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):
- Central government scheme to support marginalised students pursuing higher education abroad.
- Covers Master’s and Ph.D. programmes in top QS-ranked foreign universities.
- Financial assistance includes tuition, living costs, travel, insurance, etc.
- Run by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, targeting SCs, Denotified Tribes, and others.
Key Provisions Of the Scheme:
- Eligibility: Minimum 60% in qualifying degrees; age below 35 years.
- Income cap: Annual family income must be below ₹8 lakh.
- University requirement: Admission in Top 500 QS-ranked institutions.
- Annual cap: Only 125 scholarships per year are sanctioned.
- Gender quota: 30% reserved for women candidates.
- Two-phase selection: Based on QS ranking and recognised universities.
Challenges:
- Funding delay: Shortage of funds affected 66 selected candidates this year.
→ Example: Delay in release of award letters despite clearance.
- Limited slots: Only 125 awards annually despite rising overseas aspirations.
→ Example: Over 5000 applicants in recent cycles.
- Admission dependency: Requires prior admission in top foreign universities.
→ Example: Not feasible for all due to fee deadlines.
- Geographical cap: Max 10% slots per state restricts state-wise representation.
→ Example: High meritorious candidates left out due to state quota.
Way Forward:
- Increase allocation: Raise annual budget and slots to meet demand.
→ Example: Target 200+ scholarships to match aspirational rise.
- Timely fund release: Ensure financial approvals align with academic timelines.
→ Example: Advance provisioning before admission cycles begin.
- Flexible criteria: Allow wider university options beyond QS top 500.
→ Example: Recognise regional and subject-specific rankings.
- 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.