“Our Government’s first decision dedicated to those who protect India,” tweeted Narendra Modi
In the very first decision, Modi in his second tenure approved a major change in the ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme’ under the National Defence Fund (NDF). It has enhanced the amount to be paid as the part of scheme.
- The scheme has also been extended to the wards of state police personnel who were martyred during terror/naxal attacks. The quota of these new scholarships will be 500 in a year.
- The rates of scholarship have been increased from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 2,500 per month for boys and from Rs 2,250 per month to Rs 3,000 per month for girls.
- It is being implemented to encourage technical and post-graduate education for widows and wards of the deceased or ex-service personnel of armed forces and paramilitary forces and Railway Protection Force.
- However, NDF was set up in 1962 to take charge of the voluntary donations in cash and kind received for promotion of the national defence effort, and to decide on their utilization.
