SRINAGAR: As many as 42,731 students from Jammu and Kashmir benefited from the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) over the last three academic years, according to a government reply tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The figures were provided by the Higher Education Department in response to Starred D. No. 1/6/217, tabled by MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, on the availability of internships, fellowships, apprenticeships and educational opportunities for youth in J&K.
The data showed that 14,526 students benefited under PMSSS in 2024-25, followed by 14,411 in 2025-26 and 13,794 in 2026-27. Jammu accounted for 9,928 beneficiaries in 2024-25, 10,690 in 2025-26 and 10,205 in 2026-27, while the corresponding figures for Kashmir were 4,598, 3,721 and 3,589.
The department said adequate platforms and structured opportunities were available across Government Degree Colleges and universities in J&K for internships, fellowships, apprenticeships and specialised educational programmes, with institutions being aligned with national standards.
Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, internships have been incorporated into the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP), with two to four credits of skill-based, research or industry internships made mandatory for undergraduate students.
The department also said higher education institutions were being onboarded onto the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) and AICTE Internship Portal to facilitate registration and placement of graduates and diploma holders with government, public sector and private organisations.
J&K students also have access to central scholarship schemes, including the PMSSS and AICTE-linked Pragati Scholarship for girl students, Swanath Scholarship, Saksham Scholarship and the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies.
Under the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies, 803 students were recorded in 2023-24, 766 in 2024-25 and 455 in 2025-26, while applications for 2026-27 were under process.
For the Pragati Scholarship, applications verified for fresh and renewal categories stood at 111 and 247 respectively in 2023-24, 152 and 225 in 2024-25, and 161 and 252 in 2025-26. Applications for 2026-27 were under process.
The government also said it had approved a full fee waiver for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) students in Government Degree Colleges through Government Order No. 209-JK (HE) of 2026, dated 8 July 2026.
On creating a centralised source of information, the department said it was integrating institutional career guidance and placement cells with the National Career Service portal and AICTE/NATS dashboards.
It said the SIGMA portal and Android application developed by the Directorate of Colleges, J&K, were being used to disseminate information on scholarships, fellowships and other opportunities. The platform is intended to bring information on state and central scholarships, apprenticeship drives, skill-development programmes and fellowship opportunities under a single-window system.
The department added that every Government Degree College had established a Career Counselling and Placement Cell to provide localised information and address access gaps, particularly for students from rural and far-flung areas.
The government, however, acknowledged gaps in access to such opportunities. It cited the limited industrial footprint in some districts as a factor contributing to dependence on virtual or remote internships and placements outside J&K.
It also identified gaps in awareness of national fellowships and apprenticeship opportunities in rural and remote colleges, along with the need for more market-oriented practical training in areas such as artificial intelligence, green technology, data analytics, e-waste management and disaster risk reduction.
The department said corrective measures included the introduction of industry-aligned vocational and minor courses under NEP 2020, work on integrating NATS and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) with the FYUGP curriculum, free skill-development initiatives with organisations including NIELIT and NSDC, and MoUs with local industries, municipal bodies and public sector undertakings to create apprenticeship opportunities within J&K.
It also said a committee had been constituted under Higher Education Department Order No. 188-JK (HE) of 2026, dated 25 June 2026, to rationalise subjects and introduce new programmes in Government Degree Colleges across the Union Territory.
