Lok Sabha Question No. 1024 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Implementation of NOS Scheme
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Sanjeev Kumar Singari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1024 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2022

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NOS SCHEME

## 1024. DR SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme;
- (b) the number of students who were awarded the scholarship in 2021-22;
- whether only about 50-70 students have been awarded these scholarships the past six years (c) during
- (d) the remedial measures taken to ensure better coverage of beneficiaries under the scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)

(a): The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements two National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) schemes. One is implemented by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment   for students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans   The other is implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD) for students with disabilities Similarly, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs  is also implementing a NOS   Scheme for   students   belonging to the

(b): The number of students who were awarded the scholarship in 2024-22 is as tabulated below:

| of theDDoSJE MinistryDepartment   | DoEPwD   | IMinistry of Triball Affairs   |
|-----------------------------------|----------|--------------------------------|
| NNo: of Scholarships25 warded     |          | po                             |

(c): The number of students selected under the National Overseas Scholarship annually for the past six years is as under:

| Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   | Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   | Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   | Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   | Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   | Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   | Details of candidates selected under NOS Scheme from 2016-17 to 2021-22   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Min/Dept                                                                  | 2016-17                                                                   | 2017- 18                                                                  | 2018-19                                                                   | 2019- 20                                                                  | 2020-21                                                                   | 2021-22                                                                   |
| [Department of Social JJustice & Empowerment                              | 108*                                                                      | 183*                                                                      | 100                                                                       | 100                                                                       | 100                                                                       | 125                                                                       |
| Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD)           |                                                                           |                                                                           | 5                                                                         | 5                                                                         | 6                                                                         | 11                                                                        |
| Ministry of Tribal ffairs                                                 | 16                                                                        | 20                                                                        | 20                                                                        | 20                                                                        | 20                                                                        | 20                                                                        |

(d) The remedial measures taken to ensure better coverage of beneficiaries under the scheme by the three Departments are attached at Annexure-II.

*****

Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1024 for answer 13/12/2022 regarding Implementation of NOS: on

- Salient features of the NOS scheme being implemented by DoSJE are as under:-
- a The Scheme provides financial assistance to the selected candidates for pursuing Masters level courses and courses abroad in Institutions/Universities accredited by the Governmentlauthorized body of that country in any field of study.
- b From the year 2021-22 onwards, the slots awarded each year under the scheme have been increased to 125.
- c. The following is the category-wise distribution of slots for various groups eligible for scholarships under the scheme:
- d. 30% of the awards for each are earmarked for women candidates However; in case, adequate female candidates are not available, the unutilized slots will become open for   eligible male candidates. year
- e. Candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from State Government, other agency, or through own funds are not eligible to apply under NOS.
- f. Candidates having unconditional offer of admission from 500 ranked foreign InstitutesMUniversities as per   the latest available QS   rankings only are selected for   grant of scholarship: top
- g: In order to be eligible for scholarship, at least 60% marks or equivalent in the qualifying examination would be required. grade
- h: The candidate should not be more than 35 (Thirty Five) years of age, as on first of April for selection year: day
- Total family income from all sources shall not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year as detailed in the guidelines
- (ii) Salient features of the NOS scheme being implemented by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD) are aS under:-
- (a) Slots: There are 20 slots available per year under NOS scheme.

| No.   | ICategory                                                |   Numbers |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------|
|       | (Scheduled Castes                                        |        15 |
|       | [Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes             |        06 |
|       | [andless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans |        04 |
|       | Total slots                                              |       125 |

For Ph.D five per cent (55%) marks or equivalent in relevant Master' s Degree. Fifty grade

- (b) Minimum Qualification:
- For Masters' Degree: Fifty five per cent (55%) marks or equivalent in relevant Bachelor' s Degree. grade
- (d) One Time Award: Individual can be awarded National Overseas   Scholarship oly once in a lifetime.
- (c) Age: Below 35 (Thirty -Five) years as on Ist January of the year of application:
- (e) Role of MEA: With effect from 01.04.2022, disbursement of scholarship under NOS scheme is done by Ministry of External Affairs through Indian Missions abroad. being

## (iii) Salient features of the NOS scheme being implemented by Ministry of Tribal Affairs are as under: -

- a. Financial assistance is provided for pursuing post graduate courses (Masters, Ph. D and PostDoctoral Research) in reputed universities across the world.
2. b\_ 20 awards are given every year to ST students as under:
3. C If for any specific year, successful candidates are not available to the extent prescribed for one of the above listed categories; the awards for that year would become open for the other category.
- d. 30% of the scholarship awards are earmarked for female candidates. However, in case, adequate female candidates are not   available, the   unutilized slots will become open for   eligible male candidates.

| KCategory_                                   | No.of awards   |
|----------------------------------------------|----------------|
| IST candidates                               | 17             |
| PParticularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PVTG) | 103            |
| Total                                        | po             |

*****

Annexure referred in reply to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1024 for answer on 13/12/2022 regarding Implementation of NOS part

## (a) The remedial measures taken to ensure better coverage of beneficiaries under the scheme by DoSJE are as under:-

- The income ceiling has been increased from Rs.6 lakh/annum to Rs: 8 lakh per annum 2020-21 so that more number of students can avail benefit under NOS Scheme.
- Field wise distribution of seats has been done away with from 2020-21.
- ii. The documents required under NOS have been kept to a minimum SO as to ensure that awardees do not have to face administrative bottlenecks and at State Government level. In order to further simplify the procedure, many documents have been replaced with a Self undertaking from students. The process of application has been made simpler by making it online w.e.f 2019-20 and away with police verification. Police verification would take a lot of time approx Lyear and thus this was removed and instead self-declaration was adopted. delay doing step
- iv. Before 2020-21, students were given assurance of scholarship even without a formal offer letter from the University. This would also waste a lot of time. Now only students having unconditional  offer of admission are  eligible to apply: Thus, blocking of slots by those students who do not have confirmed admission is avoided.
- vi. Payment of maintenance amount has been linked to the academic progress of the students.
- From the year 2020-21, selection of candidates on the basis of QS ranking was introduced so as to maintain the quality of education  imparted to the Indian   students by Universities IInstitutes situated abroad.
- vii: The number of slots under NOS has been increased from 100 to 125 W.e.f2021-22.
- ix The scheme is advertised in the newspaperslother media and Department's website for wide dissemination and awareness
- viii. Topics concerning Indian Culturelheritage/Historyl Social studies on India based subjects are not covered under NOS from the Selection Year 2022-23 onwards

## The remedial measures taken to ensure better coverage of beneficiaries under the scheme by DoEPwD are as under:-

- (ii) The condition of furnishing solvency ficate for the actual amount of scholarship was reduced to Rs. 50,000/certit
- (iv) Advertisements are published time to time in national and regional newspapers and Department's website for wide dissemination and awareness about the NOS scheme:
- (iii) Candidate is now eligible for scholarship under NOS scheme to pursue the same level course (Masters/Ph.D.) but in a different stream from the one in which helshe   already  acquired the qualification.

## (c) The remedial measures taken to ensure better coverage of beneficiaries under the scheme by Ministry of Tribal Affairs are as under:-

The guidelines have been revised with effect from 01.04.2021. In the earlier guidelines candidates were selected on the basis of personal interview and given the time period of 2 years to join the University/Institute of the course of their choice.

As per the revised guidelines, in order to ensure that all the selected candidates join the course of study in foreign University abroad, preference is given to those who have already admission in the top 1000 QS world ranking University/Institute abroad. The next preference is given to those who have offer of admission from the top 1000 QS world ranking institute. This will ensure better coverage of beneficiaries under the Scheme. got got