The Social Justice Ministry requests extra cash for scholarships.

Union Social Justice Ministry Seeking Additional Funding for National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme

• The Union Social Justice Ministry is seeking additional allocation for the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for marginalised students.

• The Ministry withheld provisional award letters to 66 selected candidates in the 2025-26 cycle.

• The first round of results for the NOS has seen the selection committee unable to fill all 125 available slots.

• Applications received for the scholarship dropped to about 440, a low of around three years.

• The scheme received the highest allocation it has in around five years — ₹130 crore — in the 2025-26 Budget Estimates.

• The fund crunch comes as the government is evaluating the scheme for the 16th financial cycle, which will begin from financial year 2026-27.

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has pointed out several issues with the scheme, including insufficient scholarships and need for increased slots.