Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements two National Overseas Scholarship schemes

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements two National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) schemes. One is implemented by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans and the other one is implemented by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD) for students with disabilities.

The criteria followed for selection of the candidates under the schemes is as under:

(i) NOS for SC etc.:

Selections are made for study in top 500 QS ranked foreign Institutes/Universities on the basis of unconditional offer of admission. At least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination are required. Further, the total family income including the candidate from all sources shall not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year and the age of the candidate shall not be more than 35 (Thirty Five) years, as on first day of April of the selection year.

(ii) NOS for students with Disabilities:

For Ph.D., First class or 55% (fifty five per cent) marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master’s Degree are required. Similarly, for Masters’ Degree 55% (fifty five per cent) marks or equivalent grade in relevant Bachelor’s Degree are required. The age of the candidate shall be below 35 (Thirty -Five) years as on lst January of the year of application and the Parents/Guardian’s income should not be more than Rs.8.00 lakh per annum.

The process of selection for both the schemes is as under:

NOS for SC etc.:
The NOS portal (https://nosmsje.gov.in) is opened every year for calling of applications for the first round from mid of February to end of the March (for a period of 45 days). The candidates can apply on NOS portal for availing the scholarship under the scheme. Only complete and valid online applications are considered for award of the scholarship. After the scrutiny, the applications of all the eligible candidates’ are placed before the Selection-cum-Screening Committee for making their recommendations for selection as well as deciding the ranking of 125 candidates for scholarship. The ranking of the candidates are decided on the basis of QS ranking of the Institute/University he/she has sought admission to. Then, the provisional Award of Scholarship letters are issued to the selected candidates.

(ii) NOS for students with Disabilities:

Presently, the applications under the scheme are received offline throughout the year. The applications are examined by the Screening Committee constituted for the purpose. Applications shortlisted by the Screening Committee are placed before the Selection Committee. The candidates recommended by the Selection Committee are issued Award letters.

Under both the schemes, disbursement of scholarship amount/ of miscellaneous expenses(on reimbursement basis) etc. incurred by the candidate, is done by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through Indian Missions abroad and for this funds are sanctioned to MEA through Letter of Authorization(LoA) by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Funds are released to MEA from time to time on demand by the Indian embassy concerned in respect of any NOS student.

The National Overseas Scholarship schemes of both the departments are central sector schemes and, therefore, there is no State-wise and district-wise distribution. However number of candidates benefitted under the schemes for last three years is as below: