Sources say the scholarship will be provided to students by the Human Resource Ministry. The ministry has sought information about these students from the Punjab Higher Education Department by March 10.

The scholarship, which will especially benefit rural students, will be sent directly to the m. In Punjab, the percentage of rural students is very low in the higher education.

A survey conducted by Punjabi University recently had revealed that there is a wide gap between the education standards in rural and urban areas in the state.

According to the survey, there are only six per cent students from rural background at Punjabi University, four per cent at GNDU, 3.25 per cent in PAU and 2.25 per cent at PU, Chandigarh.

The number of students from rural areas in professional courses is negligible. This is due to a dearth of good educational institutes in rural areas and lack of encouragement.