**Summary:**
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment administers the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme, which provides scholarships to Scheduled Caste (SC), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans candidates for pursuing higher education (Master's degree or Ph.D.) at top 500 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked universities/institutions abroad. The scheme has a total of 125 slots annually, with 115 reserved for SC candidates, 6 for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 for Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans. The number of seats under the NOS Scheme was increased from 100 to 125 in the year 2021-22. To promote awareness of the NOS Scheme, the Ministry publishes advertisements in newspapers and communicates with the Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of Social Welfare Departments of State Governments and Union Territories to ensure broad publicity. The number of beneficiaries who received scholarships under the NOS Scheme for foreign studies over the last ten years is as follows: 2015-16 (20), 2016-17 (46), 2017-18 (64), 2018-19 (45), 2019-20 (41), 2020-21 (71), 2021-22 (98), 2022-23 (98), 2023-24 (114), and 2024-25 (79).
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Castes: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India, also referred to as SCs.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
National Overseas Scholarship: A scholarship scheme administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide opportunities for higher education abroad to students from specific categories.
Quacquarelli Symonds: An organization that publishes university rankings, often referred to as QS.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Denotified Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes: Specific communities eligible for reservation under the National Overseas Scholarship scheme.
Union Territories: Areas governed directly by the central government of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3756
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIP TO SCs
3756. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Scheduled Castes (SCs) are getting foreign scholarship for higher
study in the abroad reputed academic institutions;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the total number of students got scholarship for foreign studies
during the last ten years;
(c) whether it is a fact that the total number of seats for foreign scholarship to SCs have not
increased since long period;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether it is a fact that the Government has proposed any awareness programme to
concerned sections of Scheduled Castes about the foreign scholarship available for them; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and measures taken in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) & (b): Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment administers National Overseas
Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for SC etc. candidates to obtain higher education viz. Master’s
degree or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) by studying abroad in top 500 Quacquarelli Symonds
(QS) ranking Universities/Institutions. Total slots allotted under the Scheme is 125 annually.
Out of these slots, 115 are reserved for Scheduled Castes, 06 for De-notified Nomadic and Semi-
Nomadic Tribes and 04 for Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans candidates.
Details of students who got scholarship under NOS Scheme for foreign studies during the last ten
years is at Annexure.
(c) & (d): The total number of seats under the NOS Scheme were increased in the Year 2021-22
from 100 to 125.
(e): To raise awareness about the NOS Scheme among students, advertisements are published in
newspapers, and letters are sent to the Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of Social Welfare
Departments of State Governments and Union Territories to ensure widespread publicity of the
Scheme.ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to part (a) and (b) of reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3756 to
be answered on 12.08.2025.
Number of students who got scholarship under the NOS Scheme for foreign studies during the
last ten years:
S. No. Year Number of beneficiaries (Gone abroad)
1 2015-16 20
2 2016-17 46
3 2017-18 64
4 2018-19 45
5 2019-20 41
6 2020-21 71
7 2021-22 98
8 2022-23 98
9 2023-24 114
10 2024-25 79
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