Education is one of the primary things or assets that makes an individual able and rational. It is one of our primary rights as it nourishes our minds and is one of the deciding factors for an individual’s personal and professional growth. Unfortunately, innumerable children in India, especially children from minority communities, don't receive quality education.
To address this issue, the government of India launched the Padho Pardesh Scheme which enables students who come from minority communities to pursue their higher education from outside the boundaries of India. It not only helps them shape their careers but also eradicates the worry of financial burden from their minds.
Read the article to find out what the scheme is, how would it benefit people, and details like eligibility and application process.
Overview
| Name of the scheme | Padho Pardesh Scheme |
|---|
| Launched by | Government of India |
| Launched in | 2013 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Minority Affairs |
| Objective | To provide financial aid to students to pursue their higher education from abroad |
| Target group | Minority communities like Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis |
| Income criteria | Family income shouldn’t be more than Rs. 6 lakh per annum |
| Courses covered under the scheme | Master’s, M.Phil, and Ph.D. |
| Application mode | Online |
Read More: Government Schemes Launched On The National Education Day
What Is The Padho Pardesh Scheme?
The Padho Pardesh Scheme was introduced by the government of India in the year 2013 under the purview of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The education scheme aims to empower students who come from minority communities to pursue higher education from outside the boundaries of India in their chosen disciplines.
The education scheme provides interest subsidies on educational loans along with other benefits which considerably reduces the rate of the financial burden from the shoulders of the students and their families.
Features Of The Padho Pardesh Scheme
There are several features of the education scheme that cover all its goals. Some of its major features are listed below in brief:
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Subsidy on loan interest: The interest subsidy scheme provides heavy interest on educational loans to excellent students.
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Target group: The education scheme is specially designed to help students who come from minority communities like Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis.
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Covered courses: Padho Pardesh covers a wide range of disciplines in which students can pursue a Master’s, M.Phil, and Ph.D. from abroad.
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Partnership with banks: The education scheme works in collaboration with various banks that give educational loans under the Indian Banks Association Educational Loan scheme.
Read More: Right to Education Act (RTE)
Benefits Of The Padho Pardesh Scheme
There are many benefits of the education scheme that cover all its goals. Some of its key benefits are listed below in brief for one’s better understanding:
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Financial empowerment: The interest subsidy scheme empowers students financially and helps them pursue their education from their dream institutions.
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Expanded boundaries: Padho Pardesh, as the name suggests, allows students to work toward pursuing higher education from abroad and build a foundation for their careers.
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Holistic development: The education scheme enables meritorious students from minority communities to travel abroad for their education. This not only builds their subject knowledge but also helps in developing personally as well due to exposure to different cultures, traditions, etc.
Covered Courses Under The Padho Pardesh Scheme
The Padho Pardesh covers a wide variety of courses in which students can pursue Master’s, M.Phil, and Ph.D. The list of the covered courses is mentioned below:
1. Arts/ Humanities/ Social Sciences
2. Commerce
3. Pure Sciences
4. Engineering
5. Biotechnology/ Genetic Engineering
6. Industrial Environmental Engineering
7. Nanotechnology
8. Marine Engineering
9. Petrochemical Engineering
10. Plastic Technology
11. Cryogenic Engineering
12. Mechatronics
13. Automation Robotics including artificial intelligence
14. Laser Technology
15. Low-Temperature Thermal Dynamics
16. Optometry
17. Art Restoration Technology
18. Dock and Harbour Engineering
19. Imaging System Technology
20. Composite Materials Engineering including Decentralized power Distribution (for Solar Heat) system, Energy Storage Engineering, Energy conservation, Energy Efficient Habitat
21. Packaging Engineering/ Technology
22. Nuclear Engineering
23. Information Technology including Computer Engineering, Software, Software Quality assurance, Networking/ Connectivity Engineering, Communication systems under Hazardous or Post-disaster conditions, and Multimedia Communication
24. Industrial Safety Engineering
25. Agriculture & Agro Technology
26. Agronomy
27. Medical
28. Floriculture & Landscaping
29. Food Sciences & Technology
30. Forestry & Natural Resources
31. Horticulture
32. Plant Pathology
33. Energy Studies
34. Farm Power & Machinery
35. Veterinary Sciences
36. Soils & Water Management
37. Plant Breeding & Genetics
38. Small-scale Rural Technology
39. Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences
40. M.B.A
41. M.C.A
Eligibility Criteria
Interested students first need to ensure whether they fit into the eligibility criteria or not. The eligibility criteria for the interest subsidy scheme are as follows:
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Students must have a letter of admission to a recognised university from abroad for a Master’s, M.Phil, and Ph.D.
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Family income shouldn’t be more than Rs. 6 lakh per annum.
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Students must belong to a minority community.
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Students must have taken an educational loan from a registered bank under the Indian Banks Association Educational Loan scheme.
Application Process For Padho Pradesh Scheme
Interested and eligible students can apply for Padho Pardesh by following some simple steps mentioned below in detail for one’s reference:
Step 1: Visit the official website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Padho Pardesh scheme’ and click on ‘Apply online’.
Step 3: Fill in the required details like mobile number and mail address.
Step 4: Fill the application form.
Step 5: Upload the supporting documents.
Step 6: Submit the form and wait for approval.
Read More: What Is The Abhinandan Education Loan Subsidy Scheme?
Required Documents
Applicants need to submit some supporting documents to successfully apply for the interest subsidy scheme. The list of those documents is as follows:
Conclusion
The Padho Pardesh scheme is an education scheme that has been helping millions of students since it came into action. It helps students from minority communities fulfil their dreams by reducing their financial burden.
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