National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students (NOS-ST)

What is the National Overseas Scholarship for ST students?

The National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students (NOS-ST) is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs that funds full-time postgraduate study abroad for Scheduled Tribe candidates. NOS-ST covers Masters degrees, PhD research and post-doctoral research at foreign universities and institutes.

According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the scheme sanctions 20 awards every year. Of these, 17 go to Scheduled Tribe candidates and 3 are reserved for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). A further 30% of awards are earmarked for women candidates, and a share is reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities.

NOS-ST is one of the smallest and most competitive scholarships in the country by absolute numbers to 20 awards against a large applicant pool, but the value of an individual award is among the highest, because it covers tuition in full along with a dollar-denominated living allowance.

Key objectives

• Enable meritorious Scheduled Tribe students to pursue higher study at reputed foreign universities that they could not otherwise afford.
• Build a pool of highly qualified tribal professionals, researchers and academics in fields where tribal representation is low.
• Give a defined share of opportunity to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, who are under-represented even within ST higher education.

Main features

• 20 awards a year: 17 for STs and 3 for PVTGs.
• 30% of awards earmarked for female candidates.
• Full tuition fee paid to the foreign institution.
• USD 15,400 annual maintenance allowance and USD 1,532 contingency.
• Air fare, visa fee, poll tax, medical insurance and incidental journey expenses covered.
• Duration up to 4 years for PhD and 3 years for a Masters degree.
• Applications are made online only, at overseas.tribal.gov.in.

Who is eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship for ST students?

You can apply if:

• You belong to a notified Scheduled Tribe, or to a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group for the 3 reserved awards.
• Your total family income from all sources does not exceed Rs 6,00,000 a year, counting the income of the candidate, parents and spouse.
• You hold a first class with at least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying degree, Bachelor's for a Masters application, Master's for a PhD application, PhD for post-doctoral research.
• You are below 35 years of age as on the cut-off date in the year's advertisement.
• You have an admission offer from a foreign university or institute for a regular, full-time course.
• The proposed course is a Masters, PhD or post-doctoral programme.

You cannot apply if:

• You do not belong to a notified Scheduled Tribe. SC and OBC candidates have separate overseas scholarship schemes run by other ministries.
• Your family income exceeds Rs 6 lakh a year. This is a hard cut-off and is verified from the income certificate.
• You are applying for an undergraduate or diploma course abroad. NOS-ST funds postgraduate and research-level study only.
• Your marks fall below 60% in the qualifying degree.
• You are above the prescribed age limit on the cut-off date.
• A sibling in the same family has already received the award. The scheme restricts the benefit to one child per family.
• You intend to study part-time, online or by distance mode. Only regular, full-time enrolment at the foreign institution is funded.
• You are already drawing another scholarship or financial assistance for the same course from any government or public body.

What documents are required for NOS-ST?

Linking documents through DigiLocker is encouraged and speeds up verification.

How to apply for the National Overseas Scholarship online

1. Watch overseas.tribal.gov.in and tribal.nic.in for the year's advertisement, which announces the application window and the exact cut-off date for age and marks.
2. Open overseas.tribal.gov.in and complete the new candidate registration with your name, date of birth, mobile number, email and Aadhaar; verify the OTP received.
3. Log in and fill in the application form section by section: personal details, ST or PVTG category, academic record with marks, the foreign institution and course, and the proposed date of joining.
4. Enter family income exactly as shown on your income certificate, since this figure is checked against the Rs 6,00,000 ceiling.
5. Upload the scanned documents — ST/PVTG certificate, offer letter, degree marksheets, income certificate, date-of-birth proof, passport and photograph; within the prescribed file size and format.
6. Review the preview carefully, submit the application before the closing date, and download the acknowledgement with your application number.
7. Track the status on the portal. Shortlisted candidates are considered by the ministry's selection committee, which ranks applicants on academic merit and the standing of the offered institution.
8. On selection, submit the award acceptance, visa and joining documents so that the ministry can release the tuition fee, air fare and first maintenance instalment.

How much does NOS-ST pay?

The annual maintenance allowance is fixed at USD 15,400 for the United States and most countries, and at GBP 9,900 for candidates studying in the United Kingdom, with the equivalent applied elsewhere. Assistance runs for a maximum of 4 years for a PhD and 3 years for a Masters degree, or until the course ends; whichever comes first. Payments are released in instalments against satisfactory progress reports from the foreign institution.

The Rs 6,00,000 family income ceiling is the standard test, but the scheme guidelines waive the income condition for an orphan candidate supported by a guardian, recognising that such applicants cannot furnish a parental income record in the usual way.

How to check your NOS-ST application status

1. Log in to overseas.tribal.gov.in with your registered credentials.
2. Open the application status section on the dashboard to see whether the application is under scrutiny, shortlisted or rejected.
3. Watch the notices and results page on the same portal, where the final selection list for the year is published.
4. For any discrepancy, use the help page at overseas.tribal.gov.in/Help.aspx or write to the scholarship division of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Common reasons NOS-ST applications are rejected

• Family income above Rs 6 lakh, the most common single ground for rejection.
• No admission offer from the foreign institute at the time of application, or an offer for a course not covered by the scheme.
• Qualifying degree below 60% or below first class.
• Age above the prescribed limit on the cut-off date.
• Invalid ST certificate or one issued by an authority not competent under the rules.
• A sibling already awarded the scholarship from the same family.
• Incomplete uploads. A missing income certificate or unreadable marksheet is treated as an incomplete application.

Help and grievance redressal

• Portal help page: overseas.tribal.gov.in/Help.aspx, which lists the scholarship division contacts for the current cycle
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi: 011-23383303
• CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) for a written grievance with a tracking number

Applying for the National Overseas Scholarship is free. Because only 20 awards are given a year, this scheme attracts agents promising selection for a fee: no consultant can influence a selection committee decision, and no official will ask you for money or an OTP.