Anjaneya Tewari, New Delhi : The Central Government has announced that a total of 580 Scheduled Caste (SC) students have been awarded scholarships and enrolled abroad under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme between the period of 2019-20 and August 6, 2026.
This information was formally shared by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply to Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao in the Lok Sabha.
Year-Wise Beneficiaries Breakdown
According to the official data furnished by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the number of beneficiaries securing international higher education opportunities has grown significantly over the specified period. The year-wise breakdown of awarded scholarships is as follows:
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2019-20: 41 students.
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2020-21: 71 students.
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2021-22: 98 students.
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2022-23: 98 students.
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2023-24: 114 students.
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2024-25: 80 students.
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2025-26: 78 students (as of August 6, 2026).
Overall, beneficiaries hailing from 33 States and Union Territories (UTs) have successfully availed of the scholarship. Maharashtra leads the nation with 234 total beneficiaries, followed by Delhi (40), Gujarat (39), Madhya Pradesh (33), and Kerala (24). In Andhra Pradesh, a total of 18 SC students were awarded the scholarship, representing districts such as Chittoor, Annamayya, Bapatla, Krishna, Palnadu, Prakasam, Visakhapatnam, and Y.S.R. Kadapa.
Digital Upgrades and Application Process
To streamline the application process and enhance transparency, applications for the NOS Scheme are invited through a dedicated online portal.
In a significant digital upgrade, the scheme has recently been onboarded to the newly launched unified SAMAVESH (Single Access Mechanism for All Verticals of Empowerment & Social Harmony) Portal. This integration is designed to improve application processing, scrutiny, data management, accessibility, and the overall selection process.
To prevent delays and ensure timely financial support, funds under the NOS Scheme are released in advance. Letters of Authorization (LoA) are issued to the concerned Indian Missions and Embassies, directing them to disburse the requisite funds to universities and students at the earliest upon the receipt of claims.
Awareness and Outreach
To maximize the reach of the scheme, the government ensures that all relevant details, scheme guidelines, and instructions are available on the Departmental website.
The Minister further stated that widespread publicity is achieved by publishing advertisements in newspapers and sending formal letters to the Social Welfare Departments of all State Governments and UTs. These concerted measures to expand awareness, digitize processes, and ensure timely fund disbursement reaffirm the government’s commitment to empowering SC students through quality global higher education opportunities.
