Under this scheme, a loan of ₹15 lakhs is provided at an interest rate of 4% to offer financial assistance to bright career students of the Scheduled Castes who cannot go abroad for higher studies due to their poor economic condition.
Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Loan for Higher Study in Foreign Countries - Introduction
The scheme “Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Loan for Higher Study in Foreign Countries” is administered by the Director Scheduled Caste Welfare, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of Gujarat. The scheme was commenced in the year 1999 with the objective to provide an opportunity to Scheduled Caste students to study abroad. Under this scheme, a loan of ₹15 lakhs is provided at an interest rate of 4% to offer financial assistance to bright career students of the Scheduled Castes who cannot go abroad for higher studies due to their poor economic condition. In this scheme, loans are provided to students for pursuing graduate and postgraduate courses to cover expenses such as tuition fees, books, hostel fees, living expenses, travel expenses, and pocket money.
Benefits
- Under this scheme, a loan of ₹15 lakhs is provided at an interest rate of 4% to the eligible students.
Eligibility
- The applicant should be a native of Gujarat state.
- The applicant should belong to the Scheduled Caste Category of Gujarat State.
- Loans are available for postgraduate, Ph.D., higher-level research, and computer courses for students who have secured 50% or more marks in graduation.
- Loans are available for technical and professional courses abroad after 12th Standard.
- A loan can be given to a maximum of two persons of the same family.
- There is no income limit.
- The institution in the foreign country where the student is studying must be recognized by that government, and the degree obtained must be accepted in that country.
- Approval will only be processed once the visa and air ticket have been issued.
- Scheduled caste students of the state who are admitted to study abroad based on the syllabus of class-12 or above should have secured 50% or more marks. They are also eligible for loans for Diploma, Graduate, Postgraduate, Postgraduate Diploma, Ph.D., and other courses of more than one year duration in all fields.
Note 01: Loan repayment starts 6 months after the completion of the student's course. However, the loan must be fully repaid within 10 years. After the repayment of the principal amount, the interest also needs to be recovered accordingly.
Note 02: The beneficiary will have to furnish a valid surety.
Note 03: The student can apply for a loan within six months of moving abroad.
Note 04: Students who have passed Class-10 and completed a recognized ITI course of two years or more duration, and have passed the NCVT or GCVT examination for the same, will be treated as equivalent to 12th for the purpose of admission to higher secondary education courses, as per the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board or Gujarat Open School Examination in the English subject.
Note 05: A student who has completed a three-year diploma course at a Polytechnic will be treated as equivalent to Class 12 for college admission.
Note 06: If the student settles abroad, changes their place of work or residence, or changes their contact number or email ID, they must notify the authorities until the loan is repaid. Notification of movement to India is also mandatory during this period.
Application Process
- Step 01: The eligible applicant may visit the nearest office of the District Deputy Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare and collect the application form. The application form can also be downloaded from the sje.gujarat.gov.in.
- Step 02: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, paste the passport-sized photograph (signed across, if required), and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
- Step 03: Submit the duly filled and signed application form along with the documents to the concerned authority in the office.
- Step 04: Request a receipt or acknowledgement from the concerned authority to whom the application has been submitted.