Maharashtra to grant scholarships to open category students

The Maharashtra government Thursday informed the Legislative Council it has decided to grant scholarships to students from the open category for pursuing higher education in foreign countries.

Minister of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble said the aggregate family income limit to grant the scholarships in the open category has been fixed at Rs 20 lakh per annum.

"The government is positive about enhancing the aggregate family income limit for the backward class students on similar lines and a decision in this regard will be taken soon," he said.

Kamble said the scheme for awarding scholarships for studying abroad for students in respective categories is being implemented through the departments concerned.

"Even as the income limit for the students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category is Rs 6 lakh and for the other backward category Rs 8 lakh, the rules specifying criteria, terms and conditions and number of students to be selected are stipulated by the concerned department," he said.

A question over the issue was raised by Vijay Girkar (BJP).