NCF Unnati Scholarship 2023: Application Process, Eligibility and Benefits

A new initiative called UNNATI has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) with the aim of promoting the best interests of children as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and its Amendment Act 2021. According to Section 3(iv) of the Act, all decisions regarding children must prioritize their best interests and aid in their full potential development. The State is responsible for meeting the needs and protecting the basic human rights of children. UNNATI will be implemented in the form of an NCF Unnati Scholarship 2023 operated through the National Children’s Fund (NCF), with the primary objective of investing in the value of academic excellence for a better future for each child.

Objective of NCF Unnati Scholarship 2023

The scheme aims to achieve several objectives, including enhancing the academic performance of children residing in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) that operate in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 and its Amendment Act 2021. Additionally, the scheme seeks to instill a sense of self-dependence and confidence in the children, encouraging them to believe in their innate abilities and potential to overcome any obstacles they may face in the future. Finally, the scheme aims to create a supportive environment by offering equal opportunities to all children and fostering the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their lives. The scheme aims to create an atmosphere by providing equitable opportunities. By creating an inclusive environment that supports the pursuit of excellence, the scheme aims to help children in CCIs develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.

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Eligibility Criteria

The applicants can check out the major information about eligibility criteria from the pointers given below and prepare themselves for the scholarship accordingly:

• To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must be residing in a sheltered accommodation provided by a Child Care Institution (CCI) registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. 
• Additionally, the applicant must have achieved a minimum of 55% marks in their previous final examination. 
• The Principal or in-charge of the institution where the child is studying must certify the enrollment of the student and ensure a minimum attendance of 75% on a yearly basis to enable the release of the scholarship. 
• However, if a student fulfills the above criteria but fails to secure a place in the merit list of the top 300 students, they will not be awarded the scholarship.
• Only students pursuing their studies from the 9th standard onwards are eligible for the scholarship, and they must have an Aadhaar-linked savings bank account in a nationalized bank. 
• Moreover, fifty percent of the total scholarship funds will be reserved for girl students. It is crucial to note that the child should not be receiving regular assistance from any other sources toward their education.

Benefits of NCF Unnati Scholarship

There are a lot of benefits that will be provided to the people when they are applying for this scholarship and given below we are sharing the information about the benefits:

• Class IX & X
  • Rs. 1000/- per month per child. and Rs.1000/- per annum per child for study material. (Child will thus receive a total of Rs. 13,000/- per year)
• Class XI & XII
  • Rs. 1000/- per month per child. and Rs.1000/- per annum per child for study material. (Child will thus receive a total of Rs. 13,000/- per year)

Application Process for NCF Unnati Scholarship 2023

The applicants can check out the major information about the application procedure from the pointers given below. Make sure that you are applying for the scholarship as soon as possible in order to avoid getting rejected.

• You can download the application form here and apply accordingly 

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development and NIPCCD will publish the details of the scholarship scheme on their official websites in April-June, and the last date for receiving applications from Child Care Institutions (CCIs) will be July 15th every year. During the launch year, a widespread campaign may be undertaken to raise awareness about the scholarship scheme. However, the need for such campaigns may be reviewed in later years.
• The National Children’s Fund will open a portal for receiving and disbursing scholarship proposals. Applications can be submitted online through the State Governments, who will verify the credentials of the applicants through the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) or District Probation Officer wherever required. The National Children’s Fund will scrutinize the applications, issue the sanction order, and release the amount online directly to the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Once the scholarship amount is received, it should be fixed deposited immediately, and a copy of the fixed deposit should be forwarded to the National Children’s Fund for record-keeping. 
• In cases where institutions do not have the facility for online submission of the application, they may submit the application in the prescribed format (enclosed in Annexure-1) by hand or post.

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Required Documents 

• Copies of the Memorandum of Association;
• Bye-laws/Rules and Regulations of the organization/CCIs;
• Resolution authorizing office bearers for operating Bank Accounts;
• Audited Statement of Accounts (comprising of Income and Expenditure Account; Receipt and
• Payment Account; Balance Sheet and Audit Reports) for the last three financial years and Annual
• Reports for the last three years of the Child Care Institution are to be enclosed.
• A copy of the bank passbook showing Name, Account number, and IFSC Code.

Selection Process

The applicant can check out the major information about the selection procedure which will be followed by the authorities to select the candidates from the pointers given below:

• The Committee formed in NIPCCD will review the applications received from various CCIs, and the shortlisted names will be forwarded to the Ministry’s Committee for finalization. 
• The students who fulfill the eligibility criteria and are verified by the officials will be considered for the scholarship. 
• The Board of Management will ratify the names of eligible students in its ensuing meeting. 
• The scholarship amount will be disbursed for a period of 12 months from the beginning of the academic year. 
• The total number of scholarships will be finalized based on the number of CCIs available in each state/UT and the funds available for the purpose. 
• The students who receive the scholarship will be awarded a Certificate of Appreciation every year. 
• The scheme will be periodically reviewed to ensure inclusivity and user-friendliness.

In conclusion, UNNATI is a scholarship initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development aimed at promoting the best interests of children living in CCIs. The scheme has specific eligibility criteria and a detailed application process, with committees responsible for screening and finalizing candidates. The scholarship amount is for 12 months, and the scheme will be reviewed periodically to make it more inclusive and user-friendly.

Contact Details

• http://www.wcd.nic.in/ 

NCF Unnati Scholarship FAQs