Congress slams Centre for ‘prioritising’ Pariksha Pe Charcha over scholarships

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Sci

Context:

The Congress party sharply criticized the Narendra Modi government following a report that the Union government had stopped the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), a scholarship program for meritorious students.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of undermining India’s education system while Prime Minister Modi focuses on self-promotion through initiatives like “Pariksha Pe Charcha” and “Exam Warrior”.

About NTSE:

The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a scholarship program initiated by the Government of India to identify and nurture talented students at the school level.
It is conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which is the apex body responsible for the program.
The NTSE is designed for students studying in Class 10 in Indian schools. The scholarships are awarded to students who qualify in the examination.
The NTSE, which was introduced in 1963, has been instrumental in providing educational opportunities to talented students.

The NTSE is conducted in two stages:

Stage 1: This is a state-level examination, conducted by various state and Union Territory educational boards across India. It is usually held in November each year. Students who qualify in Stage 1 are eligible to appear for Stage 2.
Stage 2: This is a national-level examination conducted by the NCERT, generally in May. The students who clear both stages are awarded the NTSE scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits:

The students who qualify for the NTSE are awarded a monthly scholarship. The amount varies at different stages of education:
For Class 11 and 12, the scholarship amount is ₹1,250 per month.
For undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the scholarship amount is ₹2,000 per month.
For D. students, the scholarship is ₹2,000 per month along with a contingency grant.
Apart from this, several prestigious institutes reserve seats for NTSE scholars, who are inducted without entrance tests.

Pariksha Pe Charcha:

“Pariksha Pe Charcha” is an annual event initiated in 2018 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he interacts with students, teachers, and parents to discuss issues related to exams, stress, and education.
The event, typically held before major exam seasons, aims to provide guidance and motivational support to students.

Exam Warrior:

“Exam Warrior” is a book written by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, aimed at helping students manage stress during exams and promoting a positive and stress-free approach to learning.