In News:

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has come under scrutiny after withholding provisional award letters for 66 out of 106 selected candidates under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for the 2025–26 cycle. This development has raised concerns regarding funding gaps, administrative bottlenecks, and the future of the scheme intended to uplift marginalised students through access to global education.

About the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

• The NOS is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at enabling students from socially and economically disadvantaged communities to pursue postgraduate (Master’s) and doctoral (Ph.D.) education abroad in top-ranking universities.
• It provides financial assistance for tuition, living expenses, contingency costs, and travel.
• Administered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Target Beneficiaries:

• Scheduled Castes (SCs)
• Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes
• Landless Agricultural Labourers
• Traditional Artisans

• Eligibility Criteria:

• Academic Qualification:
  • Master’s: Bachelor’s degree with ≥ 60%
  • Ph.D.: Master’s degree with ≥ 60%
• Age Limit: Not more than 35 years as on April 1 of the selection year.
• Income Limit: Annual family income should not exceed ?8 lakh.
• University Criteria: Unconditional admission in Top 500 QS-ranked institutions.
• Other Conditions:
  • A maximum of 2 students per family (second eligible only if slots remain).
  • Not already settled or studying abroad.

• Key Features:

• Total Annual Slots: 125
  • 115 for SCs, 6 for Denotified Tribes, 4 for Labourers/Artisans
  • 30% reserved for women candidates
• Two-Phase Selection:
  • First: QS Top 500 mandatory
  • Second: Open to broader university lists
• State Cap: Maximum 10% slots per state to ensure geographic diversity

Ongoing Evaluation and Policy Review

• The government is currently conducting a performance evaluation of the NOS scheme ahead of its 16th financial cycle (2026–27). This includes assessing issues related to fund disbursal, slot utilization, and implementation gaps.
• A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment had earlier flagged:
  • Insufficient scholarship amounts
  • Persistent delays in fund release
  • Underutilization of slots
  • Need for expanding coverage and increasing annual slots