National Overseas Scholarship for SC Statistics 2026: Students Sent Abroad by Year
· 1 min read · 4 official sources
580 students were awarded the National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Castes and enrolled abroad between 2019-20 and 2025-26, the Social Justice Ministry told the Lok Sabha in August 2026. The yearly count peaked at 114 in 2023-24 and was 78 in 2025-26. Year-wise figures and recent payments are below.
National Overseas Scholarship for SC Candidates: key numbers
Infographic
Students awarded NOS and enrolled abroad, by year
Number of students who were awarded the National Overseas Scholarship for SCs and enrolled in a foreign university in each year. 2025-26 is counted up to 6 August 2026.
| Year | Students awarded |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 41 |
| 2020-21 | 71 |
| 2021-22 | 98 |
| 2022-23 | 98 |
| 2023-24 | 114 |
| 2024-25 | 80 |
| 2025-26 | 78 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 6 August 2026
How a student gets the National Overseas Scholarship
What the numbers show
The National Overseas Scholarship helps low-income Scheduled Caste students, and a few students from denotified tribes and landless labourer or artisan families, study for a Masters or PhD abroad. According to a Lok Sabha reply published on 11 August 2026, 580 students were awarded the scholarship and enrolled abroad between 2019-20 and 2025-26.
The trend over the years
The yearly count rose from 41 in 2019-20 to 71 in 2020-21 and 98 in both 2021-22 and 2022-23. It peaked at 114 in 2023-24, then fell to 80 in 2024-25 and 78 in 2025-26 (counted up to 6 August 2026). The number of slots was raised from 100 to 125 from selection year 2021-22, but in no year shown did enrolments reach 125. A candidate needs an offer from a top-ranked university and must actually join, so not every selected student ends up enrolling.
Payments
The department's year-end review says that from January to November 2025, scholarships of Rs 48.45 crore were released for 72 beneficiaries. Funds do not go to the student directly. They are sent in advance to the Indian Mission in the country of study, which pays the university and the student's allowances on receiving claims.
What the figures do not tell you
The yearly figures count students who enrolled, not all applicants or all those selected. They do not show the split between Masters and PhD students or the countries where students went. A separate scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs covers ST students, and those numbers are not included here.
Where to check the numbers
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment publishes selection lists and guidelines on socialjustice.gov.in, and its replies in Parliament are released through PIB.
Frequently asked questions
How many students got the National Overseas Scholarship for SCs?
580 students were awarded the scholarship and enrolled abroad between 2019-20 and 2025-26 (till 6 August 2026), according to a Lok Sabha reply published on 11 August 2026.
How many NOS scholarships were given in 2025-26?
78 students were awarded the scholarship and enrolled abroad in 2025-26, counted up to 6 August 2026. The figure was 80 in 2024-25 and 114 in 2023-24.
How many NOS slots are there each year?
125 fresh candidates are selected each year subject to funds: 115 Scheduled Caste candidates, 6 from denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes and 4 from landless agricultural labourer and traditional artisan families.
How much money was released under NOS in 2025?
From January to November 2025, scholarships of Rs 48.45 crore were released for 72 beneficiaries, according to the department's year-end review.
Who pays NOS scholars abroad?
The ministry releases funds in advance to the Indian Mission or Embassy concerned through Letters of Authorisation. The Mission then pays the university fees and the student's allowances.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: National Overseas Scholarship for SC Candidates full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2297834)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209488)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2038977)
- socialjustice.gov.in (socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/28)