National Overseas Scholarship SC 2026-27

Quick Glance

Scheme National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for SC etc. Candidates · Applicable From Year 2026-27 · Awards 125 fresh awards per selection year · Level Masters and PhD courses abroad · Income Ceiling Rs 8.00 lakh per annum · Age Limit Not more than 35 years · Apply At www.nosmsje.gov.in

Overview

• Implementing Ministry - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
• Scheme Name - National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SC etc. Candidates (Central Sector Scheme)
• Applicability - Applicable from the year 2026-27
• Objective - Financial assistance for low-income SC, Denotified/Nomadic/Semi-Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans to pursue Masters or PhD abroad
• Total Awards - 125 fresh awards per Selection Year, subject to availability of funds
• Women Earmarking - 30% of awards earmarked for women candidates each year
• State Cap - 10% cap of total slots per State while allotting slots; unfilled slots filled in 2nd round
• Minimum Qualification - At least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination
• Age Limit - Not more than 35 years as on the first day of April of the selection year
• Income Ceiling - Gross annual family income not exceeding Rs 8.00 lakh per annum (last completed financial year)
• Course Coverage - Masters and PhD courses; Bachelors level courses are not covered
• Selection Rounds - Two rounds only per selection year, subject to availability of slots
• Application Mode - Online at www.nosmsje.gov.in
• Jurisdiction for Litigation - Courts in the Union Territory of Delhi

Important Links

• Apply Online (NOS Portal): https://www.nosmsje.gov.in
• NOS Scheme Guidelines 2026-27 (PDF): https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/68641776927848.pdf
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: https://socialjustice.gov.in

Important Dates

• First Round Portal Opening - April/May of the selection year, open for a period of 40 days for inviting online applications
• First Round Correction Window - 4 days after the 40-day window for corrections
• Second Round Portal Opening - September/October for a period of 40 days (if slots remain unfilled), with a further 4-day correction window
• Financial Year for Income - For selection year 2026-27, gross annual family income of FY 2025-26 is taken into account
• Grievance Window - Up to 30 calendar days from publication of the Result on the portal

Note: The application timeline is tentative and the selection year period runs from April to March of each year.

Objective of the Scheme

The Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship facilitates low-income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category to obtain higher education, namely Master's degree or PhD courses, by studying abroad, thereby improving their economic and social status.

Slots and Category-wise Distribution

In each Selection Year, 125 fresh awards will be given, subject to availability of funds. There is a cap of 10% of the total slots per State while allotting slots; if slots in the first round remain unfilled after applying the 10% cap, they are filled in the second round. The category-wise distribution is:

Sl. No.	Category	Number of slots
1	Scheduled Castes	115
2	Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes	06
3	Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans	04
	Total slots	125

If successful candidates are not available to the extent prescribed for a category, those awards become open to candidates of other listed categories as per merit. 30% of the awards each year are earmarked for women candidates; if adequate women candidates are not available, the unutilised slots are filled by selecting suitable male candidates.

Eligibility Criteria

• Category - Scheduled Castes; Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes; Landless Agricultural Labourers; and Traditional Artisans.
• Minimum Qualification - At least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination. For PhD, the qualifying exam is the Master's Degree; for Master's, it is the Bachelor's Degree.
• Mark sheets - Mark sheets for all semesters must be provided; where only CGPA is given, a University-authenticated CGPA-to-marks conversion formula must be provided, failing which the candidature is rejected.
• Admission - Unconditional offer of admission from one of the top 500 QS World Ranked institutions/universities (academic session 2026-27 onward).
• Not eligible - Candidates already studying/completed studies abroad using any other scholarship or own funds; Bachelor-level courses are not covered.
• Quota - For a State/UT-reserved quota, the State/UT that issued the Caste Certificate is considered for quota eligibility.

Age Limit

Not more than 35 (thirty-five) years, as on the first day of April for the selection year.

Income Ceiling

Gross annual family income from all sources shall not exceed Rs 8.00 lakh per annum in the last completed financial year. The income certificate must be issued by a Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar. Where the gross annual family income for FY 2025-26 exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh under the Old Tax Regime or Rs 3.0 lakh under the New Tax Regime, the candidate must submit complete Income Tax Return(s) of self and all family members along with the CPC intimation order under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act before issuance of the final award letter.

For determining family income, family means the candidate, his/her parents and siblings below 18 years, his/her spouse and children below 18 years. In case of married women, the income of the in-laws and her spouse and children below 18 years is considered.

Children Limit per Family

An awardee cannot be considered for the award a second time as the award is given only once. Not more than two children of the same parents/guardians are eligible, with a self-certification required. The second child is considered only if slots are still available in the last cycle of the year in which the applicant applied.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance covers the following:

Sl. No.	Type of Assistance	USA & other countries except UK	United Kingdom (UK)
1	Annual Maintenance Allowance	15,400 US Dollars	9,900 Great Britain Pounds
2	Annual Contingency Allowance	1,500 US Dollars	1,100 Great Britain Pounds
3	Tuition Fees	Actual as charged	Actual as charged
4	Visa Fees	Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees	Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees
5	Medical Insurance Premium	Actual as charged	Actual as charged
6	Incidental Journey & Equipment Allowance	20 US Dollars or equivalent in INR	20 US Dollars or equivalent in INR
7	Air Passage	Economy class via authorized travel agents (BLCL, ATT, IRCTC)	Economy class via authorized travel agents (BLCL, ATT, IRCTC)

The contingency allowance covers books/essential apparatus including laptop, study tour, subject-related conference/workshop costs, thesis typing and binding, and University fees directly related to studies (Student Service Fees, Amenity Fees, Registration, Examination, Enrollment, Library Fees). Fees for English or other language courses are not allowed. Awardees may supplement allowances by undertaking Research/Teaching Assistantship.

Duration of Award

The prescribed financial assistance is provided up to the sanctioned duration of the course/research or the following period, whichever is earlier:

• PhD - 04 years (Four years)
• Master's Degree - 03 years (Three years)

Selection Process

• Only candidates who have submitted their Aadhaar card and obtained an unconditional offer of admission from a top 500 QS world-ranked institution (academic session 2026-27 onward) are considered.
• There are only two rounds of selection. A merit list is drawn for each cycle based on rank as per the latest QS ranking of the institution offering admission; candidates from higher-ranked universities rank higher. Ties are broken by marks/grades in the qualifying examination.
• Eligible online applications are placed before the Selection-cum-Screening Committee for recommendation. The final list goes for the approval of the Hon'ble Minister (SJ&E).
• A wait list (maximum 50% of total seats) is maintained in the final round and is valid up to 31 March of the selection year.
• Applications are scrutinized in 20-30 days; placement before the committee takes approximately 10-15 days. The timeline is tentative.

How to Apply

1. Assess eligibility as per the scheme guidelines and obtain an unconditional offer of admission from a top 500 QS-ranked institution.
2. Apply online on the NOS portal at www.nosmsje.gov.in during the open round (first round in April/May, second round in September/October if slots remain).
3. Submit the application complete in all respects; incomplete applications are summarily rejected.
4. Upload all required documents listed at the application stage, including all-semester mark sheets and the CGPA conversion formula where applicable.

Documents Required at Application Stage

• 10th Board Certificate
• Caste Certificate
• Photo and scanned signature
• Current/Permanent Address Proof
• Qualifying Degree/Provisional Certificate and mark sheet of qualifying examination
• Valid document regarding admission in foreign university (Application, Registration or Admission related document)
• Income documents of all family members as detailed in Clause 5 of the guidelines
• NOC from employer (if employed); Gap Certificate if gap of more than 6 months after completing qualifying degree
• Income Tax Return Acknowledgement or copy of assessment order
• Aadhaar Card

Selected candidates must, on issuance of the Provisional Award Letter, additionally submit an Attestation form, a Self-Declaration on total annual family income, a Self-Declaration on any pending case/non-conviction of offence, and a copy of the passport, and must visit the Ministry personally by prior appointment for original-document verification.

Bonds and Post-Selection Obligations

On issuance of the Confirmation of Award Letter, the awardee must execute a bond on at least Rs 100 non-judicial stamp paper before a Notary Public with two sureties (covering the actual amount to be spent or Rs 50,000, whichever is higher), provide solvency and health certificates, and furnish two copies of passport and visa. Verification of original documents, submission of bonds and solvency certificates must be completed within six months from the date of the Confirmation of Award Letter. All candidates must return to India within 30 days of completing the course and stay in India for at least one year.

Mandatory Conditions

• Candidates must seek admission in the top 500 QS-ranked institutions/universities and submit Aadhaar on the portal.
• A candidate is not eligible for a scholarship to pursue the same level (Masters/PhD) of course already acquired.
• Topics/courses concerning Indian Culture/Heritage/History/Social studies on India-based research are not covered under NOS.
• Employed candidates must provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer.
• Candidates must obtain the appropriate visa themselves; for the USA only a J-1 visa is permitted and candidates on F-1 visas are not eligible.
• The candidate is precluded from availing any other similar scholarship of the Centre or State Governments.