The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme provides financial assistance to the selected Scheduled Castes, Denotified, Nomadic, Semi Nomadic Tribes, Landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans' students for pursuing higher studies for Master level courses and Ph. D abroad in the specified fields of study. The scheme provides for fees charged by Institutions as per actual, monthly maintenance allowances, visa fees, insurance premium, annual contingency allowance, incidental journey allowance etc. The prospective awardees should not be more than 35 years of age. The total number of awards to be given each year is 60 and 30% of awards are earmarked for women candidates. Financial assistance under the scheme is provided for maximum period for 4 years for Ph.D. and 3 years for Master programme.
As per the revised scheme which came into effect from the selection year 2013-14:
(i) The annual income ceiling for eligibility has been enhanced from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 6 lakh.
(ii) The number of fresh slots each year has been increased from 30 to 60
(iii) The selection process has been rationalized
The actual release of funds under the scheme has exceeded the budgetary allocations during the last three years as is shown in the table below.
Budget allocation during 2014-15 is Rs. 6.00 crore and up to 21.11.2014 Rs. 3.68 crore have been released.
30% of the awards for each year under the scheme are earmarked for women candidates in case adequate number of women candidates are not found available as per the stipulations of the Scheme, the unutilized slots are to be utilized by selecting suitable male candidates.
During the selection years 2011-12 and 2012-13 total number of selected candidates was 30 and 23 respectively, out of which the number of women candidates was 4 and 9 respectively. In the revised scheme applicable for the academic session 2013-14, the eligible students, who have already taken admission in any of the accredited institutions/universities abroad during academic session 2013-14 in the selected disciplines would be allotted the slots on first come first served basis. 32 applicants have been provisionally recommended for 2013-14 academic session for the scholarship, out of which 6 are women candidates. The lower representation of women candidates is due to non receipt of sufficient applications from eligible women candidates, Wide publicity of the scheme is given to popularize the scheme among all including women candidates.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.
As per the revised scheme which came into effect from the selection year 2013-14:
(i) The annual income ceiling for eligibility has been enhanced from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 6 lakh.
(ii) The number of fresh slots each year has been increased from 30 to 60
(iii) The selection process has been rationalized
The actual release of funds under the scheme has exceeded the budgetary allocations during the last three years as is shown in the table below.
| Year | Budget Allocation (Rs in Crore) | Amount Released (Rs in Crore) | Remarks |
| 2011-12 | 6.00 | 7.07 | Expenditure over and above budget allocation provided from savings of other schemes |
| 2012-13 | 6.00 | 6.89 | |
| 2013-14 | 6.00 | 6.13 |
Budget allocation during 2014-15 is Rs. 6.00 crore and up to 21.11.2014 Rs. 3.68 crore have been released.
30% of the awards for each year under the scheme are earmarked for women candidates in case adequate number of women candidates are not found available as per the stipulations of the Scheme, the unutilized slots are to be utilized by selecting suitable male candidates.
During the selection years 2011-12 and 2012-13 total number of selected candidates was 30 and 23 respectively, out of which the number of women candidates was 4 and 9 respectively. In the revised scheme applicable for the academic session 2013-14, the eligible students, who have already taken admission in any of the accredited institutions/universities abroad during academic session 2013-14 in the selected disciplines would be allotted the slots on first come first served basis. 32 applicants have been provisionally recommended for 2013-14 academic session for the scholarship, out of which 6 are women candidates. The lower representation of women candidates is due to non receipt of sufficient applications from eligible women candidates, Wide publicity of the scheme is given to popularize the scheme among all including women candidates.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.
