Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP Yojana)

Special Scholarship Scheme for Students of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Category: Education | Financial Support | Scholorships

Table of Contents

Status: Active
Mode: Online Application

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

Overview

The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP) is a flagship scholarship initiative introduced by the Government of India to financially support deserving students from the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The scheme is specifically designed to help students pursue higher education outside their home UTs, thereby expanding academic exposure, skills, and career opportunities.

Background of the Scheme

On 18 August 2010, the Prime Minister constituted a high-level Expert Committee to identify strategies for improving employment prospects among youth from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. One of the committee’s major recommendations was the introduction of a large-scale scholarship program to encourage students to study in reputed institutions across India.

As a result, the Government launched a plan to offer 5,000 new scholarships every year, focusing on human resource development through better access to quality education. This initiative forms the foundation of the PM-USP Scholarship Scheme.

Objective of the Scholarship |Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

The primary aim of the scheme is to remove financial barriers that prevent students from J&K and Ladakh from accessing higher education outside their regions.

The scholarship provides:

Academic fee support (tuition and other approved institutional charges)
Maintenance allowance to cover hostel fees, mess charges, books, stationery, and daily essentials

Beyond financial aid, the scheme also seeks to:

Enhance employability and professional skills
Promote national integration through cultural and linguistic exposure
Strengthen the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”

The scheme was first introduced in 2011 and has been periodically updated to ensure it remains student-centric and inclusive.

Scope of the Scheme|Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

Each academic year, 5,000 fresh scholarships are offered under PM-USP. These are distributed across different academic streams as follows:

General Degree Courses: 2,070 scholarships (fixed)
Professional / Engineering Courses: 2,830 scholarships (flexible)
Medical Courses: 100 scholarships (flexible)

The allocation for engineering and medical streams may vary depending on availability and unused seats from the general category, while staying within the overall annual limit.

Scholarship Benefits |Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

1. General Degree Courses

Scholarships Available: 2,070
Maximum Academic Fee Covered: ₹30,000 per year
Maintenance Allowance: ₹1,00,000 per year

2. Professional / Engineering / Nursing / Pharmacy / Architecture / HMCT

Scholarships Available: Up to 2,830
Maximum Academic Fee Covered: ₹1,25,000 per year
Maintenance Allowance: ₹1,00,000 per year

(Architecture courses are subject to NATA qualification)

3. Medical / BDS and Equivalent Courses

Scholarships Available: Up to 100
Maximum Academic Fee Covered: ₹3,00,000 per year
Maintenance Allowance: ₹1,00,000 per year

(Admission subject to NEET, wherever applicable)

Maintenance Allowance Details

Paid in 10 equal monthly installments of ₹10,000
Covers hostel, mess, books, stationery, and incidental expenses
From academic session 2024–25 onwards, payments are made through the NSP portal

Scholarship Disbursement Process

Tuition fees are paid directly to the institution, based on approved rates set by relevant fee regulatory authorities
The payable fee will not exceed the prescribed ceiling, even if the institution charges more
Any excess amount beyond the ceiling cannot be charged from students
Maintenance allowance is transferred directly to the student’s bank account via PFMS through NSP

Duration and Renewal ofPradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana Scholarship

The scholarship is renewed annually based on:
- Satisfactory academic progress
- Good conduct
- Required attendance
If a student fails once, the scholarship may continue
Failure for a second consecutive year leads to permanent cancellation
In case of illness or unforeseen circumstances, renewal may be allowed upon submission of valid medical proof
No student can receive the scholarship twice for the same academic year

Eligibility Criteria|Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

Permanent domicile of Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh
Passed Class 12 from JKBOSE or CBSE-affiliated schools located in J&K or Ladakh
Annual family income not exceeding ₹8,00,000
Lateral entry applicants must hold a recognized Polytechnic Diploma from UT institutions
Mandatory online application through the AICTE portal
Successful document verification at authorized Facilitation Centres

Who Is Not Eligible (Exclusions)|Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

The following categories are not covered under the scheme:

Students enrolled through Open Universities
Beneficiaries of any other Central/State/UT scholarship
Admissions under Management Quota
Diploma-only or Postgraduate students
Applicants with family income above ₹8 lakh per annum
Students not registered on the AICTE portal
Admissions through agents or NGOs
Enrollment in institutions not listed on the AICTE portal

Documents Required|Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

Domicile certificate (J&K / Ladakh)
Class 10 & 12 mark sheets
Polytechnic diploma (if applicable)
Income certificate
Caste certificate (for reserved categories)
Disability certificate (for PwD candidates)
College joining report
Recent photograph
Aadhaar card

Application Process|Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

For Class 12 & Lateral Entry Students

Official notification release
One-Time Registration and submit application on NSP & SSSJKL portal
Document verification at Facilitation Centre
Choice filling by candidates
Merit list publication
AICTE online counseling (multiple rounds)
Grievance handling
Physical reporting to allotted institute
NSP application submission
Verification by institute & AICTE
Scholarship disbursement

For Medical & Own-Mode Students|Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana

Notification by AICTE
Registration on NSP portal for OTR registration & application submission by the candidate in SSSJKL portal.
Document verification
Merit list announcement
Grievance redressal through AICTE Centralized Support System.
Participation in national counseling (NEET/JEE/CUET, etc.)
Reporting to allotted institution
Upload admission documents
Institute approval & joining report
10 – Registration on NSP portal using SSSJKL candidate id for NSP Application id.
Scholarship release

1. Is attending online counselling mandatory to get benefits under SSSJKL?

Yes. To receive benefits under the SSSJKL scheme, students must participate in the online counselling process or take admission on their own, as per the methodology available on the AICTE website.
For General, Professional, and Engineering courses, online counselling is mandatory.
For Medical courses, students must participate in NEET counselling.
For B.Sc. Nursing, qualifying NEET is mandatory wherever applicable.

2. I have submitted my online application for the SSSJKL scholarship. Can I edit it later?

No, candidates cannot edit the application on their own after submission.
However, the officer at the Facilitation Centre can make corrections only after verifying original documents submitted in support of the requested changes.

3. I am eligible for the SSSJKL scholarship. How can I apply?

Eligible candidates must apply online through the AICTE website by following these steps:

Step 1: Visit the AICTE website at https://www.aicte-india.org/bureaus/jk
Step 2: Click on the SSSJKL tab on the homepage
Step 3: Register yourself and complete the online application by following the instructions provided on the website

4. What should be the format and size of the photo and signature to upload?

Both the photograph and signature must be uploaded in JPG, PNG, or PDF format.
Each file should be less than 2 MB in size.

5. Do I need to submit separate applications for General and Engineering courses?

No. If you wish to apply for both General and Engineering streams, simply select “Both” from the dropdown menu under the “Stream applied for” option.
Only one application form is required.

6. I have filled and submitted my application. What should I do next?

After submitting the application:

Take a printout of the filled application form
Visit the nearest Facilitation Centre
Carry all original documents along with one set of self-attested photocopies for verification

The list of required documents and centres is available on the AICTE website.

7. Which Facilitation Centre should I visit for document verification?

You can visit any nearby Facilitation Centre established by the Government of UTs of Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh, as per your convenience.
After document verification, the choice filling option will be opened.
The list of Facilitation Centres is available on the AICTE website.

8. Do I need to collect any document after verification at the Facilitation Centre?

Yes. After verification, you must collect the Document Verification Report (Student Copy) from the Facilitation Centre.
This document is important and should be kept safely.

9. Do I need to submit original documents at the Facilitation Centre?

No. Original documents are not submitted at the centre.
You only need to show the original documents to the Nodal Officer for verification.
Self-attested photocopies are retained by the centre.

10. Is there any helpline number, email, or grievance system for SSSJKL queries?

Yes. For any queries related to SSSJKL, you can:

Call: 011-29581043 / 07 / 51 / 10 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM)
Email: pmsss_cell@aicte-india.org
Register grievances directly through your login on the AICTE portal

11. I am facing technical issues while registering for SSSJKL. What should I do?

If you face any technical problems during registration, you should submit your issue through the AICTE Grievance Portal at:
https://css.aicte.gov.in/login

12. I have completed a Diploma in Engineering. Can I apply under SSSJKL?

Yes. Candidates who have completed a Diploma in Engineering from polytechnics recognized by the Directorate of Technical Education of UTs of Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh are eligible.
Admission will be under the Lateral Entry Scheme, subject to the availability of vacant seats from the previous academic year in the Engineering stream only.

13. If I get admission in IIT/NIT/Institutes of National Importance on my own, am I eligible for the SSSJKL scholarship?

Yes. Students who qualify central government entrance exams such as NEET or JEE are eligible for the scholarship, provided they have registered under the SSSJKL scheme.
Document verification at the nearest Facilitation Centre is mandatory.

14. I want to study Architecture without participating in SSSJKL counselling. Am I eligible?

Yes. Students pursuing Architecture courses must qualify the NATA examination and register under the SSSJKL scheme.
Document verification at a Facilitation Centre is required.

15. I took admission under Management Quota. Am I eligible for SSSJKL?

No. Candidates who take admission under Management Quota or through agents or NGOs are not eligible for the SSSJKL scholarship.

16. When and how should I upload my joining report?

After freezing your seat, you must immediately report to the allotted college and upload the joining report through the SSSJKL Institute Portal within the specified time.
You must also complete the admission process as per the institute or university rules.

17. Where can I find the details of my Nodal Officer?

You can find the details of your Nodal Officer:

In the Welcome Letter issued by the institute, or
By logging into your SSSJKL account

18. What is the duration of the scholarship for different courses?

The scholarship duration depends on the course type:

General Degree courses: 3 years
Professional courses: 4 years
Medical courses: 4.5 years

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP Yojana)| J&K