National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

08.07.2025

National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

Context:
 Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment paused provisional award letters for 66 out of 106 selected candidates under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS), citing a shortage of funds and pending budget approvals.

About the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme (NOS):

1. Central government scheme to support marginalised students pursuing higher education abroad.
2. Covers Master’s and Ph.D. programmes in top QS-ranked foreign universities.
3. Financial assistance includes tuition, living costs, travel, insurance, etc.
4. Run by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, targeting SCs, Denotified Tribes, and others.

Key Provisions Of the Scheme:

1. Eligibility: Minimum 60% in qualifying degrees; age below 35 years.
2. Income cap: Annual family income must be below ₹8 lakh.
3. University requirement: Admission in Top 500 QS-ranked institutions.
4. Annual cap: Only 125 scholarships per year are sanctioned.
5. Gender quota: 30% reserved for women candidates.
6. Two-phase selection: Based on QS ranking and recognised universities.
    

Challenges:

1. Funding delay: Shortage of funds affected 66 selected candidates this year.
    → Example: Delay in release of award letters despite clearance.
2. Limited slots: Only 125 awards annually despite rising overseas aspirations.
    → Example: Over 5000 applicants in recent cycles.
3. Admission dependency: Requires prior admission in top foreign universities.
    → Example: Not feasible for all due to fee deadlines.
4. Geographical cap: Max 10% slots per state restricts state-wise representation.
    → Example: High meritorious candidates left out due to state quota.
    

Way Forward:

1. Increase allocation: Raise annual budget and slots to meet demand.
    → Example: Target 200+ scholarships to match aspirational rise.
2. Timely fund release: Ensure financial approvals align with academic timelines.
    → Example: Advance provisioning before admission cycles begin.
3. Flexible criteria: Allow wider university options beyond QS top 500.
    → Example: Recognise regional and subject-specific rankings.
4. Monitoring mechanism: Track selection-to-funding process regularly.
    → Example: Dedicated dashboard under National Scholarship Portal.
    

Conclusion:
 The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme is a vital instrument for inclusive global education access. However, timely funding, wider eligibility, and greater outreach are necessary to ensure that socio-economically backward students truly benefit from this opportunity to build a better future.