Lok Sabha Question No. 2242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-15
Subject: Scholarship undrer NOS
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2242 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2022

## SCHOLARSHIP UNDER NOS

## 2242. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has data on the number of students selected against the total number of scholarships stipulated under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme, if so, details thereof from 2011 to 2021, year-wise
- b the total funds disbursed under the NOS scheme during the said period;
- whether it is a fact that in 2021-22,2019-20, and 2016-2017 funds were granted to less than 50% of the students, if so, the reasons therefor;
- the reasons for the recent revision in guidelines to exclude subjects such as Indian culturel heritage/ history/ social studies on India-based research topic from the ambit of the NOS scheme;
- whether such a revision hampers academic freedom among marginalised students, if so, the details thereof; and
- the details of number of students from the North East Region who have availed the NOS scheme the said period? during

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The number of students selected against the total number of scholarships stipulated and the funds disbursed under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme from 2011-12 to 202122, year-wise is as under:
- (b): Total funds disbursed during 2011-12 to 2021-22 (upto 10.3.2022) is Rs 165.72 Cr: Year wise figures are as under:
- (c)= Sir: As per the guidelines of the scheme, the funds have been disbursed every year through the Indian Missions abroad to all such selected students who have joined the concerned foreign university after following the stipulated procedure. No,
- (d) & (e): This department reviews the NOS scheme guidelines from time to time and makes changes which for simplifying the procedures ad making the process more transparent. It was felt that the overseas   scholarship for  studying abroad is not   needed for the   topicslcourses concerning Indian Culture, Heritage, History & Social studies on India, considering that Indian Universities are and well equipped to guide research based on such topics and most of the resources for these particular subjects are available within the country: These courses anyhow require   frequent  field visits to  India the course thus be better undertaken in India itself and such students may avail of scholarship/fellowship under the other fully during

|   S NO. | Year    |     |   Candidates Selected |
|---------|---------|-----|-----------------------|
|       1 | 2011-12 |  30 |                    30 |
|       2 | 2012-13 |  30 |                    23 |
|       3 | 2013-14 |  60 |                    39 |
|       4 | 2014-15 | 100 |                    59 |
|       5 | 2015-16 | 100 |                    50 |

| 6   | 2016-17   |   100 | 108*   |
|-----|-----------|-------|--------|
|     | 2017-18   |   100 | 183*   |
| 8   | 2018-19   |   100 | 100    |
| 9   | 2019-20   |   100 | 100    |
| 10  | 2020-21   |   100 | 100    |
| 11  | 2021-22   |   125 | 125    |

| S NO_   | Year    |        |
|---------|---------|--------|
| 1       | 2011-12 | 7.07   |
| 2       | 2012-13 | 6.89   |
| 3       | 2013-14 | 6.13   |
| 4       | 2014-15 | 8.78   |
| 5       | 2015-16 | 13.45  |
| 6       | 2016-17 | 14.02  |
| 7       | 2017-18 | 4.59   |
| 8       | 2018-19 | 5.97   |
|         | 2019-20 | 28.56  |
| 10      | 2020-21 | 32.92  |
| 11      | 2021-22 | 37.34# |

scholarship schemes implemented by this Department as per their eligibility. As such, this revision does not hamper the academic freedom of the marginalised students It would in fact provide more opportunities to other   applicants covered under NOS (SC)etc. for studying abroad in other subjects for which the foreign universities are better known and equipped and would thus help into the country more knowledge on such subjects where resources in India are still not sufficient Also, the selection of candidates from sub fields of Humanities/Social Sciences is still open to candidates who are aspiring to study Economics, Psychology and other subjects which require international exposure being bring Law,

(f: National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme is a Central Sector scheme and State-wise selections are not made under the scheme. However, it is mentioned that during the last ten years 917 students against 945 slots, have been selected under this scheme, which includes students from the North-East region as well.

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