Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme for the Wards/Widows of Central Police Force Personnel

What is the PMSS for wards and widows of Central Police Force personnel?

The Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) for the wards and widows of Central Police Force personnel is an education scholarship run by the Ministry of Home Affairs through its Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB). Launched in 2006-07, the scheme supports the higher education of the children, and the widows: of the personnel who serve in the country's central police and paramilitary forces.

According to the scheme's terms, PMSS pays Rs 36,000 per year to each woman beneficiary (a girl student or an eligible widow) and Rs 30,000 per year to each male student; Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,500 a month respectively — for the duration of a professional course, up to a maximum of five years, paid directly to the beneficiary's bank account.

The scheme is financed from the interest income of the National Defence Fund. Alongside the main component for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles, the umbrella scheme also runs linked components for wards of State and Union Territory Police personnel and Railway Protection Force / Railway Protection Special Force (RPF/RPSF) personnel who die in the line of duty, so that a wider group of police families is covered.

Who is eligible for this Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme?

A beneficiary can apply if they are a ward or widow of:

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

Under the linked components, wards of State/UT Police and RPF/RPSF personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty are also eligible.

A fresh applicant must additionally:

• Have secured a minimum of 60% in the qualifying examination (Class 12, diploma or graduation, as relevant).
• Be enrolled in a recognised full-time professional degree course: engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, law, management and the like; at an institution approved by UGC, AICTE or the relevant council.

A beneficiary 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.
• The parent's or spouse's service does not fall in an eligible category.
• They are already drawing another scholarship for the same course where double benefit is barred.

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

What documents are required?

How to apply for the scholarship

1. Go to the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in during the annual application window and register as a new applicant if needed.
2. Log in and select the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme for wards and widows of Central Police Force personnel.
3. Fill in your personal, academic and course details, and the service particulars of the parent or spouse.
4. Upload the documents, qualifying marksheet, proof of service, Aadhaar, bank passbook and admission proof.
5. Submit the application and note the application ID. The institution and the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board verify the claim before the scholarship is sanctioned.

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

How much benefit does the scheme provide?

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

The benefit runs for the full duration of the professional course, up to five years, subject to annual renewal. Each year, around 2,000 fresh scholarships are sanctioned for wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel, split equally between boys and girls, with additional scholarships reserved under the State/UT Police and RPF/RPSF components.

Renewal and continuation

This is not a one-time grant. Once selected, a beneficiary must renew the scholarship every academic year on the National Scholarship Portal, submitting proof of promotion to the next year of the course and of at least 50% marks in the previous year. Missing the renewal window, dropping below the marks threshold, or switching to an ineligible course ends 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. Application-specific queries are also handled through the National Scholarship Portal helpdesk. No agent is required, and no fee is charged to apply for or renew the scholarship.