India's National Overseas Scholarship 2026: 125 Fully Funded Seats for Marginalised Students to Study Abroad

On April 10, 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment posted something that deserved far more attention than it got.

In a tweet tagged at the Prime Minister's Office and senior government officials, the Ministry announced 125 fully funded scholarships under the National Overseas Scholarship scheme,  specifically for students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural laborers, and traditional artisan communities to pursue postgraduate degrees abroad.

The NOS scheme gives fully funded overseas scholarships for SC, DNT, and artisan students to pursue Master's and PhD courses abroad in 2026. Applicants need 60 percent marks, a family income below Rs 8 lakh, age under 35, and a confirmed university admission under QS ranking norms.

For students from these communities who have the academic ability but not the financial resources to study abroad, the NOS scheme is one of the most significant government-backed opportunities available in India right now. Here is everything you need to know.

What the NOS Actually Is

The National Overseas Scholarship is a central scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It has been around for years. It is still underused, not due to a lack of eligible students, but because of low awareness and a poor understanding of the process.

The scheme enables meritorious students from low-income families belonging to Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans to pursue Master's degree or PhD programs at top universities abroad. The Ministry administers the scheme with the aim of improving the economic and social status of candidates from these communities.

This is not a partial waiver or a token discount. It is comprehensive financial support that covers every significant cost of studying abroad before you leave India and throughout your time there.

What the Scholarship Pays For

• Full tuition fees for the entire approved program duration
• Annual maintenance allowance of USD 15,400 per year in most countries, including the USA; GBP 9,900 per year in the UK, to cover accommodation, food, and daily living costs
• Contingency allowance for books, study materials, thesis typing, and study tours,  up to USD 1,500 in the USA or GBP 1,100 in the UK
• Visa fees is fully covered
• Medical insurance is provided for the full duration of the program
• Return airfare travel from India to the university and back on completion
• Local travel between the airport and the university on arrival and departure

Financial assistance is available for a maximum of four years for PhD programs and three years for Master's degrees, or until the completion of the course, whichever comes first.

Important condition: Awardees are expected to return to India after completing their studies. Government employees must provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer before applying.

How the 125 Seats Are Split

Of the 125 annual awards, 115 slots go to Scheduled Caste candidates, 6 to Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 to Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans.

30 percent of the total scholarships are reserved for women candidates. If there are not enough women applicants, those seats are reallocated to eligible male candidates.

A cap of 10 percent of total slots per state is applied during the initial allocation round. Any unfilled positions are carried forward to a second round of selection.

Who Can Apply: The Full Checklist

Read every point before you start your application. All conditions must be met.

You must belong to one of these categories:

• Scheduled Castes (SC)
• Denotified, Nomadic, or Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT)
• Landless Agricultural Labourers, families with no land or property, earning through manual farm work
• Traditional artisans, families earning through traditional crafts

Academic qualifications:

• For Master's: Minimum 60 percent marks in a bachelor's degree from a recognised university
• For PhD: Minimum 60 percent marks in a master's degree
• Undergraduate programs are not covered under NOS

Age:

• Must be below 35 years of age as on April 1 of the application year

Family income:

• Total family income from all sources must not exceed Rs 8 lakh per annum for the preceding financial year, certified by a Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar

University admission:

• In the first round, candidates must hold an unconditional offer from an institution ranked within the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings. In the second round, the government also considers candidates with offers from other QS-ranked or recognized institutions, in order of priority.

Other conditions to note:

• You must not already be studying abroad or have previously studied abroad using any other scholarship or personal funds
• Not more than two children of the same parents or guardians are eligible under the scheme. The second child of the same parents may only be considered if slots remain in the final round of selection.
• Students admitted to US universities must obtain a J-1 Visa; F-1 Visa holders are not eligible
• Courses on Indian culture, heritage, history, or Indian-based social research are not eligible

How Selection Works

A merit list is created based on the university's QS ranking, with tie-breakers determined by the applicant's qualifying examination scores. A waitlist of up to 50 percent of total seats is maintained and remains valid until March 31 of the selection year.

Selection runs in two rounds. Round 1 is for candidates with unconditional offers from top 500 QS universities. If seats remain after Round 1, Round 2 opens to candidates with offers from other QS-ranked or accredited institutions in descending order of priority.

Students with offers from institutions like the University of Edinburgh, the University of Melbourne, the University of Toronto, or any other top 500 QS university have the strongest position in Round 1. To strengthen your application, get your university offer confirmed early.

Documents You Will Need

Candidates must upload all required documents, including mark sheets for all semesters, Aadhaar Card, income documents, and the university admission letter.

The full list:

• Caste certificate issued by a competent authority
• Income certificate from a Tehsildar or above
• ITR acknowledgement (if gross annual family income exceeds ₹2.5 lakh under Old Tax Regime or ₹3 lakh under New Tax Regime).
• Academic transcripts and mark sheets for every semester
• CGPA conversion formula certified by your university, if your institution does not provide percentage marks directly.
• Aadhaar Card, mandatory for processing
• Unconditional offer letter from the foreign university
• Passport copy
• English proficiency test scores where applicable
• Self-declaration that no more than two siblings are availing the scholarship
• Statement of good health from a registered medical practitioner

All documents must be uploaded online. Incomplete applications are rejected without review.

How to Apply

The application is submitted online at nosmsje.gov.in. Here is the step-by-step process:

• Visit nosmsje.gov.in and register using your Aadhaar number
• Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and category details
• Enter your university admission details; the institution must meet QS ranking requirements
• Upload all required documents in the prescribed format
• Review everything carefully before submitting; there is no editing after submission
• Shortlisted candidates are notified via the portal and may be called for further verification
• Final results are announced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

The application portal usually opens in mid-February and stays active for approximately 40 days. For the 2026 intake, the deadline is typically in late March 2026.

If the 2026 cycle has already closed, the 2027 cycle will follow the same timeline, opening in February 2027. The time to start preparing is now.

Why This Scheme Matters

The gap between academic ability and access to international education in India is not a talent problem. It is almost entirely a money problem.

For many recipients, the scholarship represents not just educational support but a life-changing opportunity to break intergenerational cycles of economic limitation. Beyond individual empowerment, the National Overseas Scholarship helps strengthen India's intellectual and professional presence on the global stage.

125 seats is a small number for a country of India's size and the depth of its eligible population. That is the honest truth, and it is a limitation worth acknowledging. But for 125 students every year, this scheme removes the single largest barrier between them and a world-class postgraduate degree, money.

If you come from an eligible community, have the academic record, and have been thinking about a Master's or PhD abroad, this scheme was built for you. The next cycle opens in early 2027. You should start preparing now by shortlisting the top 500 QS universities, building your academic profile, gathering documents, and understanding what a strong application looks like, rather than waiting until January 2027.

Want Help Preparing for the NOS Application?

Getting the scholarship is only part of the challenge. Identifying the right universities from the QS top 500, building an application that stands out in a competitive national pool, and understanding which programs and institutions are the best match for your academic background requires its own preparation.

Book your free counselling session with Leap Scholar today  and get personalized guidance on which universities to target, how to build a competitive application, and how to make this scholarship work for your specific goals.

(Sources: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment , Official Tweet, April 10, 2026 | Deccan Herald , 125 Scholarships for Marginalised Students | NOS Official Portal | GovtSchemes.in , National Overseas Scholarship | KollegeApply ,  NOS 2026 | QS World University Rankings )