes I to VIII of government and government-aided schools. It aims to provide nutritional support and enhance the school participation of students. 'The scheme serves 29,22,160 students studying in Balvatika; 6,58,16,610 students in classes I to V; and 4,12,07,772 students in classes VI-VIII,' said Pradhan, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. 'The Budget Estimates of the Scheme are about Rs 12,500 crore, and 100 per cent foodgrains to the tune of 26 lakh MTs at an approximate cost of Rs 9,000 crore have been supplied by the Government of India through Food Corporation of India (FCI),' he added. In addition, the Centre in April announced enhancing the 'Material Cost' of the PM POSHAN Scheme by 9.50 per cent. Under the new rates, applicable across all the states/UTs from May 1, the Central government bears the additional cost of approximately Rs 954 crore in FY26. Further, Pradhan also informed that more than 24 lakh Cook-cum-Helpers (CCHs) are engaged under the Scheme. Of these, over 90 per cent are women. 'Under the Scheme, 9.11 lakh (97 per cent) Kitchen-cum-Stores (KCS) have been constructed against the sanctioned 9.41 lakh KCS all over India,' the Union Minister said. The Scheme also grants a provision of 5 per cent of the total recurring budget as the flexi component to be used by the States/UTs as per their requirement. It may be used for setting up School Nutrition Gardens and provision of Supplementary Nutrition interventions viz., chikki, eggs, milk, fruits, and additional food items, etc., in identified districts.
