Himachal Pradesh Expands Student Loan Scheme

The Himachal Pradesh government has expanded the Dr. YS Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojna to include loans for students pursuing education abroad, aiming to support meritorious individuals from economically weaker sections. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the scheme will provide educational loans of up to Rs 20 lakh at a low interest rate of one percent, with eligibility criteria set for families earning below Rs 4 lakh annually. The initiative addresses financial barriers to higher education and reflects the government's commitment to accessible quality education for all. A detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) will soon be released to guide the implementation of this expanded scheme. To ensure timely support, a corpus at the district level will be maintained to facilitate immediate loan disbursements. The government has allocated Rs 200 crore to back this initiative, reinforcing its dedication to educational equity.