The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country to speed up the verification of scholarship applications, directing Institutional Nodal Officers (INOs) to process every application within 15 days of its receipt on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

The instruction is aimed at preventing delays that could affect students applying for two major UGC scholarship schemes, whose application processes are set to begin shortly.

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Portal opening and scholarship schemes

The UGC said the National Scholarship Portal will soon open for the submission and processing of applications under the National Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies (NSPG) and the ISHAN UDAY Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region.

The portal will facilitate applications under both schemes.

The detailed schedule for online submissions will be announced separately.

15-day verification deadline

The commission has instructed all HEIs to ensure that Institutional Nodal Officers verify every scholarship application and either approve it, mark it as defective, or reject it within 15 days of its receipt on the portal.

Timely verification is essential because it provides students sufficient time to rectify deficiencies or errors in their applications before the application window closes.

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(Representational image) Colleges now have just 15 days to approve, reject or flag defective forms | AI

Institutions must guide students

Along with verifying applications, there is one more job the colleges and universities have been asked to do. Guide applicants and help resolve issues that may arise on the National Scholarship Portal.

The support is necessary to ensure that eligible students do not face hurdles easily avoidable while applying.

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Administrative reform, not policy change

The latest directive introduces no new eligibility criteria or changes to any of the benefits offered under the schemes.

UGC is focusing on improving the administrative process by making institutions accountable for timely verification.

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(Representational image) University official verifying scholarship applications | AI

logically, any delay at the verification stage can prevent students from correcting mistakes in their applications. This ultimately affects their chances of receiving financial aid.

This approach minimizes such delays by fixing a clear timeline for institutions.

Inside the Ishan Uday scholarship

The ISHAN UDAY Special Scholarship Scheme is intended to support students from India’s Northeastern Region pursuing higher education.

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(Representational image) Student from India’s Northeastern Region | AI

This scholarship was launched by UGC in the 2014-15 academic session. It aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and encourage students from across the seven-sisters + Sikkim to pursue professional and technical education.

Prerequisite:

I. Successful completion of twelfth grade or an equivalent qualification from a recognized school located in the Northeastern Region.

II. Be admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time undergraduate degree program in a recognized institution in India.

III. Have an annual family income not more than ₹4.5 lakh.

IV. Be pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

Understanding the NSPG scheme

UGC’s National Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies (NSPG) provides monetary support to qualifying first time master’s candidates.

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(Representational image) Postgraduate student studying with books | AI

Prerequisite:

I. Students admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time postgraduate degree program.

II. The curriculum must be a postgraduate degree recognized by the University Grants Commission.

III. In integrated programs, the scholarship is available only for the postgraduate component.

IV. The applicant must be 30 years of age or younger.

Both schemes are implemented through the NSP.

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FAQs

Q1: What is the UGC’s new 15-day scholarship verification rule?

The UGC has directed Institutional Nodal Officers at higher education institutions to approve, reject or mark scholarship applications as defective within 15 days of receiving them on the National Scholarship Portal.

Q2: Which UGC scholarship schemes are covered under the latest update?

The latest directive applies to the National Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies (NSPG) and the ISHAN UDAY Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region.