Meeting held for preparations for Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K and Ladakh (erstwhile PMSSS) for 2025-26

Leh, Oct 18, 2024: Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department, Padma Angmo, UT Ladakh chaired a meeting at civil Secretariat, Leh with the official of SSSJKL, AICTE along with other senior officials of Department of Higher Education and Department of School Education to discuss the issues pertaining to the SSSJKL/PMSSS and the preparedness for the upcoming session 2025-26.

Commissioner/Secretary appreciated the actions taken by Indian Nursing Council & AICTE to provide immediate one-time waiver for qualifying a State entrance examination to the B.Sc. Nursing students of Ladakh whose admission got cancelled due to change in the eligibility criteria this year.

After assessing the admission status under SSSJKL in 2024-25 and due deliberations, it was decided that a comprehensive training of Nodal Officers from Senior Secondary Schools of both districts shall be conducted by AICTE in November so that the Nodal Officers can further disseminate wide awareness and support for student for availing scholarship and admission through SSSJKL.  

Coordinator AICTE and Director AICTE briefed that the AICTE is making its grievance redressal mechanism robust. They also stated that the number of applications for the scholarship should be enhanced and wide awareness for the scheme is required to reach every student.  

Principal, GDC Drass, suggested that more details of Colleges and their ranking may be made available so that students can take an informed decision while making choices for the College. Principal, Degree College Nubra requested that an awareness camp may be also held in places like Nubra and other locations for awareness of students.

Chief Education Officer, School Education Department Leh suggested having a common Nodal Officer from each school for both scholarship through AICTE and scholarship through Ministry of Tribal Affairs/Minority Affairs.

Commissioner Secretary appreciated the responsiveness of the AICTE team to the problems and issues faced by the students and directed the Department officials for wide publicity reg the grievance portal of AICTE and the eligibility criteria of Indian Nursing Council for next academic session.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ruchir Gupta (Coordinator, AICTE), Mr. Kunal Jeet Singh (Director, AICTE), Dr. Nikhil Kant (Dy. Director, AICTE), Mr. Ajeet Angral (Consultant, AICTE), Mr. Abhishek (IT Consultant, AICTE), Under Secretary (Higher Education Department, Ladakh), Director Colleges, Ladakh, Chief Education Officer leh, and other concerned officials. CEO Kargil, Principal GDC Kargil,  Principal GDC Drass,  Principal GDC Zanskar, Principal GDC Khaltse,  Principal GDC Nubra joined the meeting virtually.