National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Etc. Candidates 2026-27

National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Etc. Candidates is a central scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It helps meritorious and low-income students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans study Master's or Ph.D. courses in foreign universities. For the selection year 2026-27, the Ministry has released new scheme rules that came into effect from 2026-27. A total of 125 fresh awards are given every year under the scheme.

The online portal for the first round of 2026-27 was open from 24 April 2026 to 2 June 2026, and the result of the first round has already been published on the official website. The second round of applications will open again in September/October 2026 for 40 days on the official portal nosmsje.gov.in. Students who missed the first round can apply in this second round.

National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 - Key Update

The Ministry brought a new set of scheme guidelines for the selection year 2026-27 on 23 April 2026. Under the new rules, a candidate needs an unconditional offer of admission from one of the top 500 QS World ranked foreign universities to be considered in the first round of selection. This is one of the main changes compared to earlier years. Also, the candidate must be not more than 35 years old as on the first day of April of the selection year to apply.

Apart from these, the family income limit, the benefit amounts and the number of awards remain the same. The scheme continues to support students in any field of study at an institution that is officially recognized by the government or the authorized body of the host country.

Highlights

Benefits

Selected candidates get full financial support to focus on their studies abroad. The scheme covers almost all the main expenses of studying in a foreign university.

Besides these, the scheme also covers tuition fees fully as charged by the institution, actual visa fees, and full medical insurance premium. Economy class air tickets from the nearest airport in India to the place of study are given through authorized travel agents Balmer Lawrie (BLCL), Ashok Travels (ATT) or IRCTC. An incidental journey and equipment allowance of $20 or its equivalent in rupees is also provided.

Eligibility

To apply for the National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27, a candidate must meet the conditions given below.

• Category: The candidate must belong to a Scheduled Caste, Denotified Nomadic or Semi-Nomadic Tribe, be a landless agricultural labourer, or a traditional artisan.
• Age: The candidate must not be more than 35 years old as on the first day of April of the selection year.
• Qualification: The candidate must have secured at least 60% marks in the qualifying degree. Bachelor's degree is the qualifying exam for Master's applicants, and Master's degree is the qualifying exam for Ph.D. applicants.
• Admission: For the first round, the candidate needs an unconditional offer of admission from a foreign university in the top 500 QS World rankings for 2026.
• Family Income: The gross annual family income should not exceed ₹8 lakh in the last completed financial year.
• Family Limit: Not more than two children from the same family can get this scholarship.

30% of the awards in each year are kept aside for women candidates. If enough women candidates are not available in a category, the unutilized slots are filled by suitable male candidates as per merit.

Exclusions

There are a few conditions under which a candidate cannot apply. Please keep these points in mind.

• Bachelor's level courses are not covered under this scheme.
• A candidate already staying or studying abroad using funds from any other agency, state government, or own money is not eligible.
• A candidate cannot get this scholarship for the same level of degree for which he or she already has a qualification.
• Generally, no more than two children from the same family can benefit from this scholarship.

Application Process for 2026-27

The first round of 2026-27 applications closed on 2 June 2026 and its result is already out. Those who did not apply can wait for the second round, which is expected to open in September/October 2026 for 40 days on the official portal. Follow these steps to apply when the portal opens.

STEP 1 - Visit the official website at nosmsje.gov.in and complete the 'Student Register Form' to get your login credentials.

STEP 2 - Log in using your email and password. Make sure your password is at least 8 characters long and includes numbers, alphabets, and one special character with at least one uppercase letter.

STEP 3 - Fill the application form with accurate details like your personal information, emergency contacts, university details, academic background, employment details, visa status and post-study career plans in India. Attach an affidavit if you are not employed.

STEP 4 - Submit your Aadhaar number and all required documents, then review the application and submit it online before the portal closes.

Documents Required

Keep scanned copies of the following documents ready before you fill the form:

• 10th Board Certificate and qualifying degree certificates.
• Caste certificate and family income certificate issued by state revenue authorities, where the income certificate is given by an officer not below the rank of Tehsildar.
• Aadhaar number and personal identification photos and signatures.
• Admission proof from the foreign university and Income Tax Return acceptance document.
• Employer's No Objection Certificate if you are employed, and a gap certificate if your education had a break of more than 6 months.

If the gross annual family income for the financial year 2025-26 is more than ₹2.5 lakh under the Old Tax Regime or ₹3 lakh under the New Tax Regime, the student has to submit the complete Income Tax Returns of self and all family members along with the CPC intimation order issued under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act before the final award letter is issued.

After selection, the candidate needs to provide a copy of the passport, an attestation form, and self-declarations about family income and non-conviction of offenses.

Definitions

Scheduled Caste

Defined as per The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

Family

Includes the candidate, his or her parents, siblings below 18 years, spouse and children below 18 years. For married women, the income of in-laws, spouse and children below 18 years is also considered.

Qualifying Examination

For Ph.D. applicants, this means a Master's degree. For Master's applicants, this means a Bachelor's degree.

References

View National Overseas Scholarship 2026-27 Official Scheme Guidelines

National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. Candidates - Ministry Page

FAQ's

Is there a duration to the financial support provided?

Yes, the help is given for a maximum of 4 years for Ph.D. programs and 3 years for Master's degrees.

What is covered under the Contingency Allowance?

It covers books, essential apparatus including a laptop, minor study tours, travel for attending subject-related conferences and workshops, thesis typing and binding, and fees charged by the university such as registration, examination, enrollment and library fees.

Is there any age limit to apply?

Yes, the candidate must not be more than 35 years old as on the first day of April of the selection year.

Can awardees do Research or Teaching Assistantship to add to their allowances?

Yes, awardees are allowed to take up Research or Teaching Assistantship to supplement the allowances given under the scheme.

How many scholarship slots are there in this scheme?

The scheme gives 125 fresh awards each year, subject to the availability of funds. Out of these, 115 are for Scheduled Castes, 6 for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and 4 for landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans.

Is there any timeframe for addressing grievances about the results?

Yes, you have 30 calendar days from the date of publication of the result to file a grievance on the portal.