Ranchi: Taking forward the century-old legacy of Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda and the Overseas Scholarship Scheme launched last year, the Government of Jharkhand has notified its expanded version. Launched in 2020/21, the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship provides an opportunity to talented students from the state to pursue postgraduate studies at the top universities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Building on the inaugural success of the first year’s launch, the scholarship has now been extended to students from the SC, Minority and OBC communities along with students belonging to Scheduled Tribes.
It is a testament to the commitment made by Chief Minister during the award ceremony in September 2021 to provide fully funded opportunities to all marginal communities in the state to access higher education. The expanded version now allows for the provision of fully funded scholarships to upto 25 students every year, to pursue a 1 year Master’s or 2 year MPhil programme across 31 Disciplines in top universities in the UK and Northern Ireland.
Along with the scope, the state government has increased the allocated budget of the scholarship to 16 crores per year which could be increased if necessary. Candidates upto 35 years are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The Scholarship aims to strengthen diversity and equality in education and pushes for the mainstreaming of marginalised communities through building the next generation of leaders, decision and opinion-makers to contribute to the economic and social development of Jharkhand and India .
Last year, 7 scholars were part of the inaugural cohort of the scholarship and are currently pursuing postgraduate programmes in SOAS, Loughborough University, University of Warwick, University of Sussex and University College London in a wide range of practice areas such as climate change, creative writing and architecture. The candidates shared a common goal of utilising their knowledge and skills to resolve issues that deeply impacted their communities and by doing so contribute to the economic and social development of Jharkhand and the country.