What is the National Overseas Scholarship?
The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) is an initiative by the Government of India aimed at providing financial assistance to students belonging to marginalized communities for pursuing higher education abroad. This scholarship is intended to empower students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, and Traditional Artisans with opportunities for higher education, thereby fostering their academic and professional development.
Objectives of the National Overseas Scholarship
- To provide financial assistance to students from marginalized communities to pursue master’s and Ph.D. programs abroad.
- To enhance the employability of these students by enabling them to acquire specialized knowledge and skills.
- To promote the socio-economic development of marginalized communities by building their capacities through international education and exposure.
Who Can Apply?
- Nationality: The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
- Community: The scholarship is specifically for candidates belonging to SC, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Laborers, and Traditional Artisans.
- Educational Qualification:
- For Master’s Degree: The candidate should have at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in the qualifying examination.
- For Ph.D.: The candidate should have at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in the qualifying Master’s degree.
- Age: The applicant should be below 35 years of age as on the first day of the month of the advertisement of the scheme.
- Family Income: The total family income from all sources should not exceed INR 8,00,000 per annum.
- Course Selection: The scholarship is applicable for courses leading to Master’s and Ph.D. degrees only.
- No Prior Benefits: The applicant should not have received any overseas scholarship from the Government of India.
How to Apply?
- Check Eligibility: Before applying, ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria.
- Gather Required Documents: Prepare the necessary documents such as academic certificates, proof of community, income certificate, age proof, and admission proof from the foreign university.
- Visit the Official Website: The applications are usually accepted online. Visit the official website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (http://socialjustice.nic.in).
- Register and Fill Application Form: Create an account on the portal, fill in the application form with accurate details, and upload the required documents.
- Submit the Application: After filling in the details and uploading the documents, submit the application form online.
Where to Apply?
The applications for the National Overseas Scholarship can be submitted through the official portal of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Detailed guidelines and the link to the application portal can be found on the Ministry’s official website: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Selection Process
- Screening of Applications: The submitted applications are screened based on the eligibility criteria.
- Merit-Based Selection: The selection is primarily based on the merit of the candidate’s academic performance.
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates may be called for an interview.
- Final Selection: The final selection is made by a selection committee constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Benefits of the National Overseas Scholarship
- Tuition fees and other educational expenses.
- Maintenance allowance, including living expenses.
- Contingency allowance.Travel expenses (to and from the country of study).
- Medical insurance.
