The State Government has initiated steps to implement a new scheme, Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana (MMSPY) very soon.
 
Principal Secretary Higher Education Bishnupada Sethi has taken an initiative in this regard, said sources in Department of Higher Education.
 
Existing three types of scholarships given to the students for pursuing higher studies, such as e-Medhabruti, Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Medha Bhasabruti and Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana, will be brought under one umbrella, that is the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana.
 
Under the e-Medhabruti component, the Higher Education Department is going to enhance the number of students to be covered under the scholarship and the amount also, official sources said here on Monday.
 
According to the sources, the scholarship amount for meritorious UG students under e-Medhabruti will be enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per year. In total, now, a selected student will get Rs 30,000 while earlier they were receiving Rs 15,000. Similarly, the number of beneficiaries will also be doubled from existing 5,000 students.
 
For two-year PG students, the scholarship amount will be enhanced from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per year. The number of beneficiaries will also be increased from 3,500 to 5,000 each year.
 
The scholarship money for technical and professional students have also been proposed to be doubled from existing Rs 10,000 per year. The students will get the scholarship each year till completion of duration of his/her course.
 
As per existing norms, the e-Medhabruti scholarship is being provided to 3,500 students for UG courses and 2,500 students for PG courses. It was proposed to extend the scholarship coverage to 10,000 UG and PG students, who are doing technical and professional courses, the sources said.
 
However, there will be no change in the modality set for Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Medha Bhasabruti and Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana. The Government is distributing one-time Rs 20,000 to 1,200 UG students and 300 PG students as Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Medha Bhasabruti. Similarly, the beneficiaries of Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana are also receiving Rs 20,000 each year till completion of the course.
 
Moreover, to include more eligible students under the scholarship scheme, the Government has also decided to enhance the income of parents of the students from 6 lakh to 8 lakh per annum.
 
Unlike before, from the coming Academic Session i.e. 2023-24, the scholarships will be sanctioned annually. In every academic session, the scholarships shall be renewed at the institute and department level.
 
Eligible students including outside students (residents of Odisha but studying outside Odisha) are required to apply online for scholarship by visiting the portal https://scholarship.odisha.gov.in/.

The Finance Minister has made an outlay of Rs 811 crore under the scheme for disbursement of scholarship to more than 23 lakh students of which 60% are girls.