NOS Scholarship: 726 out of 3,200 applicants from marginalised communities received scholarships

NEW DELHI: Out of 3,244 applicants, 726 students received scholarships under the three schemes of National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) implemented by the ministry of social justice and empowerment and the ministry of tribal affairs over the last five years.

Similarly, 9,794 students have received scholarships under the Top Class Education Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students for the same period, said A Narayanaswamy, minister of state for social justice and empowerment, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. About Rs 100.62 crore has been spent for the implementation of the NOS schemes for the past five years, and Rs 179.62 crores for the Top Class Education Scheme for SC students, said Narayanaswamy.

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Among the three NOS schemes, one is implemented by the department of social justice and empowerment. Under this scholarship scheme, financial assistance is provided to students from marginalised communities to pursue higher education, including postgraduate degrees and PhD, in foreign countries. The scholarship scheme covers students from SC, denotified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans.

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The NOS scheme for students with disabilities for pursuing masters and PhD courses overseas is implemented by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (DoEPwD). Meanwhile, the NOS scheme for students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) is carried out by the ministry of tribal affairs.