Chandigarh University launches online scholarship for defense personnel children

Chandigarh University marked the 78th Army Day celebrations by launching the “CU Online Jai Jawan Scholarship,” aimed at providing financial support to children of Indian Defense and Paramilitary personnel pursuing online higher education.

The scholarship is offered through CU Online and applies to 12 internationally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate online degree programs.

The launch event was attended by Lt Gen Ajay Chandpuria, AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps; Brigadier (Dr) Gagan Deep Singh Baath, Executive Director of Student Affairs and Administration and Professor of Management at Chandigarh University; and Dr Gurpreet Singh, Director, Chandigarh University.

Explaining the scope of the scheme, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, said, “Family members of serving, retired, and martyred soldiers will be eligible for benefits of this scholarship scheme, which will cover the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB, Assam Rifles, NSG, SPG, and other paramilitary units.”

He said the scholarship applies to all 12 online programs offered by CU Online, including BBA, BCA, MBA General, MBA Business Analytics, MCA, BA JMC, BBA BA, MSc Data Science, MA English, MA Economics, MSc Maths, and MA JMC.

“For availing the benefit of the ‘CU Online Jai Jawan Scholarship,’ eligible applicants will need to visit web portal of the CU Online (www.onlinecu.in), select an online degree program, upload proof of parent’s service and select ‘Defense Service – Jai Jawan’ under the scholarship section,” he added.

Calling the initiative a step toward empowering military families, Sandhu said it would help ensure that children of soldiers are not denied access to education due to financial constraints.

He also highlighted the university’s National Cadet Corps unit, which has 373 cadets across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, with 40% women, and noted that 43 cadets from Chandigarh University have been commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

During the event, Lt Gen Ajay Chandpuria delivered a keynote address on “War, Will and Wisdom: India’s Evolving Military Thought in an Age of Strategic Uncertainty.”

As part of the Army Day celebrations, an Indian Army Infantry Small Arms Exhibition was organized at Chandigarh University, giving students an opportunity to see modern and upgraded weapons and equipment used by the Army.

The exhibition showcased systems including the BFSR TI camera, 81 mm mortar, ATGM unified launcher, 7.62 mm MAG 58 machine gun, Automatic Grenade Launcher 17, Dragunov sniper rifle, .338 SAKO TRG 42 sniper rifle, Negev LMG, SIG rifle, AK 203 rifle, and INSAS rifle.