The “Free Education Scholarship for Professional Courses” scheme was launched by the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, and Minorities Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu, on 7th May 2012. The main purpose of this scheme is to provide scholarships to students belonging to the Backward Classes (BC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), and Denotified Communities (DNC). This scholarship is available to those students who study professional courses, such as Engineering, Medical, Agriculture, Veterinary, and Law. The scheme is covering tuition fees, special fees, and non-refundable compulsory fees as decided by the government, besides the full examination fee.
Benefits
The following are the major benefits of this program:
- Each and every single tuition fee is paid
- Special and Non-Refundable Mandatory Charges are paid
- Exam charges are fully reimbursed according to the determinations by the government.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria in order to be qualified for the Free Education Scholarship for Professional Courses includes:
- Student Status: The applicant must be studying in a professional course.
- Residence: The candidate must be from Tamil Nadu.
- Community: The candidate must be from one of the Most Backward Classes (MBC), Backward Classes (BC), or Denotified Communities (DNC).
- Course Category: The candidate should be studying in a government, government-sponsored, or self-financing college as a professional student.
- Annual Family Income Cap: The applicant’s family income should not exceed ₹1,00,000 per year.
- No one from the family has a degree: The applicant’s family should not have any graduate members.
Procedure for Offline Application
How to Apply:
- Step 1: Collect the application form from the respective educational institution.
- Step 2: Complete all required application areas and provide a passport-sized photo, which should be signed if required. Include copies of all required documents that have been self-attested.
- Step 3: Send the filled-out application form to the relevant institution together with the necessary paperwork.
- Step 4: Retain a receipt or acknowledgement that this application should be collected by the concerned authority. Obtaining this receipt, which will then contain all the basic information such as date, time of submission, and an identification number, if one exists.
Document List
To accompany this application, the following sets of documents are required:
- Identity Documentation: In respect of an Aadhaar card or similar identifying document
- Caste Certificate
- Government-aided bank account information for fee refund or a letter of admission or enrollment
- Certificate of Income (showing the family income below ₹1,00,000)
- No Graduate Certificate (self-attested or from gazetted officer)
- Prior Academic Records (as mentioned by the college)
- Any further documents, if any
Questions and Answers (FAQ)
Q1: What is the aim of the scheme?
The scheme will offer financial assistance to BC, MBC, and DNC community students undergoing professional courses like engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and law.
Q2: To whom is this scholarship available?
All the students under professional courses enrolled in the government, government-aided, or self-financing colleges, which are specified to be the members of Tamil Nadu’s Backward Classes (BC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), or Denotified Communities (DNC).
Q3: What professional courses are included in this plan?
Engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and law are among the professional courses covered by the program.
Q4: What fees are included in this scholarship package?
Tuition, special expenses, non-refundable mandatory costs, and full reimbursement of exam fees are also covered.
Q5: Can college students who are self-supporting apply?
Yes, applicants that qualify from self-financing colleges are taken into consideration.
Q6: Does eligibility depend on income?
The income has a cap. It cannot exceed ₹1,00,000 annually.
Q7: What documents do I need to submit applications, and how do I submit them?
The documents required to submit their applications include identification documents, caste certificates, admission letters, income certificates, and certificates of no graduate education.
Q8: Who submitted the application form?
The application form should be received by the relevant educational institution.
Q9: Is there any reservation requirement for the caste category?
Yes, this program is open to students of only Most Backward Classes (MBC), Backward Classes (BC), and Denotified Communities (DNC).
Q10: Does the scholarship include accommodation cost and all the living cost?
No, it doesn’t include any kind of hostel cost and living expenditure. The scholarships will pay only tuition fee, special fee, non-refundable compulsory fees, and exam fees.