Scholarship disbursements for college and university students nationwide under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme increased by 31.64% between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 academic years. This data was shared in the Lok Sabha on Monday by Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar.
During the same five-year period, scholarships under the scheme’s Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh saw a 10.9% decrease. The minister provided this information in a written response.
The data also revealed a 10.5% drop in claims for the PM-USP Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme from 2020-21 to 2024-25. In contrast, the PM-USP Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans experienced a significant 143.6% rise in issued guarantees over the same timeframe.
These schemes fall under the PM Vidyalaxmi initiative. This program offers education loans with a 3% interest rate to students meeting academic merit and with annual family incomes up to Rs 8 lakh.
CPI-M MP Raja Ram Singh, representing the Karakat constituency in Bihar, raised the question leading to this disclosure.
PM-USP Scholarship Data Highlights
Bihar led the nation in scholarship disbursements. The state received 55,255 scholarships worth Rs 66.979 crore under the PM-USP Central Sector Scheme for the 2024-25 academic year. Karnataka followed with 16,877 scholarships, totaling Rs 20 lakh disbursed in 2024-25.
While scholarship numbers declined in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the total budget disbursed to these regions increased by 12.42% from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
Kerala processed the highest number of claims for the PM-USP Central Sector Interest Subsidy scheme. It recorded 72,248 claims in 2024-25. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu followed with over 67,259 and 57,275 claims settled, respectively.
PM-USP Scheme Statistics (2020-21 to 2024-25)
| Scheme | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of scholarships disbursed (PM-USP Central Sector Scheme for College and University Students) | 2,04,049 | 1,69,790 | 1,80,075 | 1,77,615 | 1,55,007 |
| Number of claims settled (PM-USP Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme) | 3,45,150 | 3,07,070 | 2,85,014 | 2,88,542 | 3,85,535 |
| Number of guarantees issued (PM-USP Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans) | 1,95,293 | 1,79,983 | 1,59,087 | 1,01,785 | 80,162 |
| Disbursement of Academic Scholarship (PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K & Ladakh) | 11,212 | 11,887 | 14,389 | 13,253 | 12,573 |