**Policy Summary: National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs)**
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment administers the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme, which provides financial assistance to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) for pursuing higher education abroad. The scheme covers accommodation charges, living expenses, tuition fees, visa fees, medical insurance premiums, incidental journey allowances, equipment allowances, and round-trip airfare (economy class, shortest route).
The number of SC students who have benefitted from the NOS scheme in recent years is as follows:
* 2022-23: 98 students
* 2023-24: 114 students
* 2024-25: 79 students
* 2025-26: Provisional award letters have been issued to 106 selected candidates, who are yet to travel abroad for their studies.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Scheduled Castes: A group of historically disadvantaged communities recognized by the Government of India as requiring special protection and support.
SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE: A member of Lok Sabha who asked the question about hostel facilities for Scheduled Castes.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme: A scheme providing financial assistance to students belonging to Scheduled Castes for pursuing higher studies abroad.
2022-23: Financial year during which beneficiaries received facilities
2023-24: Financial year during which beneficiaries received facilities
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3797
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
HOSTEL FACILITIES FOR SCHEDULED CASTES
+3797. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of facilities, including scholarships and hostel facilities being provided to the
students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) for pursuing studies abroad; and
(b) the details and the number of students provided with such facilities during the last three years
and the current year?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) & (b): Under National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme, financial assistance is provided
to the students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) etc. for pursuing higher studies abroad. This
assistance covers accommodation charges, living expenses, tuition fees, visa fees, medical
insurance premium, incidental journey allowance, equipment allowance and to and fro air fare in
economy class by shortest route.
The number of students who have been provided these facilities during last three years and
the current year is at Annexure.ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to part (a) and (b) of reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No.3797 to be answered on 12.8.2025.
Number of students who have been provided these facilities during last three years and the
current year:
S. No. Year Number of beneficiaries (Gone abroad)
1 2022-23 98
2 2023-24 114
3 2024-25 79
4 2025-26 _ [Provisional award letters to selected 106 candidates have been issued!
and these candidates are yet to proceed abroad for study.
3 ok a