Discontinuation of NTSE scholarship: Kharge slams Centre over ‘attack’ on higher education

New Delhi [India], January 11 (ANI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has hit out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing them of "attacking" higher education in India.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he expressed disappointment over the discontinuation of the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholarship for students, which has been ongoing since 1963.
"BJP-RSS are constantly attacking higher education in India," Kharge posted on X, adding, "Narendra Modi, you blow your own trumpet with "Pariksha Par Charcha" and "Exam Warriors", but NTSE has been discontinued for three years, as revealed by the newspapers. This scheme, which has been running since 1963, should have amounted to Rs 40 crore, but Rs 62 crore has been spent on Modi's PR."
Talking about the newly introduced draft regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Congress president criticised the "sweeping control" vested to the Governor in appointing University Vice Chancellors (VCs), labelling it as an attack on federal structures and rights of the state governments.
"UGC's Draft Regulations 2025 give governors sweeping control over vice-chancellor appointments and allow non-academics to hold these posts, which is a direct attack on federalism and state rights. The BJP-RSS wants only Sangh Parivar VCs to be appointed," Kharge said.
He further pointed out that the UGC was tasked to provide financial aid to the universities, which has been overtaken by the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) - a venture between the Ministry of Education and Canara Bank.
Condemning the move, Kharge said that this will create financial troubles for students from marginalised communities since universities will be compelled to start self-finance courses.
"Earlier, UGC was providing financial aid to universities, the government used to fund UGC. But now the job of providing financial aid has been taken over by HEFA created by the Modi government - it is a venture between Canara Bank and the Ministry of Education. This will not only force colleges and universities to start more self-financed courses but will also increase the financial troubles of SC, ST, OBC and EWS students," the Congress chief said.
Moreover, Kharge accused Narendra Modi's government of "controlling universities, throttling autonomous institutions, imposing RSS's Manuwadi ideology on public education and betraying the youth." (ANI)