Education
Dharmendra Pradhan launches Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme
On 6th February 2024, New Delhi witnessed the launch of the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme by the Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. The ceremony was graced by eminent personalities, including Secretary of Higher Education, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy; Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Executive Director of EdCIL, Dr. Chandrashekhar, among other distinguished guests.
The EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, is a powerful force aimed at revolutionizing opportunities for quality education and access to higher education institutions. Going beyond mere enrolment, this initiative guarantees access to high-quality learning systems by facilitating a seamless transition from secondary to higher education and extending financial support for the meritorious Navodaya Vidyalaya students who lack means.
Shri Pradhan highlighted the programme as a manifestation of the NEP 2020’s vision for educational empowerment, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Celebrating the achievements of NVS students who have secured places in prestigious institutions like IITs and NITs without coaching, he announced scholarships worth Rs. 5 crore for 70 meritorious students.
The programme also drew attention to the collective role of society in nation-building, with corporates stepping up to sponsor academically gifted students in need. Shri K. Sanjay Murthy and Shri Sanjay Kumar lauded the initiative for leveraging philanthropy in education and acknowledged the academic excellence of Navodaya Vidyalaya students, emphasizing the transformative power of quality education.
The event saw the exchange of five MoUs between CSR sponsors, including prominent names like Fiat India and HDFC Bank, and the unveiling of the Vidyanjali Fintech Platform/portal. Six Navodaya Vidyalaya students were awarded scholarship letters in a gesture that underscores the government’s commitment to educational inclusivity and socio-economic upliftment.