Odisha’s Rs 25 Lakh Study-Abroad Scholarship for SC/ST Students Closes August 31

Odisha’s Higher Education Department has opened applications for the “Bidesh Sikhyabruti” scholarship up to Rs 25 lakh a year for SC and ST students admitted to postgraduate or PhD programs at top-ranked foreign universities.

The application window is short: it opened August 18 and closes August 31, 2026, covering both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.

What the Scheme Covers

• Who it’s for: Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from Odisha admitted to postgraduate or PhD programs abroad.
• Income eligibility: Annual family income up to Rs 12 lakh.
• University requirement: Admission to an institution ranked in the Top 200 of the QS World University Rankings (at the time of application).
• Scholarship value: Up to Rs 25 lakh per year per student, covering tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses, international travel, medical insurance, and other incidental costs.
• How many students: 50 selected annually per the scheme’s original breakdown, 20 slots for engineering/technical and medical/professional streams combined, and 30 for general higher education, split across PG and PhD tracks.
• Duration of support: PG students receive funding for 1–2 years depending on course length; PhD students receive up to 2 years. No extensions beyond that.
• One-time use: A student can avail the scholarship only once, for either a PG or a PhD course, not both.

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The scheme runs under the broader Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) and was originally launched in November 2025 as "Videsh Siksha Bruti"; this August application window is the Higher Education Department formally opening the process for eligible students to apply, now referred to as "Bidesh Sikhyabruti."

How to Apply

Applications go through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal, not a separate scheme-specific site. Students will need to register and upload:

• Caste certificate
• Income certificate
• Academic mark sheets
• Passport copy
• Unconditional admission letter from the foreign institution

Deadline: August 31, 2026. Given the QS Top 200 ranking requirement and the unconditional admission letter requirement, this scholarship works best for students who already hold an admission offer in hand; it's not designed for students still applying to universities.

Have questions about applying with an existing admission offer? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.