The Crossbill News Desk
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued provisional scholarship letters to only 40 out of the 106 students selected for the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for the academic year 2025–26, citing lack of funds and pending clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The remaining 66 candidates are in limbo, with the ministry stating that their awards “may be issued… subject to availability of funds,” according to a report by The Hindustan Times.
Traditionally, all selected candidates receive provisional scholarship awards once the selection list is finalised.
This year, however, the ministry has issued the letters in a phased manner, leaving a majority of students uncertain about their academic plans abroad. The NOS scheme, launched in 1954–55, provides financial support to students from historically marginalised communities including Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic Tribes, semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers, and traditional artisans with annual family incomes below Rs 8 lakh.
Speaking to The Hindustan Times, a ministry official said the funds are available, but their disbursal awaits approval from the Cabinet Committee.
“It is an issue with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs not approving the money allocated to these scholarship schemes. We have the money, but we also need the green signal from above to give it out,” the official said.
This is not the first instance of scholarship disruptions under the current government. The Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), which supports PhD students from six notified minority communities, has faced significant delays in stipend disbursals.
Over 1,400 researchers reportedly have not received stipends from December 2024 through at least May 2025. Some have experienced interruptions even before this period.
Similarly, the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes has seen inconsistencies. The final selection list for June 2024 was released as late as April 2025.
Initially, 865 scholars were listed in March, but a revised list released in April reduced the number to 805, removing 487 previously selected candidates.
The scholarship crisis has sparked political response. On June 10, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote to the Prime Minister criticising the delay in scholarship disbursal and the deteriorating condition of hostels.
Citing Bihar, he noted that the scholarship portal had been non-functional for three years, preventing any disbursals for the 2021–22 academic year.
Gandhi highlighted a sharp drop in beneficiaries, pointing out that the number of Dalit students receiving scholarships had halved from 1.36 lakh in FY23 to just 69,000 in FY24. He also said students had complained that the scholarship amounts were “insultingly low.”
As of now, the future of dozens of NOS recipients remains uncertain, with no timeline given for when the pending awards will be released.
The remaining 66 candidates are in limbo, with the ministry stating that their awards “may be issued… subject to availability of funds,” according to a report by The Hindustan Times.
Traditionally, all selected candidates receive provisional scholarship awards once the selection list is finalised.
This year, however, the ministry has issued the letters in a phased manner, leaving a majority of students uncertain about their academic plans abroad. The NOS scheme, launched in 1954–55, provides financial support to students from historically marginalised communities including Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic Tribes, semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers, and traditional artisans with annual family incomes below Rs 8 lakh.
Speaking to The Hindustan Times, a ministry official said the funds are available, but their disbursal awaits approval from the Cabinet Committee.
“It is an issue with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs not approving the money allocated to these scholarship schemes. We have the money, but we also need the green signal from above to give it out,” the official said.
This is not the first instance of scholarship disruptions under the current government. The Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), which supports PhD students from six notified minority communities, has faced significant delays in stipend disbursals.
Over 1,400 researchers reportedly have not received stipends from December 2024 through at least May 2025. Some have experienced interruptions even before this period.
Similarly, the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes has seen inconsistencies. The final selection list for June 2024 was released as late as April 2025.
Initially, 865 scholars were listed in March, but a revised list released in April reduced the number to 805, removing 487 previously selected candidates.
The scholarship crisis has sparked political response. On June 10, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote to the Prime Minister criticising the delay in scholarship disbursal and the deteriorating condition of hostels.
Citing Bihar, he noted that the scholarship portal had been non-functional for three years, preventing any disbursals for the 2021–22 academic year.
Gandhi highlighted a sharp drop in beneficiaries, pointing out that the number of Dalit students receiving scholarships had halved from 1.36 lakh in FY23 to just 69,000 in FY24. He also said students had complained that the scholarship amounts were “insultingly low.”
As of now, the future of dozens of NOS recipients remains uncertain, with no timeline given for when the pending awards will be released.
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