Fri Jan 10 07:53:37 UTC 2025: ## Congress Accuses Modi Government of Halting NTSE Scholarships for PR Stunts

**New Delhi, January 10, 2025** – The Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government today, alleging that the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholarship program has been suspended for the past three years, prioritizing public relations exercises over the education of meritorious students.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary, took to X to criticize the government’s alleged inaction. She pointed out that the NTSE scholarship, established in 1963, had provided educational opportunities for countless students, contributing to the nation’s progress. Vadra cited a news report claiming the scholarship program’s suspension and highlighted the government’s continued investment in “Pariksha Pe Charcha,” an annual event featuring Prime Minister Modi, estimating that ₹62 crore has been spent on the event over the past three years, while an estimated ₹40 crore could have been allocated to the scholarships.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed these concerns on Thursday, stating that the scholarship was discontinued three years ago due to budget constraints. He contrasted this with the significant expenditure on “Pariksha Pe Charcha,” characterizing the government’s actions as a “PR stunt.”

The Congress alleges that the Modi government has prioritized image building over the future of deserving students by halting a vital scholarship program for the past three years, leaving lakhs of students without crucial financial support for their education. The party argues that this demonstrates a misplaced focus on self-promotion over the nation’s progress.

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