Indian students, groups sound alarm over gov’t scholarship woes
Out of 440 applications received under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme, administered by the ministry of social Justice and empowerment to support students from disadvantaged communities, including Scheduled Castes, Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans, 106 candidates were placed on the selected list.
However, only 40 of them have received provisional award letters, while the remaining 66 would receive their awards depending on the “availability of funds,” as per a public notification by the ministry.
“106 candidates have been placed in the selected list. Out of these, initially, the provisional award letters will be issued to the candidates from serial number 1 to 40,” read the ministry’s July 1 announcement.
“Provisional award letters to the remaining candidates (from serial number 41 to 106) in the selected list may be issued in due course, subject to availability of funds,” the statement added.
While 64 eligible candidates were placed on the non-selected list due to factors such as their universities not being within top QS rankings, state quotas, and category-wise slots, and 270 applicants were rejected for not meeting eligibility criteria, this marks the first time in at least three years that all students on the selected list have not received scholarships in the first round.
“My university of choice is within the top 100 in the world, yet I missed out on the scholarship. I have been trying to secure the funding on my own, without my family’s help, and now there’s no certainty whether I will be able to study abroad any time soon,” a postgraduate student, one of the 66 selected candidates who didn’t receive a provisional scholarship, told The PIE News.
The student, who did not wish to be named, is now exploring other study abroad scholarships for marginalised communities while awaiting the second round of the NOS, expected in September or October 2025 based on available funds.
“Even after being selected for the scholarship, I might not be able to study abroad if funds do not come through. This is what will affect many women and first-generation scholars,” stated another student from Delhi, holding a UK university offer, while speaking with Hindustan Times.
Over the years, the NOS has served as a key scholarship for students from marginalised communities with a parental income of less than ₹8 lakh (approximately GBP £6,870) per annum.
The scheme funds master’s and PhD programs abroad, offering up to ₹16,920 (around GBP £145) annually, for a maximum of three years (master’s) or four years (PhD).
While the scheme awards 125 scholarships annually, allocations are capped at 10% each Indian state.
But despite a significant rise in the scheme’s budget, Rs. 130 crore (around GBP £12.10 million) allocated for FY 2025–26, up over 36% from Rs. 95 crore (around GBP £8.84 million) in 2024–25, government authorities are still awaiting approval for the disbursal of funds and have requested additional allocation from the Centre.
“We are seeking more allocation to administer the scheme. The allocation this year is higher than others. But what must be considered is that the scholarship is paid out through the period of education of the candidates,” a senior government official told The Hindu.
“So, a part of this year’s allocation must be used for this as well, that is for candidates selected in previous years and continuing their studies. As a result, the ministry is seeking more allocation and soon this will be worked out.”
On one hand, India is becoming the fourth-largest economy in the world, but on the other, it cannot fund 125 scholars from historically marginalised communities to study abroad
Raju Kendre, Eklavya India Foundation
Over the years, the ministry has faced criticism from students and advocacy groups over various issues with the NOS, ranging from delays in fund disbursals to administrative hurdles faced by students.
Many candidates had also raised concerns over delays in another ministry scheme, National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes.
The fellowship saw an initial selection list of 865 scholars announced in March 2025, but a revised list released the following month drastically reduced the number of selections to 805, eliminating 487 candidates who had previously been shortlisted.
Earlier this year, the parliamentary standing committee on social justice and empowerment flagged several issues with scholarship schemes run by the ministry.
The government has since announced plans to evaluate the NOS before the 2026–27 financial year to “assess its performance and determine whether it should be continued”.
Despite the number of NOS scholarship recipients rising from 51 in 2019–20 to 126 in 2023–24, according to data presented in India’s upper house, the Rajya Sabha, the “insufficient” budget has raised alarm among stakeholders, including, Raju Kendre, founder of the Eklavya India Foundation, which supports marginalised students pursuing international education and research.
“Despite an 80% increase in the number of scholarship recipients from marginalised communities, the budget allocation remains inadequate. This reflects the government’s willingness to support these students,” Kendre said.
“On one hand, India is becoming the fourth-largest economy in the world, but on the other, it cannot fund 125 scholars from historically marginalised communities to study abroad. Instead of expanding opportunities, the government seems to be cutting back, which is deeply concerning.”
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