Padho Pardesh Scheme was a central government scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs that gave interest subsidy on education loans for overseas studies to students from minority communities. The scheme covered master's, M.Phil and Ph.D. courses at recognized foreign universities.
Ministry of Minority Affairs discontinued Padho Pardesh from the 2022-23 session onwards. No fresh applications are being accepted now, and the government has said there is no plan to bring the scheme back. For more details, check the detailed Padho Pardesh scheme page on Sarkari Yojana.
Padho Pardesh Scheme
The main aim of the Padho Pardesh Scheme was to award interest subsidy on the interest payable during the moratorium period for education loans taken for overseas studies. The moratorium period means the course duration plus one year, so students did not have to pay interest while they were studying abroad.
The scheme was launched in 2006-07 under the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities. It supported talented students from the six notified minority communities, which are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis.
Only meritorious students from poor families belonging to the notified minority communities were eligible. As per the guidelines, 35% of the seats were earmarked for girl students. Since the scheme started in 2006-07, it helped around 20,365 students with their study-abroad plans.
Padho Pardesh Scheme Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Padho Pardesh |
| Ministry | Ministry of Minority Affairs |
| Eligible People | Minority community students studying abroad |
| Courses Covered | Master's, M.Phil and Ph.D. courses |
| Maximum Subsidy Limit | Up to ₹20 lakh loan amount |
| Income Cap | ₹6,00,000 per annum |
| Status | Discontinued from 2022-23 |
Benefits of Padho Pardesh Scheme
While the scheme was running, it made overseas study more affordable for minority students. The main benefits it offered were:
- Interest subsidy: The government paid the interest on the education loan during the study period, which lowered the total repayment amount for the student.
- Global study access: With lower loan costs, students could take admission in well-known international universities and improve their job chances.
- Less pressure on the family: Because the interest was covered during the course, the family did not have to carry that extra money load while the student was studying.
- Professional growth: Students got a chance to build their skills in a global setting, which helped in their careers later.
Eligibility Criteria
To get the interest subsidy, students had to meet these conditions while the scheme was active:
- Admission to an approved master's, M.Phil or Ph.D. course at a recognized international university.
- Total annual family income of not more than ₹6,00,000. For example, if a student's family earns ₹5,50,000 a year, they qualify, while a family earning ₹6,50,000 would not.
- An education loan taken from a scheduled bank under the Indian Banks Association (IBA) Education Loan Scheme.
- Application for the benefit during the first year of study, since later applications were not accepted.
- Benefits were linked to the student's Aadhaar number.
Courses Covered Under Padho Pardesh
The scheme covered specific postgraduate and research courses abroad. Eligible fields for the interest subsidy included arts, humanities and social sciences; commerce and pure sciences; engineering including nano-technology, marine, petro-chemical and nuclear engineering; bio-technology and mechatronics; automation robotics and artificial intelligence; information technology and computer engineering; medical and agriculture sciences; and business and management studies like MBA and MCA.
Documents Required
When applying earlier, students had to keep these documents ready: a duly filled application form, the official admission letter from the university, a valid passport, an income certificate issued by a competent authority, proof of education loan application and Aadhaar card details.
Application Process
Since the scheme has been closed, no new applications are being accepted. Students who received the subsidy in earlier years can check any pending payment with their bank or the ministry. Earlier, the application was done online through the official portal. Students can also check education loan options on the Jan Samarth Portal.
These were the steps to apply when the scheme was open:
STEP 1 - Visit the official ministry page for Padho Pardesh on the minority affairs website and go to the application section.
STEP 2 - Open the student portal and enter personal details, email ID and mobile number.
STEP 3 - Review the filled form and submit it along with the required documents.
Why Was Padho Pardesh Closed?
The government said the scheme had limited benefits and overlapped with other similar schemes being run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Education loans are also now easy to get at low interest rates, so the scheme was discontinued from 2022-23 onwards. As per the official reply in Lok Sabha, there is no proposal to reconsider the continuation of the scheme. Minority students looking for other study support can check the Minority Welfare Schemes List.
Official Links and Guidelines PDF
For official confirmation about the closure and scheme details, these resources can be checked:
- Official Padho Pardesh page on the Ministry of Minority Affairs website
- Official notice on discontinuation of Padho Pardesh from 2022-23
- Padho Pardesh Scheme guidelines PDF
- Press Information Bureau release on the closure
FAQ's
Is Padho Pardesh still running?
No. The Ministry of Minority Affairs closed this scheme from the 2022-23 session onwards. No fresh applications are being accepted now.
Why was the scheme closed?
The government said the scheme had limited benefits and overlapped with education loans that are now easy to get at low interest rates, so it was discontinued. There is no plan to bring it back.
How many students were helped by the scheme?
The scheme helped around 20,365 students since it started in 2006-07, as per the government's press release.
Can I get the interest subsidy for a course I start now?
No. New admissions are not covered because the scheme has been closed. Students who got the subsidy in earlier years can check their pending payments with the bank.
Was the subsidy available for undergraduate courses too?
No. Padho Pardesh covered only master's, M.Phil and Ph.D. courses abroad. A student remained eligible for the postgraduate subsidy even if they had taken a subsidy earlier for an undergraduate course.
What was the maximum loan amount covered?
The subsidy applied only to loan amounts up to ₹20 lakh, as per the IBA model scheme guidelines.