National Overseas Scholarship for SC under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Government of India 2026

National Overseas Scholarship for SC under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Government of India 2026

The National Overseas Scholarship is a Central Sector scheme designed to facilitate higher education abroad for low-income students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Denotified Nomadic & Semi‑Nomadic Tribes (DNT/SNT), Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans. The programme aims to improve the economic and social status of these beneficiaries by supporting Master’s or PhD studies in any subject at international universities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must belong to one of the specified categories: Scheduled Castes (SC), DNT/SNT, Landless Agricultural Labourers, or Traditional Artisans.
• An unconditional admission offer from a foreign university is required; for the first round, the institution must rank within the top 500 in the QS World University Rankings.
• Candidates must have at least 60% (or equivalent grade) in their qualifying exam, with a Bachelor’s degree required for Master’s courses and a Master’s degree for PhD courses.
• Applicants must be no more than 35 years old as of 1 April of the selection year.
• Family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh per annum.
• Applicants cannot have already studied abroad through another scholarship or personal funds for the same level of study.
• Not more than two children per family may apply under this scheme, and Bachelor’s level courses are not eligible.

Scholarship Value

• The financial assistance package includes full funding covering tuition fees as charged by the foreign institution.
• An annual maintenance allowance is provided at US $15,400 for USA and other countries (except UK) or £9,900 per annum for the UK.
• A contingency allowance of US $1,500 (or £1,100 for the UK) is also included.
• Additional benefits cover visa fees (actual costs in Indian Rupees), medical insurance premium (actual charges), and an incidental journey and equipment allowance of US $20 each.
• Economy class air passage from India to the nearest place of the educational institution and return via authorized travel agents is provided.
• The award duration is up to 3 years for Master’s level and up to 4 years for PhD level studies.

Application Process

• Applications are submitted online during the designated application windows.
• The portal opens in two rounds: the first round typically occurs in February–March, and a second round in September–October if vacancies remain.
• Required documents to upload include the caste certificate, income certificate, qualifying degree mark sheets, the admission offer from the foreign university, and Aadhaar card.
• A correction window is available for a few days after initial submission.
• Applications are screened and merit-ranked; selected candidates receive a provisional award letter.
• To confirm the scholarship, candidates must complete formalities including document verification, signing a bond, obtaining a health certificate, and arranging passport and visa formalities.

Official Scholarship Portal