AICTE Announces Annual Rs 25,000 Grant for BBA, BCA, and BMS Students
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) launched a scholarship scheme for students on Friday, offering a gift to them. The council announced a new scholarship scheme for undergraduate management/computer application (BBA/BCA/BMS) students studying in AICTE-approved institutions. Under this scheme, every eligible meritorious student from an economically weaker background will receive an annual amount of Rs. 25,000. A total of 3,000 eligible students from AICTE-approved institutions across the country will be awarded this scholarship.
The Scheme's Financial Implications: The council will incur an annual expenditure of Rs. 7.5 crore on this scheme for three years. The announcement of this scheme was made by AICTE Chairman Professor T.G. Sitharam during a function organized on the occasion of International Women's Day. During this event, Rohini Bhajibhakare (IAS), the Private Secretary to the Education Minister, was present as the chief guest.
Benefits for BBA, BCA, and BMS Students: Professor T.G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, stated that AICTE is working towards empowering women and harnessing their full potential in technology and management education. We already have a progress plan for engineering students. However, BBA, BCA, and BMS programs have been included under AICTE from this year onwards. Therefore, to promote gender equality, provide affordable education, and empower girls in management education, this special scheme has been initiated. AICTE promotes inclusive environments where women can advance and play a leading role in the fields of engineering and management.
Increase in the Number of Students in Engineering and Management Courses: The Chairman of AICTE mentioned that in recent years, the enrollment of students in AICTE-approved institutions has increased. In the year 2022-23, 39% of students have taken admission, while it was 30% in 2020-21 and 36% in 2021-22. The number of female students taking admission in engineering diploma and undergraduate courses has also increased. In the year 2022-23, 29% of females enrolled in engineering diploma and 44% in engineering undergraduate courses. In 2019-20, the enrollment of women in engineering graduation was 29%, which has increased to 31% and 40% in consecutive two years. Professor T.G. Sitharam said that encouraging and supporting women in engineering and management will assist in achieving the goals of developed India by 2047.
Initiatives by AICTE for Students:
- AICTE's Progress Scholarship encourages and supports meritorious students for technical education. Under this, a total of 5,000 scholarships are distributed among meritorious students every year for technical education.
- AICTE has partnered with Amazon. Under Amazon WoW, students studying in engineering colleges across the country will be empowered with the necessary skills to advance in the technology industry.
- Through AICTE's TechSaksham program, more than 19,000 students have been trained by 2021, out of which 14,000 are female students.
- AICTE has launched the Women Entrepreneurship in Waste Management Program to encourage students to adopt waste management entrepreneurship.