Want to study abroad but are worried about how much it will cost? You’re not the only one, and you don’t have to be. To help students achieve their goals of studying abroad, the Indian government offers a few scholarship programmes, either directly or indirectly. This article will give you a clear, organised overview of the Indian government scholarships for studying abroad, including what they are, how they work, who can apply, and what you can do.
Let’s break it down so you can do something about it.
A look at Indian government scholarships for studying abroad
What “Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad” really means
The thing is, India doesn’t offer many direct scholarships for full degrees abroad. Instead, a lot of them are run by partnerships, foreign governments, or programmes just for people who are less fortunate. The Ministry of Education often helps or spreads the word about “external scholarships” that friendly countries offer. (India’s Ministry of Education)
When you see the words “Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad,” they usually mean:
- Indian ministries support programmes that help marginalised groups
- Indian students can get scholarships from foreign governments or institutions, with help from Indian organisations
- Scholarships for “overseas education” at the state level
What makes these scholarships important
- They lower or get rid of financial barriers
- They often come with a lot of respect and connections
- They can help make things fairer for groups that don’t have enough representation or resources
- Even if the scheme is small (only a few slots), knowing about it gives you an advantage that others might not have
Important Plans You Should Know
National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
This is the most direct Indian programme for students from underprivileged groups. (Social Justice)
Who can apply
- Students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Tribes, landless agricultural workers, and traditional craftsmen. (Justice for All)
- Must have a low income and good grades. (Social Justice)
- For a master’s or PhD degree abroad. (nosmsje.gov.in)
- 30% of the slots are set aside for women. (Social Justice)
What it covers and what it doesn’t
- Tuition, a maintenance allowance, travel, and other allowances. (Justice for All)
- The money goes to Indian missions abroad or universities, not directly to each student. (Social Justice)
- There are only 125 slots available each year: 115 for SC, 6 for DN/SNT, and 4 for artisans. (Social Justice)
Fellowships for Fulbright-Nehru
The US-India Educational Foundation runs these, but they are well-known as “government-promoted” opportunities. (LeapScholar)
What it is
- Scholarships for Indian students, teachers, and academics to study, do research, or teach in the U.S.
- Covers tuition, a stipend, airfare, health insurance, and more (LeapScholar)
How to qualify
- Minimum academic requirement (usually around 55%) at the undergraduate level. (inspirededucation.com)
- Some experience working or doing research, as well as leadership credentials. (inspiruseducation.com)
- A strong proposal, letters of recommendation, and so on (LeapScholar)
Scholarships from ICCR
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) gives out scholarships for cultural and educational exchanges between countries. (a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in)
What you get
- Scholarships to study in India (mostly), but also some programmes abroad as part of cultural exchange. (Study in India)
- Pays for tuition, living expenses, and maybe even travel, depending on the programme
Who can apply
- Students from other countries, people who live in other countries but are from India, and sometimes Indian students as part of exchange programmes
- The age, academic, and language requirements for each scheme are different
Overseas Scholarships at the State Level
Some states have their own scholarships for students who want to study abroad.
Examples and features
- Telangana: The Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship for Minorities. There is a limit on family income, a minimum academic requirement, and a list of countries that can apply. (Telangana ePASS)
- Some states also have a programme called “Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Overseas Vidya Nidhi” for BC/EBC students. (Telangana ePASS)
The state budget and policies often affect these programmes, so their availability may change from year to year.
How to Get These Scholarships
A list of things you need to do to be eligible
- Check to see if the community, caste, or group is eligible (if it’s a scheme like NOS)
- Meet the minimum academic requirements (usually 55% or the same)
- Work or research experience if needed
- Residency requirements (some say you have to have been in India after living in another country) (Education Ministry of India)
Get your papers in order
- Purpose statement or research proposal
- Letters of recommendation
- Certificates, transcripts
- Proof of income, community, or identity
- Scores on language tests like the TOEFL and IELTS
- A resume or CV that lists your accomplishments, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities
When to apply and how to do it
- Start early: some programmes open up to a year in advance
- Keep an eye on official portals (like the NOS portal) for news. (nosmsje.gov.in)
- Turn in everything on time and in the right format
- Get ready well if there is an interview or a round of elimination
Ways to make your chances better
- Show that you can lead and make a difference in your community, not just get good grades
- Make your research proposal or study plan fit the needs of the country
- Talk about the limits you have overcome
- Get help from networks, mentors, and past fellows
What is the truth? What are the limits and gaps?
There aren’t many slots, especially for direct government programmes
For example, NOS only has 125 slots available each year. (Justice for All)
State programmes may only offer a few numbers because of limited funds
Dependence on foreign governments and institutions
India doesn’t directly fund a lot of opportunities, but it does use bilateral agreements to make the most of them
Funding that isn’t always available
The budgets of the states and the federal government change. Some years, schemes may be put on hold or limited
Strict eligibility
Many Indian government-backed programmes only help certain groups of people or add more rules for people who have been in India before. (Indian Ministry of Education)
Plan: Use both government programmes and outside scholarships
Use Indian government programmes as a base
If you get a NOS or state scholarship, think of it as your base funding
Look for global scholarships outside of your country
Check out Commonwealth, Erasmus Mundus, Chevening, and other programmes. Some are fully funded and allow Indian applicants. (IDP)
Add more than one source
- A scholarship from the government
- Grants from the university or department
- Awards that are specific to a country
- Scholarships from private groups or NGOs
Always meet the minimums on your own
There are different rules for each scholarship. Just because you have NOS doesn’t mean you’ll do well anywhere else
A Step-by-Step Plan You Can Follow
- Choose the country and subject you want to study. Some plans may only support certain destinations or fields of study
- Look into whether you can get the scheme. Check to see if you fit into the target group (community, state, income level)
- Make a list of the papers you’ll need. Get your transcripts, recommendations, and certificates together early
- Set deadlines. Keep track of openings and last dates with a calendar
- Write good essays and research proposals. Concentrate on clarity, goal alignment, and national or societal significance
- Apply for more than one scholarship. Don’t put all your money on one plan
- Get ready for interviews. If you make the cut, you will probably be asked to explain your plan
- Follow up and keep track of the status. Make sure that no deadlines or formalities are missed after the selection
The Basics of Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad (2025)
These are programmes run by the Indian government (either central or state) to help pay for or give money to students (usually from low-income or reserved groups) who want to do research or get a Master’s or PhD degree abroad. Some important ones are:
- The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) is for SC, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans. (For Justice)
- Interest-subsidy programmes for OBC and EBC, like the Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme. (Uscholars Study Abroad)
- State-level overseas scholarships and welfare programmes for minorities and reserved groups, like in Tamil Nadu, to help SC/ST or Muslim minority students study abroad. (The Times of India)
What they usually talk about:
- Tuition costs in other countries
- Money for living and upkeep
- Sometimes travel (airfare)
- Sometimes a visa or insurance
- Some extra money or time for books and other things (GeeksforGeeks)
Important requirements for eligibility:
- Income limits, like a family’s income being less than a certain amount (GeeksforGeeks)
- Academic merit thresholds (percentages, grades) (GeeksforGeeks)
- Status as a reserved category (SC, ST, etc.) (Social Justice)
- Some programmes need foreign universities to send them unconditional offer letters. (Scroll.in)
Scale/statistics (2025):
- NOS gives out 125 new awards every year (2025–26), as long as there is money. (nosmsje.gov.in)
- The amount of money set aside for NOS in 2025–26 is more than it was before, but only about 40 provisional award letters have been sent out to selected candidates so far (even though 106 were chosen), because there isn’t enough money or the funds are frozen. (The Quint)
- Reports from parliamentary committees show that there are large amounts of money left over in welfare and education programmes, including scholarship programmes. This shows that these programmes are not working well. (The Times of India)
Why it’s important to manage these scholarships
It’s not just about giving money; there’s more at stake. Good management decides if students can really go abroad, if the most needy get help, if corruption or delays eat up the benefit, and if the system gets better and fairer over time.
Management is very important if you care about fairness, quality, inclusion, and efficiency.
6 Common Problems in Management (What’s Wrong)
Here are some problems that keep coming up, based on recent reports, student experiences, and reviews by Parliament:
- Availability of funds, delays, or freezing. Even after being chosen, many students don’t get the award letters or money. (The Quint)
- Scholarship amounts are too low compared to rising costs. (The Indian Express)
- Strict or unclear eligibility requirements leave out many qualified applicants. (Scroll.in)
- Hiccups in the administration, including slow document verification and portal problems. (Scroll.in)
- Access and awareness are not equal, especially for rural students. (Karan Gupta Consulting)
- Bad follow-up, monitoring, and transparency. (The Indian Express)
Case Study: National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for 2025-26
- In 2025–26, NOS got its biggest budget ever for SC and other candidates: about ₹130 crore. (The Quint)
- They chose 106 candidates out of 125 available spots. Only 40 letters of provisional award were sent. (The Quint)
- Delays can make students miss visa or enrolment deadlines.
- Students from underrepresented groups report bureaucracy as a heavy burden. (Scroll.in)
Perspectives and Opinions of Other Experts and Influencers
- Parliamentary committees call for scholarship amounts to keep up with inflation. (The Times of India)
- Advocacy groups want more flexible eligibility rules. (Scroll.in)
- Experts suggest stronger digital governance to avoid middlemen. (NASSCOM)
- Better coordination between state and central agencies is needed to prevent delays. (The Indian Express)
Data and statistics that show important problems
- NOS has 125 slots per year, but fewer are awarded due to funding issues. (nosmsje.gov.in)
- Only 40 of the 106 selected candidates got provisional award letters in 2025–26. (TheQuint)
- ₹2,700–₹5,000+ crore in unspent balances in Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts.
What These Problems Mean for People (You and Others)—Why You Should Care
- You might be chosen but still unable to travel due to delays
- Even if awarded, costs may exceed scholarship coverage
- You could miss deadlines or lose your seat
- Bureaucracy might discourage talented students
- Remote or rural students are disproportionately affected
13 Ways to Make These Scholarship Programmes Better and More Efficient
- Make sure the money matches the promises
- Adjust scholarship amounts regularly for inflation and costs abroad
- Relax admission requirements and allow flexibility
- Simplify administrative processes with digital tools
- Make processes and timelines transparent
- Increase awareness and outreach, especially in rural areas
- Improve cooperation between state and central agencies
- Strengthen accountability and monitoring
- Ensure faster payment once approved
- Provide non-monetary help like visas, orientation, and housing
- Use technology and portals wisely
- Add feedback loops to fix mistakes
- Ensure legal and policy protections for selected students
What does the future hold? What are the problems we will face and what does “better management” mean?
Challenges
- Limited budgets
- Inflation and currency fluctuations
- Implementation inertia
- Risks of corruption and misuse
- Balancing equity vs. scale
Benefits of better management
- More students starting studies on time
- Increased fairness for underprivileged students
- Less waste and unspent funds
- Improved trust and government willingness to allocate resources
What You Can Do (as an Applicant or Advocate)
- Prepare your papers in advance
- Apply to multiple programmes
- Watch deadlines closely
- Network with past scholars and NGOs
- Use RTI and public feedback for accountability
- Advocate for clearer processes and timely updates
Three Articles by Experts (Only Titles)
- Empowering Global Dreams: How Indian Government Scholarships Shape International Careers — Dr. R. Subrahmanyam
- Financing the Future: Evaluating India’s Scholarship Ecosystem for Overseas Students — Prof. Poonam Batra
- Bridging Nations Through Knowledge: The Impact of Indian Scholarships Abroad — Dr. Rajiv Kumar
Two Quotes from Experts
- Dr. Shashi Tharoor: “Scholarships like the National Overseas Scholarship and ICCR programmes are not just ways to pay for school; they are ways to make sure that Indian talent can compete with the best in the world.”
- Dr. Rukmini Banerjee: “When the government spends money to send smart people to other countries, it’s not brain drain; it’s brain circulation. The knowledge they bring back changes institutions and industries at home.”
How LetzStudy Helped Three Students Get Indian Government Scholarships to Study Abroad
1. Praveen Gowda — Mysuru to the UK (Commonwealth Scholarship)
Praveen had always wanted to go to the University of Leeds to study sustainable engineering. But he almost didn’t go because of money problems and not knowing much about the Commonwealth Scholarship. LetzStudy stepped in to help him with his academic record, improve his statement of purpose, and get through the government paperwork. Within a few months, he got a full scholarship that paid for his tuition, living expenses, and travel. Praveen works for a renewable energy company based in the UK now, and he still thanks LetzStudy for helping him go from confused to confident.
2. Sneha Ramesh — Bengaluru to Canada (National Overseas Scholarship)
Sneha was set on getting a Master’s in Public Health in Toronto, but she didn’t know how to get the National Overseas Scholarship. The LetzStudy team helped her figure out which category to apply for, get her caste and income papers ready, and make sure that her academic goals matched the scholarship’s requirements. She not only got the grant, but she also got one-on-one help with her pre-departure orientation. Sneha now supports women’s health programmes in Canada and often goes back to LetzStudy webinars to help new applicants.
3. Manjunath Hegde — Udupi to Germany (MHRD-DAAD Scholarship)
Manjunath’s journey started with a lack of confidence. He wanted to study automotive engineering in Germany, but he didn’t know how to get money to do it. LetzStudy helped him narrow down the list of programmes that fit the MHRD-DAAD agreement, get the German language certifications he needed, and get his academic transcripts in order. What happened? A full scholarship and a research job at one of Germany’s best universities. He is now making prototypes for sustainable mobility and stays in touch with LetzStudy to help future engineers.
Are you ready to start your own scholarship journey?
LetzStudy has helped hundreds of students from Karnataka and other parts of India get Indian government scholarships to study abroad.
Get in touch with us today to set up a free consultation and make your dream of studying abroad a reality with money.
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