Lok Sabha Question No. 3027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Implementation of NOS
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: C. R. Patil, Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Anurag Sharma, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, P.P. Chaudhary

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION N0.3027 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NOS

3027. SHRI CR PATIL:

DR RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI:

SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

SHRI PP: CHAUDHARY:

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

- (a) the criteria which the Government follows in selecting the candidates for getting the benefits under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme;
- (b) the process through which the selection of the candidates is made;
- (c) the time by which funds are likely to be released to the beneficiary account; and
- (d) the number of students benefitted from the said scheme, State-wise including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh specially in Deoria, Pratapgarh & Jhansi Parliamentary Constituencies, Odisha specially in Balasore Parliamentary Constituency and Rajashthan specially in Pali Parliamentary Constituency?

## 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 and the other one is implemented by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities  (DoEPwD) for students with disabilities.

The criteria followed for selection of the candidates under the schemes is aS under:

- NOS for SC etc::

Selections are made for study in top 500 QS ranked foreign Institutes/Universities on the basis of unconditional offer of admission: At least 60% marks or equivalent in the qualifying examination are required. Further; the total family income including the candidate from all sources shall not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year and the age of the candidate shall not be more than 35 (Thirty Five) years, as on first of April of the selection year. grade day

- (ii) NOS for students with Disabilities:

For Ph.D. First class or SS% (fifty five per cent) marks o equivalent in relevant Master' s Degree are required  Similarly, for Masters' Degree 55% (fifty marks or equivalent in relevant are required. The age of the candidate shall be below 35 (Thirty ~Five) years as on Ist January of the year of application and the Parents/Guardian's income should not be more than Rs.8.00 lakh per annum. grade grade

## (b): The process of selection for both the schemes is as under:

- 1\_ NOS for SC etc::

The NOS  portal   (https:IInosmsje gov.in) is   opened every year for calling of applications for the first round from mid of February to end of the March (for a period of 45 days) The candidates can  apply on NOS for availing the scholarship under the scheme. Only complete and valid online applications are considered for award of the scholarship. After the scrutiny, the applications of all the eligible candidates" are placed before the Selection-cum-Screening Committee for making their recommendations for selection as well as deciding the ranking of 125 candidates for scholarship: The ranking of the candidates are decided on the basis of QS ranking of the Institute/University helshe has sought admission to; Then, the provisional Award  of Scholarship letters are issued to the selected candidates. portal

## (ii) NOS for students with Disabilities:

Presently, the applications under the scheme are received offline throughout the year. The applications are examined by the Screening Committee constituted for the purpose. Applications   shortlisted by the Screening Committee are placed  before the Selection Committee. The  candidates  recommended by the Selection  Committee are issued Award letters.

- (c): Under both the schemes, disbursement of scholarship amount/ of miscellaneous expenses(on reimbursement basis) etc. incurred by the candidate, is done by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through Indian Missions abroad and for this funds are sanctioned to MEA through Letter of Authorization(LoA) by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: Funds are released to MEA from time to time on demand by the Indian embassy concerned in respect of any NOS student.
- (d): The National  Overseas  Scholarship schemes of both the departments schemes and, therefore, there is no State-wise and district-wise distribution. However number of candidates benefitted under the schemes for last three years is as below:

| Year    | DoSJE                   | DoEPwD                  |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| Year    | Number of Beneficiaries | Number of Beneficiaries |
| 2020-21 | 100                     |                         |
| 2021-22 | 125                     |                         |
| 2022-23 | 125                     | 17                      |

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