Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme for the Wards of Central Armed Police Forces & Assam Rifles

What is the PMSS for wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles?

The Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) for wards of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles is an education scholarship run by the Ministry of Home Affairs through its Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB). First launched in 2006-07, the scheme helps the children of the men and women who serve in the country's central police and paramilitary forces meet the cost of professional higher education.

According to the scheme's terms, PMSS pays Rs 36,000 per year to each girl student and Rs 30,000 per year to each boy student; equivalent to Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,500 a month respectively, for the duration of the professional course, up to a maximum of five years. The money is transferred directly to the student's bank account.

The scheme is funded from the interest income of the National Defence Fund. The Central Armed Police Forces covered include the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and National Security Guard (NSG), along with the Assam Rifles.

Who is eligible for the PMSS for CAPF and Assam Rifles?

A student can apply if they are a ward of:

• Serving or retired CAPF or Assam Rifles personnel, generally up to the rank of personnel below officer rank (PBOR).
• CAPF or Assam Rifles personnel killed in action or who died in service.
• Personnel disabled due to causes attributable to government service.
• Ex-CAPF or Assam Rifles personnel who hold gallantry awards.

In addition, a fresh applicant must:

• Have secured a minimum of 60% in the qualifying examination (Class 12, diploma or graduation, as relevant to the course).
• Be enrolled in a recognised full-time professional degree course — engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, law, management, and similar courses in institutions approved by bodies such as UGC, AICTE or the relevant council.

A student cannot apply / is not eligible if:

• They scored below 60% in the qualifying examination.
• They are enrolled in a distance-learning or correspondence course, or a course not recognised by the appropriate regulator.
• Their parent's service does not fall in an eligible category (for example, ranks or forces outside the scheme's scope).
• They are already availing another scholarship for the same course where the rules bar double benefit.

For renewal in later years, a beneficiary must keep at least 50% marks in the previous academic year and continue in the same course.

What documents are required for the PMSS?

How to apply for the PMSS

1. Go to the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in during the annual application window and register as a new applicant if you do not have an account.
2. Log in and select the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme for wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles.
3. Fill in your personal, academic and course details and your parent's service particulars.
4. Upload the documents; qualifying marksheet, proof of your parent's CAPF/AR service, Aadhaar, bank passbook and admission proof.
5. Submit the application and note the application ID. The form is then verified by the institution and the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board before the scholarship is sanctioned.

Applications are accepted only through the National Scholarship Portal; there is no fee to apply.

How much benefit does the PMSS provide?

• Rs 36,000 per year for each girl student (Rs 3,000 a month).
• Rs 30,000 per year for each boy student (Rs 2,500 a month).

The benefit is paid for the full duration of the professional course, up to five years, subject to annual renewal. About 2,000 fresh scholarships are sanctioned each year for wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel, distributed equally between boys and girls, in addition to the scholarships continued for existing beneficiaries through renewal.

Renewal and continuation

The PMSS is not a one-time payment. Once selected, a student must renew the scholarship every academic year through the National Scholarship Portal, submitting proof of promotion to the next year and of having scored at least 50% in the previous year. Failing to renew, dropping below the marks threshold, or changing to an ineligible course can end the scholarship.

Help and grievance redressal

The scheme is administered by the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB), Ministry of Home Affairs. The WARB Central Office can be reached at 011-23063111 and by email at secywarb-mha@nic.in. Questions about a specific application are also handled through the National Scholarship Portal helpdesk. No agent or middleman is needed, and no fee is charged to apply for or renew the scholarship.