• Expenditure incurred under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme increased appreciably since 2018-19
• More than 200 crore funds disbursed under the NOS schemes since 2018-19 till date

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 Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD) for students with disabilities. Both the Departments review their schemes from time to time and make changes for the betterment of the scheme.

DoEPwD reviewed its NOS scheme guidelines before continuation from 2021-22 onward for five years.

Similarly, DoSJE has also revised the scheme to improve the processes for increasing transparency, simplifying the application process, minimising the time gap between applications and approval, and ensuring the quality of institutions.

Both the National Overseas Scholarship schemes of both the departments are central sector schemes and, therefore, there is no State-wise distribution of funds and beneficiaries under them. However, the funds earmarked, number of beneficiaries and funds disbursed under the NOS schemes since Financial Year 2018-19 till date is tabulated as below:

 

(Rs. In Crore)

Year	DoSJE			DoEPwD
	B.E	Number of Beneficiaries selected	Funds Disbursed	B.E*	Number of Beneficiaries	Funds Disbursed
2018-19	15.00	100	5.97	75.66	5	1.08
2019-20	20.00	100	28.56	125.00	6	1.02
2020-21	20.00	100	32.92	125.00	7	1.23
2021-22	30.00	125	49.07	125.00	9	2.39
2022-23 (Till 15.03.2023)	36.00	125	75.44	105.00	13	2.81

 

* Budget allocation of the umbrella scholarship scheme, which includes NOS as one of the components.

The schemes have been running successfully for past many years. There has been no delay in the disbursement of funds under the NOS scheme by both the Departments. In fact the expenditure incurred under the NOS scheme has increased appreciably over the years as may be seen from the table above.

The initiatives taken to widen the ambit of the scheme to include more beneficiaries by both the Departments are attached at Annexure-I.

Annexure-I

 

(i) Initiatives taken by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) for widening the ambit of the scheme and including more beneficiaries are as under:-

1. The income ceiling has been increased from Rs.6 lakh/annum to Rs. 8 lakh per annum w.e.f 2020-21 so that more number of students can be eligible for benefit under NOS Scheme.
2. From the year 2021-22 onwards, the slots awarded under the scheme each year have been increased from 100 to 125.
3. The process of application has been made simpler by making it online w.e.f 2019-20 and reducing the documentation required.
4. Field wise distribution of seats has been done away with from 2020-21.
5. The scheme is advertised in the newspapers/other media and Department's website for wide dissemination and awareness about the NOS scheme.

(ii) Initiatives taken by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD) are as under:-

1. Yearly income ceiling has been increased from Rs. 6 lakh to 8 lakh;
2. The condition of furnishing solvency certificate for the actual amount of scholarship was reduced to Rs. 50,000/-;
3. The provision for character verification from District authorities has been replaced with self-certification from the candidate;
4. Candidate is now eligible for scholarship under NOS scheme to pursue the same level course (Masters/Ph.D.) abroad in which he/she already acquired the qualification, provided it should be in a stream different from the one in which he/she already acquired the qualification.
5. Advertisements are published from time to time in national and regional newspapers and Department's website for dissemination of information and awareness about the NOS scheme.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Sushri Pratima Bhoumik in a written reply in Lok Sabha, today.

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MG/RK

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