Lok Sabha Question No. 2921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Overseas Scholarships to SC/ST Students
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2921 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2025

## OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS TO SC/ST STUDENTS 2921. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

- (a) the details of the overseas scholarship provided to the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the country for study in abroad during the last ten years;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any new initiatives during the last ten years for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; and
- (c) the total number of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are studying in abroad with the help of social welfare measures?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

- (a): The details of the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) provided by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for studying abroad during the last ten years is as under:
- (b): New initiatives such as simplification of process, invitation of applications online through portal; doing away with Police Verification and obtaining self-declaration regarding pending case/non-conviction of offense; introduction of QS ranking based selection procedure; enhancing of family income ceiling, number of slots and amount of financial assistance have been taken by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

| S. No.   | Year    | Number of SC and ST students selected under NOS for studying abroad during last ten years   | Number of SC and ST students selected under NOS for studying abroad during last ten years   |
|----------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | Year    | SC                                                                                          | ST                                                                                          |
| 1.       | 2014-15 | 59                                                                                          | 20                                                                                          |
| 2.       | 2015-16 | 50                                                                                          | 15                                                                                          |
| 3.       | 2016-17 | 108*                                                                                        | 16                                                                                          |
| 4.       | 2017-18 | 178*                                                                                        | 20                                                                                          |
| 5.       | 2018-19 | 97                                                                                          | 20                                                                                          |
| 6.       | 2019-20 | 97                                                                                          | 20                                                                                          |
| 7.       | 2020-21 | 90                                                                                          | 20                                                                                          |
| 8.       | 2021-22 | 122                                                                                         | 20                                                                                          |
| 9.       | 2022-23 | 119                                                                                         | 20                                                                                          |
| 10.      | 2023-24 | 117                                                                                         | 23                                                                                          |
| Total    | Total   | 1037                                                                                        | 194                                                                                         |

(c): At present, 263 SC students and 39 ST students are studying abroad.

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