PM Modi at South Block for the first cabinet meeting of his new government

In the first decision of his second term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today cleared big changes in a scholarship scheme for children of soldiers killed in the line of duty. The scheme will now include policemen.

"The first decision is dedicated to those who protect India," tweeted the PM, revealing the decision to clear changes to the 'Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme' under the National Defence Fund.

The first file signed by PM Modi on assuming charge in his second term as PM was to enhance the amount of scholarships under the National Defence Fund and to include State Police Personnel in its ambit.

The rates of Scholarship have been increased by 25 per cent for boys (from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 2,500 per month) and 33 per cent for girls (from Rs 2,250 per month to Rs 3,000 per month).

"The ambit of the scholarship scheme is extended to the wards of state police officials who were martyred during terror or Naxal attacks," said an official.

The quota of new scholarships for children of state police personnel will be 500 in a year.

Our Government's first decision dedicated to those who protect India!



Major changes approved in PM's Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks. https://t.co/Vm90BD77hmpic.twitter.com/iXhFNlBCIc - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2019

"The ambit of the scholarship scheme is extended to the wards of state police officials who were martyred during terror or Naxal attacks," said an official.

"Earlier the children of martyrs like Tukaram Omble were not eligible for this scholarship. This will remove this anomaly and help families of all those deceased while fighting terror/naxals in state police forces."

Tukaram Omble died fighting terrorist who attacked Mumbai during 26/11.

The National Defence Fund (NDF) was set up in 1962 to take charge of the voluntary donations in cash and kind received for promotion of the national defence effort, and to decide on their utilisation.

The Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) is being implemented to encourage technical and post-graduate education for widows and wards of the deceased or ex-service personnel of armed forces and paramilitary forces and Railway Protection Force.

PM Modi held his first cabinet meeting this evening, a day after being sworn in at a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Union Cabinet for the 17th Lok Sabha includes 24 cabinet ministers, nine ministers of state with independent charge and 24 Ministers of State.

Amit Shah is the Home Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman the Finance Minister and Rajnath Singh is the Defence Minister in the new cabinet.