PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme: to provide financial support to meritorious students

PM Vidyalaxmi: A Central Sector Scheme for Meritorious Students

Introduction

• PM Vidyalaxmi, a Central Sector scheme, is approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
• The scheme aims to provide financial support to meritorious students, ensuring they can pursue higher studies.

Eligibility

• Students who enter 860 top Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs) will be eligible for tuition fee and course-related charge loans, collateral-free and guarantor-free.
• The scheme will be opened up for the best QHEIs of the country as ranked by NIRF.
• The scheme is applicable to top-quality higher educational institutions as determined by the National Education Rankings (NIRF).
• Students with an annual family income of up to ₹8 lakhs and not eligible for benefits under any other government scholarship or interest subvention schemes will receive a 3% interest subvention for loans up to ₹10 lakh during the moratorium period.

Loan Features

• Collateral-free and guarantor-free loans to cover tuition fees and course-related expenses.
• Credit guarantee of 75 percent for loans of ₹7.5 lakhs and below.
• 3 percent interest subvention for loans up to ₹10 lakh during the moratorium period.

Implementation

• The scheme will be administered through a transparent, student-friendly, and inter-operable system.
• The Department of Higher Education will have a unified portal for applying for education loans and interest subventions.

Policy Alignment

• The scheme is a key initiative from the National Education Policy, 2020, which recommends financial assistance for meritorious students in both public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Supplementary Initiatives

• PM Vidyalaxmi will supplement the Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL), two component schemes of PM-USP.