Fri Jan 10 08:10:00 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 Friday, accusing it of halting the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholarship program to fund Prime Minister Modi’s “Pariksha Pe Charcha” initiative.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a post on X, claimed that the government prioritized public relations over the future of meritorious students. The NTSE scholarship, established in 1963, provided financial aid to deserving students, enabling them to pursue higher education. Vadra alleged that the scholarship has been suspended for the past three years, resulting in a loss of potential aid totaling ₹40 crore (approximately $5 million USD). She contrasted this with the ₹62 crore (approximately $7.6 million USD) reportedly spent on the “Pariksha Pe Charcha” program, a public discussion on examinations led by the Prime Minister.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed these accusations on Thursday, noting that the scholarship’s discontinuation was justified on grounds of budgetary control. He criticized the government’s continued investment in “Pariksha Pe Charcha,” deeming it a wasteful PR exercise.

The Congress party contends that the government’s actions demonstrate a disregard for the educational opportunities of thousands of students, prioritizing self-promotion over substantial investment in human capital. The party’s statements have ignited a political debate surrounding the allocation of government funds and the perceived prioritization of image over substance.

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