NEW DELHI: In his first decision after assuming office, PM Narendra Modi on Friday approved an increase in scholarships given to widows and wards of deceased or ex-service personnel of armed and paramilitary forces from the National Defence Fund (NDF).

Extending the NDF’s ambit to include wards of state police officers who die in terror or Maoist attacks, the rates of scholarship have been increased from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 2,500 per month for boys and from Rs 2,250 per month to Rs 3,000 per month for girls. The quota of new scholarships for wards of state police officers will be 500 in a year, the PMO said.

“Our government’s first decision dedicated to those who protect India. Major changes approved in PM's Scholarship Scheme under the NDF, including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks,” Modi tweeted.

Under the NDF, the PM’s scholarship scheme is being implemented to encourage technical and post-graduate education for widows and wards of deceased ex-service personnel of the armed forces, paramilitary forces and the Railway Protection Force .

“The scholarships are mainly given for medical, engineering, MBA, MCA and other equivalent technical courses. Under the PMSS, new scholarships are given every year to 5,500 wards of armed forces controlled by the defence ministry, 2,000 wards of paramilitary forces controlled by the MHA,” an official said.

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