R D Sethna Scholarship 2022: Overview, Eligibility & Process For Indian Students

The RD Sethna Scholarship is a way to empower the next young generation of India. It is a loan scholarship offered on a merit basis to Indian students looking to undertake studies overseas or in India. It tries to encourage aspiring students in any scientific, industrial, technical, or commercial field to undertake higher studies by providing financial aid in the form of loan scholarships.

This article discusses the eligibility criteria, admission process and more about the RD Sethna Scholarship in 2022 and beyond.

Overview of the RD Sethna Scholarship

Established circa 1938, post the demise of Mr Rustom D. Sethna, an Indian philanthropist, the RD Sethna Scholarship is an initiative to take forward what he set out to achieve. He dedicated his life to higher education and worked towards benefiting society and the education sector. The RD Sethna Scholarship Fund is one of India’s oldest and most revered loan scholarship programs that helps students looking to embark on higher studies within the country or abroad and accomplish their dreams.

Highlights

• Providing Authority – R D Sethna Scholarship Fund
• Scholarship Name – R D Sethna Scholarship / R D Sethna Loan Scholarship
• Application Mode – Offline/Online
• Category – Loan Scholarships
• Main Beneficiaries – Students who have completed their Class 12th exam
• Open Date – 1st April 2022
• End Date for Overseas Studies – 31st May 2022
• End Date for Studies within India – 31st August 2022
• Scholarship Amount – INR 10,000 or higher

Eligibility Criteria

Here are the eligibility criteria for the R D Sethna Scholarship –

• Applicants must be citizens of India applying for scientific, technical, medical, and other professional courses in India or overseas.
• The applicant must have scored at least 50% in the Class 12th examination.
• The candidate must have at least two recommendation letters from the permanent residents of India.
• The applicant requires a guarantor who has to be a male student and a permanent resident of India with a minimum monthly income of INR 15,000 if they are pursuing overseas education or INR 10,000 to pursue graduation within India.
• The candidate must have received admission to a college or university in India or abroad for higher studies.
• The applicant who has received admission to universities or institutions in the USA must enclose a copy of Form I-20.

Application Process

You can apply for the R D Sethna Scholarship online or offline.

Online Application Process

• Visit the official website of the scholarship program.
• You will have to pay an application fee of ₹ 50 for proceeding. Scroll down, and you will find the Pay Application Fee button, which will take you to the Razorpay application fee page.
• It accepts payment via card, wallet, UPI, QR, or Netbanking. Once you complete the payment, you will be redirected to the application form.
• Alternatively, you can also fill out the form and make the payment later. Note that the application fee is non-refundable.
• Create a new profile on the website or log in with your existing details.
• Once you log in, click on the register option and choose the relevant stream and other options to complete the application process.

Offline Application Process

• You can obtain the printed application form from the R D Sethna Trust office at Esplanade House, 29, Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort, Mumbai–400 001
• You will be requested payment of ₹ 50 in cash, demand draft, or via postal order. In case you are asking for the form by post, you will have to attach a self-addressed INR 10 stamped envelope of size 23 cm x 10 cm.
• Fill out the form and attach all the requested documents, such as last examination transcripts, salary certificate, and more, all verified by a gazetted officer and submit it to the same address.

Note – Once you receive the R D Sethna Scholarship, you will have to provide an insurance policy (from Tata AIA or LIC) through the agents designated by the trust before disbursement of the instalments. It will act as a collateral guarantee for the scholarship fund forwarded, and the policy will stand assigned to the Trustees until further notice.

Application Period 2022-23

As for the academic year 2022-23, the R D Sethna Loan Scholarship application forms have been made available since the beginning of April 2022. The last date of submission for this year is August 2022 for offline submission for students who want to pursue their higher education in India and May 2022 for those going for studies abroad.

Documents Required for R D Sethna Scholarship

Here is the list of documents that you are to submit for being eligible for financial assistance under the R D Sethna scholarship –

• Academic transcripts of secondary school certificate examination.
• A copy of the admission letter to the college, university, or institution.
• At least two LORs (letters of recommendation) from permanent residents in India.
• Salary certificate or Income tax return copy of the guarantor and the parents of the candidate.
• A passport size photograph.
• A copy of Form I-20 if the candidate has secured admission to any institution or university in the USA.

Selection Process

• The selection for the R D Sethna Scholarship is wholly based on merit. This means that the academic record and the financial condition of the applicant and their parents/guardians would be the primary focus. For this, the LORs also play a vital role.
• Once selected, you will receive a formal acknowledgement from the trust for the disbursal of the grant. The grant will be available to you as regular instalments.
• The value of the instalments and the total grant amount is based on the R D Sethna Scholarship Fund trustees.

Terms of the Agreement

• The guarantor has to submit a joint and several other demand promissory notes to start receiving the grant and an agreement in the prescribed format.
• The loan scholarship will be available in instalments only.
• The documents submitted by the applicant must be certified by an SEM or a gazetted officer
• The loan scholarship must be availed within six weeks from the grant date. If the applicant fails to submit the requisite documents within four weeks of communication, the scholarship will stand cancelled.
• The life endowment policy must not be of more than 20 years (if they already have one, they can submit the same to the trustees).

Contact Details

• Address – Esplanade House, 29 Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400 001
• Phone Number – +91 22 2207 7044
• Email – resethnascholarship@gmail.com
• Website – rdsethnascholarships.org

Conclusion

The R D Sethna Scholarship is an ideal way to empower needy students to enable them to complete their higher education and fulfil their dreams. With its help, students, irrespective of their caste or creed, can dream of becoming what they want to and complete their academic goals with ease. If you are looking to supercharge your academic career, you can consider getting in touch with LeapScholar. We have experts who would guide you to pursue meaningful courses across the best universities globally and fulfil your dreams with ease. Book a free counselling session with LeapScholar today! Click here to read about courses, universities and scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions