The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has warned students of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh about individuals posing as AICTE officials and offering admissions under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS 2021-22).
The technical education regulator issued a public notice in which it stated that it had received reports of institutions, agents and individuals making false statements and sending fake messages, calls offering PMSSS scholarship applications and misleading candidates about registration, admission.
The notice says: “It is hereby warned that any student who is taking admission in any institution other than allotted institutions through online counselling process of PMSSS 2022-22, is not eligible for scholarship under the scheme and AICTE will not be responsible under any circumstances.”
The PMSSS was implemented in 2010 for J-K students to pursue undergraduate studies outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the goal of increasing employability among youth and formulating a job plan in public and private sectors.
AICTE, when the COVID-19 pandemic started, reduced the maintenance allowance from Rs 50,000 per semester to Rs 20,000 per semester offered underPMSSS.
Every year these scholarships are given to Jammu and Kashmir students for improving their skills by providing them access to education. The main objectives of the scheme are evolving guidelines for proper implementation of the scheme, conducting awareness workshops, conducting counselling for admission of candidates to different programs and courses, disbursal of scholarships for eligible candidates and redressal of grievances of PMSSS candidates.