Why in news?
News reports in July 2025 revealed that the Ministry of Social Justice had not issued provisional award letters to many selected candidates under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme, citing a shortage of funds. The incident raised concerns about equitable access to foreign education for marginalised communities.
What is the NOS Scheme?
- The NOS is a Central Sector scholarship programme that supports students from Scheduled Castes (SCs), denotified tribes, nomadic and semi‑nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourer families and traditional artisans to pursue postgraduate or doctoral studies abroad.
- Goal: Enhance educational opportunities and social mobility for historically disadvantaged communities by enabling them to study at globally reputed institutions.
Eligibility and selection
- Academic criteria: Applicants must secure at least 60 percent marks in their qualifying degree and be under 35 years of age.
- Income ceiling: Annual family income should not exceed ₹8 lakh.
- University ranking: Candidates must obtain admission to universities ranked within the top 500 globally; a second selection list allows admission to any recognised institution.
- Family limit: A maximum of two children per family can receive the scholarship.
Scheme features
- The scheme awards roughly 125 scholarships each year, with 30 percent reserved for women. The majority of slots are for SC students; others cover denotified and nomadic tribes.
- It covers tuition fees, living expenses, medical insurance, air travel and incidental costs.
- Beneficiaries must return to India after completing their studies and serve in a socially useful sector for a specified period.
Challenges and suggestions
- Funding constraints: Insufficient budget allocations have caused delays and uncertainty for selected students.
- Information gaps: Potential beneficiaries may be unaware of the scheme due to limited outreach.
- Rigidity: Strict eligibility requirements (e.g., top‑500 university admission) may exclude deserving candidates.
- Recommendations: Increase funding, expand the list of eligible institutions based on fields of study, and conduct targeted awareness campaigns.