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The National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) is a government initiative to support higher education for young women. Read on to learn about the features, benefits and application process of the scheme!
The female education landscape in India has changed drastically over the last decade. As per the All India Survey in Higher Education (AISHE) released by the Ministry of Education, female enrollment in higher education programs has crossed the 2 crore mark for the first time, a whopping increase of 13 lakhs from 2019-20. All thanks to the government initiatives to promote female education in India.
One such commendable girl education scheme is the National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE). This scheme offers incentives to young females to support their higher education.
In this blog, we will discuss everything about NSIGSE, including the NSIGSE full form, eligibility criteria, benefits, application process, and more.
Read on!
What is the NSIGSE Scheme?
As mentioned above, NSIGSE stands for National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education. It is sponsored by the Central Government of India to promote higher education for females.
Under this scheme, the beneficiaries are granted a sum of ₹3,000 in their interest-bearing account. Further, a girl must clear her class 8th examination and enrol into class 9th in order to be eligible for this scheme.
Once she clears class 10th and reaches 18 years of age, she can withdraw this amount to aid her higher secondary education.
The main objective of the NSIGSE scheme is to reduce the female school dropout rate and to promote higher education among girls. Basically, it aims to retain more younger females in school up to class 12.
Key Features of the NSIGSE Scheme
The following are the main features of the NSIGSE scholarship scheme:
- NSIGSE scheme grants scholarships to females who clear their class 8th examination from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya regardless of their caste or tribe.
- This scholarship scheme is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs India.
- There is no income parameter to avail the benefits of the NSIGSE scheme. The reason behind this is simple: most females studying in KGBVs and other government-aided schools are at a financial disadvantage.
- The NSIGSE scholarship is a one-time national-level incentive.
- 1% of the incentive amount is used to evaluate, administer, and monitor NSIGSE applications every year.
The NSIGSE scholarship applications are accepted from the month of September to November. However, the application period can change based on certain factors. Hence, it is advisable to stay updated and keep checking the tentative dates on the official website of NSIGSE.
Advantages of NSIGSE Scholarship
Apart from financial aid, the NSIGSE scholarship benefits young Indian females in multiple ways. Some of them are as follows:
- Financial Aid: First and foremost, the NSIGSE scheme encourages young females to pursue higher studies. It helps in increasing female enrolments and attendance rates in school.
- Reduces Gender Disparities: Gender disparities have affected the education sector of India in significant ways. Initiatives like NSIGSE scholarship are proving to be effective in reducing the gender gap in the education landscape. It is encouraging parents to educate their daughters in the same way they educate their sons.
- Women's Empowerment: Schemes like NSIGSE act as drivers for women's empowerment. By promoting higher education, the scheme empowers young women with knowledge and skills that will help them build a bright future.
- Economic Opportunities: It is no hidden fact that higher education opens multiple doors to better employment opportunities. It allows young females to break the cycle of poverty and earn a higher status in society.
- Social Development: The NSIGSE scheme helps in the overall social development of the country by eradicating gender biases and promoting the importance of female education.
Who is Eligible for the NSIGSE Scholarship?
Now that you have understood the scope and benefits of NSIGSE, it is time to check out its eligibility criteria. An applicant must meet the following criteria in order to enrol in the NSIGSE scholarship program:
- Applicants must belong to SC (Schedule Caste) and ST (Schedule Tribes) and have passed class 8th from a state or central government board-recognised school.
- Girls from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (irrespective of their caste and tribe) who cleared class 8th and enrolled in class 9th in any government-aided public or private school from 2006-2007 onwards.
- Girls studying in private schools are not eligible for the NSIGSE scholarship.
- Applicants must be unmarried at the time of applying for the NSIGSE scholarship.
- Girls studying in CBSE schools are also exempted from the benefits of NSIGSE.
- The applicant must be 16 years of age or below and enrolled in class 9th to avail of the scholarship.
- Withdrawal of the incentive and its accrued interest is only allowed once the beneficiary reaches 18 years of age.
- In case the beneficiary girl dies due to any reason before attaining 18 years of age, the incentive amount will be transferred back to the Indian Central Government
Documents Required for NSIGSE Application
Every school implementing the NSIGSE scholarship scheme must check the eligibility of female students before preparing the proposal at the start of each academic year. Within three months from the commencement, the state or union territory administrator must submit a consolidated proposal to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
The following are the documents required for the NSIGSE application:
- A scanned copy of the Adhaar Card of the applicant.
- Applicant’s Domicile Certificate.
- Class 10th mark sheet of the applicant.
- A duly signed and sealed certificate from the school head stating two years of continuous education after enrollment in class 9th.
- Fee receipts of the current class of applicant.
- Bank account proof of either the applicant or joint account with her parents or legal guardian.
- Disability certificate (if applicable)
- Income certificate of legal guardian or parents. (It must be issued by the respective state or union territory authorities.)
How to Apply for the NSIGSE Scheme?Applying for the NSIGSE scheme is a simple and straightforward process. Below is the step-by-step NSIGSE application process:
- Step-1: Go to the official NSIGSE website from a reliable browser.
- Step-2: If you are a new user, click on “New User” to register. Read all the given instructions carefully and click “Continue” at the bottom of the page.
- Step-3: Enter the required information. Once done, a unique ID and password will be displayed on the screen. You will also receive an OTP via SMS on the registered mobile number.
- Step-4: Provide the OTP to confirm your details.
- Step-5: Fill out the application form with all the scheme-related details. Make sure to enter the correct details.
- Step-6: Double-check the entered details and submit the application. It is advisable to download and save an additional copy of this application form for future usage.
Important Note: Any incorrect details in the application form may result in the rejection of the application. Therefore, provide the details carefully to avail of the benefits of NSIGSE.
What Happens After Successful NSIGSE Application?
Once the application is approved, the respective administration agency will open a bank account in the local bank or post office in the name of the applicant's girl child. All the incentives from NSIGSE will be deposited in this account as a fixed-term deposit.
Further, the beneficiary will be provided with a passbook that acts as proof of her being an NSIGSE account holder. She can use this passbook to check her account balance anytime she wants. Besides, the scheme also offers an internet banking facility to help beneficiaries check their account balance online without having to visit the post office or bank.
Below are some other important factors to learn about the NSIGSE scholarship incentive:
- Interest Rates: The interest rate on the accumulated NSIGSE incentives ranges between 3% to 7% per annum based on the post office or bank where the account of the beneficiary has been opened. To ensure that beneficiaries leverage the most benefits, they are not allowed to withdraw the amount before turning 18 years of age.
- Term of Deposit: As mentioned above, the term of the scholarship scheme is until the beneficiary reaches 18 years of age after enrolling at the age of 16 years or more. Note that the scheme does not allow premature withdrawal.
- Implementing Agency of NSIGSE: Below are the implementing partners of the NSIGSE scheme:
- Schools aided by state or local government.
- State or UT authorities.
- Private schools or institutions aided by Panchayat Raj.
The incentives are released by the central government to the respective UT or state authorities, which in turn transfer the amount to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Important Things to Know Before Applying for NSIGSE
- The schools that are implementing the NSIGSE scholarship scheme are responsible for examining the eligibility of interested candidates and preparing proposals for the incentive. They are required to submit the same to the state or UT administration bodies through the specified channel.
- Eligible schools and financial institutions that are submitting proposals for the NSIGSE can seek coverage under the same scheme.
- The total sum proposed under the scheme is released by the Central Government of India.
- All the applications are verified by matching the details of applicants against their birth certificates that are submitted by the school heads.
- The list of female applicants entitled to NSIGSE scholarship is segregated on the basis of their age.
- ST, SC, OBC, as well as general category girls who passed class 8th from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, are eligible for availing the benefits of the NSIGSE scheme.
- The Central Government of India releases the NSIGSE scholarship funds in two instalments to the respective state and UT authorities. The first instalment is released immediately after the commencement of the proposal. The second instalment is released after the utilisation and progress report of the fund released in the first instalment is submitted by the implementing bodies.
- Once the document verification process is complete, the banks shall transfer the incentive immediately to the accounts of beneficiaries.
Final Thoughts
The National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) is a commendable step taken by the Indian government to promote education for girls. By offering financial support for girls’ higher education, NSIGSE not only empowers women but also contributes to the overall development of the country.
Parents of girl children can further enhance their quality of life by purchasing the best life insurance plans - from private insurers or various government schemes - to provide financial security to young women.
