Education Minister Launches Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme For NVS Students

Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme on February 6, 2024, in New Delhi. The Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is a powerful force aimed at revolutionising opportunities for quality education and access to higher education institutions (HEIs). Beyond mere enrollment, this initiative provides access to high-quality learning systems by promoting a seamless transition from secondary to higher education and providing financial assistance to the meritorious Navodaya Vidyalaya students who lack resources.

Higher Education Secretary in Education Ministry, K Sanjay Murthy, Sanjay Kumar, secretary of the school education and literacy department, EdCIL Executive Director, Dr B Chandrashekhar, Director of EdCIL, Manoj Kumar, commissioner of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Vinayak Garg, and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

The Minister presented scholarship letters to six Navodaya Vidyalayas students at the event and all the students have secured admission to the top higher educational institutes in India.

While speaking at the event the education minister commended the efforts of NVS students, mentioning that over 14,000 students have succeeded in getting admission to prestigious institutions without joining any coaching centres. He also stated that 70 students are being bestowed upon the scholarship amounting to Rs 5 crore.

K Sanjay Murthy also spoke at the event and informed about how the initiative began with the introduction of NEP 2020, which recommended policies to channel philanthropy into the education sector. He praised the efforts of JNV students who have succeeded in entering prestigious universities such as IITs and NITs, as well as the contributions of sponsors who assisted them in realising their dreams.

Sharing about the same, Dharmendra Pradhan took to his official X handle and tweeted, “Delighted to launch the Vidyanjali Scholarship Program. Heartwarming to see our corporate enthusiastically coming forward to support and sponsor academically gifted and meritorious students lacking financial means to pursue education. Nation-building is a collective effort of all citizens. As envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020, Vidyanjali Scholarship Program symbolises a whole-of-society approach to empowerment through access and opportunities of education, particularly to students belonging to economically disadvantaged sections.”

“I wish Vidyanjali Scholarship Program a great success. May it create more endowment funds to support dreams and also script countless success stories,” he added.

In addition to providing financial assistance to economically marginalised and meritorious Navodaya Vidyalaya students, the Government of India’s initiative also encourages participation from private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, paving the way for the government and cooperates to join forces towards an educated India, ensuring that no child is left behind.