The Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) is a significant initiative by the Government of India, designed to provide educational opportunities to students from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The J&K Student PM’s Scholarship Scheme, launched in 2011 and managed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), aims to support youth from these regions in pursuing higher education across premier institutes in India.

Eligibility Criteria for PMSSS

To qualify for the PMSSS, applicants must meet several specific requirements:

• Domicile Requirement: Students must be residents of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed the Class 12th examination from JKBOSE or CBSE-affiliated schools within the UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
• Family Income Limit: The applicant’s family income should not exceed ₹8,00,000 per annum.
• Course Eligibility: The scheme primarily covers non-medical courses through AICTE’s counseling process. Admission to professional, engineering, and medical streams must be secured via government or selected private institutions outside J&K and Ladakh.
• The applicant who wants to take admitted under the Lateral Entry Scheme have to pass a Diploma in Engineering from the Polytechnic Institutes recognized by the Directorate of Technical Education(DTE), J&K, and Ladakh.
• The applicants are compulsorily required to apply online on the AICTE web portal.
• Admission under the Lateral Entry Scheme will be subject to allocation of seats / vacant seats of the preceding year in the Engineering Stream only.
• A merit list will be prepared for HSC and Lateral Entry students and the same will be displayed on the AICTE portal for the conduction of online counseling for the final allotment of seats in colleges to eligible candidates subject to choice filling/availability of scholarships.

Distribution of Scholarships Under PMSSS

Every year, 5000 fresh scholarships are offered under PMSSS, divided among different streams as follows:

• General Degree Courses: 2070 scholarships
• Professional/Engineering Courses: 2830 scholarships
• Medical Courses: 100 scholarships

Scholarship Benefits of J&K Student PM’s Scholarship Scheme: Fee Coverage and Maintenance Allowance

PMSSS covers both academic fees and a fixed maintenance allowance to support students throughout their course duration. Here are the details:

Stream	Scholarships	Academic Fee (Max)	Maintenance Allowance
General Degree Courses	2070	₹30,000	₹1,00,000 per annum
Professional/Engineering Courses	2830	₹1,25,000	₹1,00,000 per annum
Medical Courses	100	₹3,00,000	₹1,00,000 per annum

The maintenance allowance is paid directly to the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The disbursement occurs in 10 equal monthly installments.

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Disbursement Process of J&K Student PM’s Scholarship Scheme

The scholarship amount for academic fees is directly transferred to the institution, adhering to the fee limits set by the respective state regulatory authorities. The maximum reimbursable academic fee is:

• ₹30,000 for General Degree Courses
• ₹1,25,000 for Professional/Engineering Courses
• ₹3,00,000 for Medical Courses

Even if the total institutional fee exceeds these ceilings, no additional reimbursement is provided by AICTE, and institutions are barred from charging the excess fee to students. Here under Disbursement of Scholarship:

1. The scholarship towards academic fees will be paid directly to the Institution as per claim or as per rate fixed by the respective State Fee Regulatory Authority or as fixed by any Regulatory Authority appointed by the Government, whichever is less and within the overall ceiling fixed for the course.
2. All the Institutions may note that the upper ceiling of the Academic Fee inclusive of all admissible components taken together is ₹1,25,000/- for the Professional / Engineering Stream; ₹30,000/- for General Stream and ₹3,00,000 for Medical Stream.
3. Even if the total fee of the institute is more than the ceiling, neither AICTE shall reimburse the extra amount nor the institute can charge the same from the students.
4. The fixed maintenance allowance of ₹1,00,000 per annum for all streams will be paid to the bank account of the student through DBT using the PFMS gateway.
5. Maintenance Allowance during the first year will be released in 9 (Nine) installments, the first installment of which will be ₹20,000/ and subsequent 8 monthly installments will be of ₹10,000/- each.
6. From the 2nd year onwards fixed maintenance allowance of ₹1,00,000 per beneficiary will be paid in 10 monthly installments of ₹10,000/- each.
   

Duration and Renewal of Scholarship

PMSSS scholarships are renewed annually based on the following conditions:

1. Academic Performance: The scholarship is renewed only if students meet the required attendance and academic performance set by their institutions.
2. Promotion Requirement: If a student fails to advance to the next academic year, they may still receive the scholarship in the subsequent year. However, failure to progress for two consecutive years will result in the forfeiture of the scholarship.
3. Medical Exceptions: In cases of medical emergencies or unforeseen circumstances preventing students from appearing for exams, renewal may be considered upon submission of valid proof and certification from the institution.

Application Process for PMSSS

The application process for PMSSS is conducted entirely online. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Visit AICTE’s Official Website: Go to AICTE PMSSS Portal.
2. Register for PMSSS: Click on the “PMSSS Registration” tab and fill in the required information.
3. Complete Personal Details: Fill in the candidate’s name, parent’s details, academic information, family income, and entrance exam details (JEE, NEET, or CUET).
4. Document Upload: Submit scanned copies of the necessary documents, such as domicile certificate, income certificate, and previous academic certificates.
5. Final Submission: After uploading the documents, click on “Submit Application” to complete the registration process.

Required Documents for Application for J&K Student PM’s Scholarship Scheme

Students must provide the following documents during the application process:

1. Certificate of domicile of the State of Jammu & Kashmir
2. Certificate of Class 12th and 10th Examination (for candidates who have passed class 12th examination)
3. Polytechnic Diploma Certificate (for Diploma candidates)
4. Income Certificate
5. Students applying under the reserved quota must produce a Caste Certificate (SC/ST/SEBC) issued by the State Government authority.
6. Persons with Disabilities (PwD) must submit Disability Certificate subject to Govt. Norms.
7. Joining report in the allotted college.
8. Bank Details
9. Name and photograph of the applicant
10. AADHAAR Card

J&K Student PM’s Scholarship Scheme : Exclusions from PMSSS

Certain categories of students are ineligible for the PMSSS scholarship:

• Students pursuing courses through Open Universities or distance learning.
• Applicants enrolled through Management Quota.
• Candidates receiving benefits from any other scholarship schemes.
• Students whose family income exceeds ₹8,00,000 annually.
• Students not registered through the AICTE online portal.
• Candidates admitted via agents or NGOs.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is document verification mandatory at a Facilitation Centre?
Yes, students must verify their documents at an official Facilitation Centre to be eligible for the scholarship. Without this, the choice filling option will not be available.

2. Can I edit my submitted application?
Yes, edits can be made only by officials at the Facilitation Centre upon presentation of original supporting documents.

3. What if I want to pursue studies in prestigious institutes like IITs or NITs without PMSSS counseling?
Students qualifying through NEET or JEE may still receive PMSSS benefits if they register under the scheme and get their documents verified at a Facilitation Centre.

4. Where can I check the details of my Nodal Officer?
Details of the Nodal Officer can be found in the Welcome Letter from the institution or within the student’s login portal.

Contact Information for PMSSS Queries

For any queries or technical assistance, contact:

• Helpline: 011-29581043/07/51/10 (9.30 AM – 5.00 PM, Monday to Friday)
• Email: jkadmission2022@aicte-india.org

The Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme stands as a beacon of hope for students from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, providing them with the opportunity to pursue quality higher education and build a better future.

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