Delhi Government announced 100 per cent fee waiver for students from poor families, essentially those recognised by the National Food Security Scheme, on Tuesday.

Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia announced the launch of the AAP Government's new Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for needy students who pursue higher studies in any of the State universities of Delhi.

Sisodia announced 100 per cent fee waiver for students from families with cards issued under the National Food Security Scheme, 50 per cent fee waiver for students from families with income up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum and 25 per cent fee waiver for students from families with income above Rs 2.5 lakh and not exceeding Rs 6 lakh per annum.

The Deputy Chief Minister  launched the scheme for needy students who were pursuing higher studies in any of the State universities of Delhi, including GGS Indraprastha University,   Delhi Technological University, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology,  Ambedkar University, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technological University for Women and Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University.

The scheme will also be extended to the Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology as and when the institution becomes a State university of Delhi.

A Government official said that a minimum of 60 per cent marks would be mandatory for availing the scheme. A relaxation of 5 per cent in marks would be applicable for the students of SC/ST category.

"Initially the scheme will be applicable to the students in any of the Undergraduate Courses. The required documentation has been kept as minimum as possible. It is a proud moment for the people of Delhi that the Government of NCT of Delhi is the first Indian State to provide fee waiver to students from families with income upto Rs 6 lakh per annum," he added.

The Government is committed to ensure that no child is left behind in the higher education system for want of monitory resources, the Minister stated.

The Delhi Government has allocated a budget of Rs 10 crore for the academic year 2017-18. The scheme is expected to benefit about 20,000 - 25,000 students from poor and moderate means of income.

The scheme has been framed under the framework of The Delhi Higher Education Aid Trust.