**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3761, concerning the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for the year 2025-26, answered on August 12, 2025.
The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment clarifies that provisional award letters have been issued to all 106 candidates selected in the first round of Selection Year 2025-26 under the NOS scheme for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and other eligible categories.
The NOS scheme has a total of 125 slots annually, with 115 reserved for Scheduled Castes, 6 for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 for Landless Agricultural Laborers and Traditional Artisans.
The scheme provides financial assistance to scholars, including:
* **Annual Maintenance Allowance:** \$15,400 (USA), £9,900 (UK), amount not specified (other countries).
* **Annual Contingency Allowance:** \$1,500 (USA), £1,100 (UK), amount not specified (other countries).
* **Tuition Fees:** Actual fees as charged.
* **Visa Fees:** Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees.
* **Medical Insurance Premium:** Actual premium as charged.
* **Incidental Journey Allowance:** \$20 or its equivalent in Indian Rupees.
* **Equipment Allowance:** Not specified.
* **Air Passage:** To and fro airfare in economy class by the shortest route.
The Ministry asserts that there is no shortage of funds for the scheme, with a Budget Estimate of Rs. 130 crore allocated for 2025-26, which is the highest so far.
Key Entities Referenced
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme: A scholarship scheme administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, to support students from specific categories for overseas studies.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme and addressing issues related to social justice and empowerment.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question regarding the National Overseas Scholarship was raised.
Scheduled Castes: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India, for whom 115 slots are reserved under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
Denotified Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes: Designated tribes in India, for whom 6 slots are reserved under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
United States of America: One of the countries where scholars under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme can pursue their studies; the annual maintenance allowance for scholars studying in the USA is specified as 15400 US Dollar.
United Kingdom: Another country where scholars under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme can pursue their studies; the annual maintenance allowance for scholars studying in the UK is specified as 9900 Great Britain Pound.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who answered the question in the Lok Sabha regarding the National Overseas Scholarship scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3761
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
NATIONAL OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS
3761. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is true that provisional scholarships have been granted to only 40 out of the 106
candidates selected under the National Overseas Scholarship scheme for the year 2025-26;
(b) the details of the scholarships awarded under this scheme each year and the total amount
provided per scholar, including tuition, living expenses, and other allowances;
(c) the reasons for the shortage of funds, despite claims that the current financial year’s budget
allocation is the highest so far; and
(d) the reasons for candidates, despite being fully qualified and officially selected under the
scheme, being denied the scholarship, particularly when they belong to historically
disadvantaged and underprivileged communities?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a): Provisional award letters have been issued to all the 106 candidates who have been selected
in the first round of Selection Year 2025-26 under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
(NOS) for SCs etc.
(b): Total slots as per 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. The details of total amount provided to each
scholar including tuition, living expenses, and other allowances is at Annexure.
(c): There is no shortage of funds under the Scheme. The funds allocated under Budget Estimate
(B.E.) for 2025-26 is Rs.130 crore which is highest so far.
(d): Provisional award letters have been issued to all the 106 candidates who have been selected
in the first round of Selection Year 2025-26 under the NOS Scheme.ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to part (b) of reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3761 to
be answered on 12.8.2025.
SLNoJType of Assistance United States of America (USA)/[United Kingdom
& other Countries except U.K. (UK)
1. {Annual Maintenance Allowance {15400 US Dollar 9900 Great Britain!
Pound
2. {Annual Contingency Allowance {1500 US Dollar 1100 Great Britain
Pound
3. |Tuition Fees ‘Actual as charged
4, |Visa Fees Actual visa fee in Indian Rupees
5. |Medical Insurance Premium Actual as charged
6. [Incidental Journey Allowance &[20 US Dollar for each or its equivalent in Indian Rupees
Equipment Allowance
7. |Air Passage To and fro air fare in economy class by shortest route.
sek OK