Lok Sabha Question No. 794 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: National Overseas Scholarship
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 794

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 12/12/2022

## NATIONAL OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIP

794. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a)     the  funds  released  for  National  Overseas  Scholarship  for  Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  students during the last three years and the number of applications received;
- (b)   the eligibility criteria and income ceiling under the Scheme;
- (c)   the subjects/disciplines in which courses may be undertaken for grant of Scholarship and the duration of award with financial assistance;
- (d)     whether  it  is  a  fact  that  over  the  years  the  Scholarship  Scheme  has  failed  to  get  suitable candidates, as a result the funds for the Scheme remain largely underutilised and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)     whether  the  Government  proposes  to  change  the  eligibility  criteria  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (f)   whether the lack of coordination between the Ministries has failed to reach the benefits to the  beneficiaries  and  whether  flexibility  has  been  introduced  for  courses  of  study  to  be undertaken by the students and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a): The funds released for National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students during the last three years and the number of applications received is given below:-

| Year    |   Fund released (in crore) |   Applications received |
|---------|----------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                       2    |                     154 |
| 2020-21 |                       4.76 |                     215 |
| 2021-22 |                       4.95 |                     283 |

(b): The eligibility criteria and income ceiling is given in Annexure-1.

(c): The subjects/disciplines for grant  of Scholarship and the duration of award with financial assistance is attached as Annexure-II.

(d) to (f): Under the scheme, 20 students are selected every year.  The following table will show that 20 students have been selected in all 3 previous years.

| Year    |   No. of candidates selected |   No. of candidates proceeded for foreign study |   Fund released (in crore) |
|---------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                           20 |                                              17 |                       2    |
| 2020-21 |                           20 |                                               4 |                       4.76 |
| 2021-22 |                           20 |                                              14 |                       4.95 |

Previously,  the selected candidates were given a time of period of 2  years to join the foreign university / institute of their choice.  35 students out of 60 have already joined till date and the remaining students have time to join of 2 years from the date of issuance of merit list.

In order to ensure more students join the course, the guidelines have been recently amended and students who  have already got admission will be eligible also for the scholarship and time of 2 years will be given to those who have not yet secured admission.      It can also be seen that the release of funds under the scheme has increased from Rs.2.00 Cr. In 2019-20 to Rs.4.95 Cr. in 2021-22.

The  scheme  National  Overseas  Scholarship  for  Scheduled  Tribe  is  implemented  through  the Indian Embassies  / Missions  abroad, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).   There  is  a coordination  between  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  and  the  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  in implementing  the  scheme.   The  selection  of  the  candidates  is  being  done  by  the  M/o  Tribal Affairs  and  the  scheme  benefits  are  disbursed  through  the  MEA.   The  M/o  Tribal  Affairs reimburses the bills raised by the MEA in respect of payments made to NOS awardees.

The scheme guidelines have given the flexibility to ST students to select the University and  subject  of  their  choice  for  pursuing  their  higher  studies  abroad.   BAsed  on  the  speciifc requirement  of  selected  students  Ministry  considers  their  requests  on  case  to  case  basis  in consultation  with  the  India  embassies  in  the  respective  countries.  Further,  in  case  any  seats remained unfilled, these seats will be carried forward in subsequent year so that no seats remain unfilled.

Annexure  -  I  refer  part  b)  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  794  dtd  12.12.22  reg. National Overseas Scholarship raised by Sh. Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka.

ANNEXURE-I THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND INCOME CEILING UNDER THE SCHEME

## (i).     QUALIFICATION

| Sr. No.   | Course                  | Marks and educational qualification                                           | Maximum Age as on 1st July of selection year   |
|-----------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Post- Doctoral Research | 55% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master's Degree* with awarded Ph.D. | 38 years                                       |
| 2         | Ph. D                   | 55% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master's Degree                     | 35 years                                       |
| 3         | Master's                | 55% marks or equivalent grade in                                              | 32 years                                       |
|           | Degree                  | relevant Bachelor's Degree.                                                   |                                                |

Note:    The criteria of marks obtained in Bachelor's/Master's Degree will not apply to those candidates  who  have  already  obtained  admissions  in  top  1,000  Institutes  as  QS  World ranking of the latest available report.

## (ii).          ONE CHILD IN A FAMILY AND ONE TIMEASSISTANCE

Not more than one child of the same parents will be eligible and the candidate has to furnish a self-certification to this effect. An individual is eligible for only one award and cannot be considered for any other award or same/higher level of award for the second time under the Scheme

## (iii).         INCOME CRITERIA

Scholarships will be paid to the students whose family income from all sources does not exceed Rs.6,00,000/- (Rs. Six lakhs only) per annum .

Annexure  -  II  refer  part  c)  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  794  dtd  12.12.22  reg. National Overseas Scholarship raised by Sh. Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka.

## Annexure-II

THE  SUBJECTS/DISCIPLINES  IN  WHICH  COURSES  MAY  BE  UNDERTAKEN  FOR GRANT  OF  SCHOLARSHIP  AND  THE  DURATION  OF  AWARD  WITH  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

## Subjects covered under the scheme

The subjects/disciplines in which student can opt for studies abroad and the number of slots available under each field for grant of award are listed below: -

| Field of study                                                  |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pure/Applied Science/ Engineering/Technology/Mathematics (STEM) |
| Management, Economics, Finance, Law                             |
| Agriculture/Medicine                                            |
| Humanities/Social Science/Fine Arts                             |

## Durationofaward

Financial assistance will be provided till completion of the course/research or the prescribed duration of the course, whichever is earlier: -

|   Sl. No. | Course                 | Maximum Duration                                                                 |
|-----------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Post-Doctoral Research | 2 years                                                                          |
|         2 | Ph. D                  | 4 years (four years)                                                             |
|         3 | Master's Degree        | 1 or 2 years (One/Two years) depending upon the type and duration of the Course. |

## Value of scholarship

|   Sl. No. | Scholarship Component                      | Details                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Annual Maintenance Allowance               | The Annual maintenance allowance in USD15,400 ($ Fifteen thousand four hundred only) in US/ Pound sterling 9,900 (£ Nine thousand nine hundred only) in United Kingdom for all level courses. For other countries, the USD or equivalent rates would be applicable.                                                                                                                                               |
|         2 | Annual Contingency and Equipment Allowance | The Annual Contingency and Equipment Allowance for books/essential apparatus/study tour/typing and binding of thesis etc. will be $ 1532 (US Dollars One thousand five hundred thirty-two only) for the candidates in US and for candidates in United Kingdom, it will be £ 1116 (Pounds sterling One thousand one hundred sixteen only). For other countries, US Dollar or equivalent rates would be applicable. |

|   3 | PollTax                     | Actuals shall be paid, wherever applicable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|-----|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   4 | VisaFees                    | Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees will be paid.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|   5 | Incidental Journey Expenses | Incidental journey expenses up to US Dollars 20 or its equivalent in Indian Rupees are permissible.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|   6 | Fees                        | Tuition fees and other non-refundable fees which is required to be compulsorily paid by the student for completion of the course, as per actuals.                                                                                                                                                                       |
|   7 | Medical Insurance Premium   | Actuals as charged will be admissible. The Indian Embassy/Mission in the respective country will however examine the reasonableness of medical premium opted/claimed by the student .                                                                                                                                   |
|   8 | Cost of Air Passage         | Air passage grant on actual basis from India to the nearest place to the educational institution and back to India, by economy class and shortest route at best available price shall be provided.                                                                                                                      |
|   9 | LocalTravel                 | Second class railway fare from the port of disembarkation to the place of study and back; in case of far flung places not connected by rail, bus fare from the place of residence to the nearest railway station, actual charge of crossing by ferry, air fare to the nearest rail-cum-air Station will be permissible. |

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