Now, 50 students to get Maharashtra govt foreign education scholarship

MUMBAI: The state government, in a resolution passed on Thursday, has increased the foreign education scholarship benefit by five times the existing number.
Till now, only 10 needy students from other and special backward classes benefitted from this overseas scholarship, which has been extended to 50 students now. The state also put a cap on the scholarship amount based on the courses.
While the decision will benefit more students, the delay in publishing the list of shortlisted candidates may cost a year for some. The list of scholarship beneficiaries was released on Thursday, but a few have already missed the admission deadline for the September intake.
According to the revised policy, students pursuing a two-year post-graduate programme will get a scholarship amount of Rs 30 lakh per annum, for a one-year diploma, they will get Rs 30 lakh, and for the ones pursuing a PhD programme, the amount has been capped at Rs 40 lakh per annum for four years, said an official from the other backward bahujan welfare department, which covers OBC, SBC, VJ and NT categories.
The increase in the number of beneficiaries was announced some time ago but working out the details took time.
Some of the students whose names have been shortlisted said the deadline to join their course has ended in September. "We are happy that the state has extended the scholarship benefit to more students, but we are going to appeal to the government for an extension. We are already allowed an extension of six months, we will request them to make it a year. The course that we are enrolled in does not have two intakes in a year," said a student, adding they hope to get relief.
An official from the department, though, said it would be better if the students use the opportunity this year as the scholarship fund is restricted to one financial year. "They may have to compete with a new pool of applicants next year. Anyway, the number of beneficiaries has been increased, and meritorious students will not be denied any opportunity," said the official. The grant is extended to students based on the branch of studies, merit and their caste validity certificates.
In the list released on Thursday, 24 students have been selected for the scholarship for one-year programme, 23 were shortlisted for two-year courses, and three selected for PhD programmes of three and four years, respectively.
These students have secured admission in reputed universities in Chicago, London, Glasgow, Columbia, New York, Pennsylvania and Sydney, among others, which are ranked among the Top 200 by the QS Universities' Ranking System.