Government of India revamps NOS Policy, raises opportunities for SC students to study abroad

Government of India revamps NOS Policy, raises opportunities for SC students to study abroad

Last Updated Jul - 22 - 2022, 12:39 PM | Source : | Visitors : 27

New Delhi: Highlighting education to be the most powerful tool for empowering socially weaker populations, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has been implementing scholarships for SC students to study abroad. The government announced on July 20 that under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SC students, the field of science, technology, law, economics and psychology will receive funding as there is a greater demand and need for international exposure in these fields. Moreover, courses concerning Indian Culture, Heritage, History & Social studies on India will not be considered for award of scholarships from 2022-23 onwards.

The government aims to give more SC students the opportunity to study in top global universities as they run most of the aforementioned courses. Thirty percent of scholarships will be continued to be awarded to women candidates.

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Overseas Scholarship Schemes

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been implementing the following Overseas Scholarship schemes-

• National Overseas Scholarship Sheme for SC students
• National Overseas Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Under the scheme for SC students, in the year 2022-23, there were 125 slots and all the available scholarship slots have been duly filled under the NOS scheme. Less number of applications were received under National Overseas Scholarship for disabled students as many were not meeting the eligibility criteria like age, and marks.

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Initiatives for SC Students

The Social Justice Ministry implements the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) under which meritorious SC students are provided admission to the best available residential schools.  The scheme in the initial stage aims to provide quality education & opportunities to 3,000 students belonging to the scheduled caste category from class 9th to class 12th.

The students whose parental annual income is up to Rs. 2.5 Lakh per annum will be selected through National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA. After 12th class, they can further their studies with government financial aid through the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme or Top–Class Education Scheme of the Ministry.

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The Center has released 569.03 crores for pre-matric scholarships for SC students, a 61 percent increase from the previous year. These schemes have taken the Gross Enrollment Ratio of SC students to 23.4, compared to the national GER of 27.1.

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