PM Yashasvi Yojana: Empowering Marginalized Students Through Scholarships

The flagship program whereby the Prime Minister’s Yashasvi, or Yashasvi Yojana for Prime Minister was created to enhance educational abilities within learners in the less privileged society. This PM Yashasvi Yojana is intended to provide scholarships to the students belonging to economically weaker sections of society, who have achieved good academic performance, OBCs EBCs, and DNTs. It focuses on the inequalities of educational opportunities available for such students to enable them to attend universities and eventually achieve their dreams.

Key Features and Objectives of PM Yashasvi Yojana

The PM Yashasvi Yojana intends to provide financial help so that qualified pupils from disadvantaged communities and poor families can keep on studying. Scholarships which comprise tuition fees, dormitory expenses, and other educational charges are allotted as a way of curbing shedouts drops at higher secondary and university levels.

Characteristics	Details
Target Group	Students belonging to OBC, EBC, and DNT communities.
Annual Income Limit	The yearly income of the applying family should not exceed ₹2.5 lakhs.
Scholarship Amount	The amount ranges from ₹75,000 to ₹1.25 lakh and depending on the level of education.
Number of Scholarships	Thousands of numerous scholarships are disbursed every year benefiting many students across India.
Examination-Based Selection	It is based on a merit-based examination conducted by the National Testing Agency
Focus on Education	Equality Part of the government’s objectives is to offer equal educational opportunities for all pupils.
Class Level	Scholarships for students in classes 9-12 or undergraduate students.

Eligibility Criteria for PM Yashasvi Yojana

Students must be eligible on the following criteria to obtain PM Yashasvi Yojana:

Eligibility Criteria	Details
Nationality	The person should be an Indian citizen.
Category	The individual should belong to either OBC, EBC or DNT categories.
Educational Level	This program is executed for students from classes 9 through 12 and undergraduate courses as well.
Family Income Limit	Applicant’s families should have less than ₹ 2.5 lakh per annum pay.
Age Limit	One must not be more than 21 years old while submitting their application form.
Merit-Based Selection	Pupils must pass the Yashasvi Entrance Test (YET) organized by NTA to get this scholarship.

PM Yashasvi Yojana Scholarship Structure

The scholarship structure under PM Yashasvi Yojana is aimed at various learning levels and this includes tuition fees, book purchases, and hostel accommodation. The following shows the breakdown of scholarships according to school classes.

Class Level	Scholarly Amount (₹)	Use
Classes nine and ten	₹75,000 yearly	Tuition fee, study materials, and uniforms.
Classes eleven and twelve	₹1,25,000 yearly	Tuition fees, books, and hostel expenses.
Graduate	₹1,25,000 for each academic year	Educational costs such as tuition fees and residence on campus.

PM Yashasvi Yojana Application Process

The PM Yashasvi Yojana is accessible to rural students and those from economically weaker sections because the application process has been simplified. It is conducted online via the official NTA website.

Steps to Apply:

Online Registration:

Go to the official website of NTA where you will find the portal for the PM Yashasvi Yojana application.
Provide personal details, the contact address, and an email ID on registration.

Filling the Application Form:

Provide accurate information including educational qualifications, family income as well as category details (OBC, EBC, or DNT) in the application form.
Upload required documents like an Aadhaar card, income certificate, caste certificate, and academic records.

Submission of Application:

Verify your information properly before you submit it.
After being successful, make sure that you take a printout of your confirmation page for future use.

Download Admit Card:

After completion of the entire application process, eligible applicants can also download their YET (Yashasvi Entrance Test) admit cards released by NTA thereafter.

Selection and Examination Process under PM Yashasvi Yojana

NTA conducts the YET, which is a cradle-to-grave competitive examination that serves as the basic criterion for selecting deserving students for scholarships.

Key Details of the Examination:

Exam Pattern:

Multiple choice questions (MCQs) form the basis of this test covering topics such as Mathematics, Science, and General Knowledge.
This examination aims at evaluating a student’s ability and learning level.

Examination Centers:

The YET has several centers across India that make it possible for any student regardless of their region to take it.

Result Announcement:

Declared results can be accessed on the official website of NTA, which also contains the names of those who have been selected.

Selection Criteria:

The selection of students depends on their performance in the YET.
Scholars with higher scores will have greater chances of obtaining scholarships.
To make sure that there is equal distribution of scholarship, a category-wise (OBC, EBC, and DNT) selection list is prepared.

New Developments in PM Yashasvi Yojana

In recent years, the government has taken steps to expand the reach and effect of the PM Yashasvi Yojana. Some of these major developments include:

Increased Number of Scholarship Seats: The total number of scholarships has increased so that more students from OBC, EBC, and DNT categories can benefit from them. This is aimed at easing financial term burdens on more families.
Digital Learning Focused Scheme: The scheme propounds digital learning platforms and e-resources used for remote students are encouraged by it. A variety of government measures have been instituted to offer e-learning materials to all students.
Application Process Made Simpler: Through digital platforms, the application process is made simpler such that there will be less paperwork thus enabling any student who wants to seek a scholarship to do it from anywhere else.

Successes and Hurdles

Success stories:

Enabling the Economically Weaker Section: The PM Yashasvi Yojana has benefited many students from economically weaker families. The plan has facilitated students’ admission into renowned colleges, thus improving their career prospects.
Higher Education Participation by Rise: The financial assistance under this scheme has greatly increased the number of students from OBC, EBC, and DNT communities who are now pursuing higher education.

Challenges:

Awareness: Awareness creation remains a challenge especially in rural areas despite the benefits of the scheme. Many eligible students do not know if they can apply for these scholarships.
Implementation Gaps: In some regions, there have been delays in granting scholarships owing to administrative reasons. Steps are being taken to make the payment procedure much easier and faster.

Detailed Data and Tables for PM Yashasvi Yojana

Year	Total Applications	Scholarships Awarded	Total Expenditure (₹ Cr.)
2020	5,50,000	75,000	₹620
2021	6,20,000	85,000	₹710
2022	7,10,000	95,000	₹825
2023	7,85,000	1,10,000	₹920

Number of Scholarships by Category (2023):

Category	Number of Scholarships
OBC	55,000
EBC	35,000
DNT	20,000

Conclusion

The PM Yashasvi Yojana is an important initiative aimed at overcoming the educational gap of students belonging to economically disadvantaged families. The scheme empowers these students to get opportunities for higher education and increases their chances of finding jobs by providing them with monetary aid through scholarships. In this way, Yojana helps bring about social and educational equality in India among marginalized groups like OBC, EBC, and DNT.

Nevertheless, it is important to address issues such as lack of awareness and implementation gaps so that every deserving student can benefit from the scheme, especially with the expansion of Yashasvi Yojana by the government.