Government Issues Provisional Award Letters for National Overseas Scholarship

Swift Summary

• The Social Justice Ministry informed Parliament on july 29,2025,that provisional award letters under the National overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme had been issued to all 106 selected candidates.
• Initially, out of the 106 selected students from marginalised backgrounds (Scheduled Castes, Denotified Tribes, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and landless agricultural labourers), provisional award letters were withheld for 66 due to “availability of funds.”
• Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised the government’s approach toward Bahujan students trying to pursue higher studies abroad.
• Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas athawale later clarified in Lok Sabha that all 106 candidates have now received their letters.
• Financial details:

– The NOS budget was initially set at ₹175 crore over five years (₹35 crore annually).
– Expenditure from 2021-22 to 2024-25 totaled ₹298.39 crore-significantly exceeding the approved budget.
– An additional allocation of ₹130 crore has been made for FY 2025-26.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the resolution of fund-related delays in issuing scholarship awards to eligible candidates reflects a positive development for equitable access to education among marginalised communities. Though,this issue highlights challenges in public funding and planning. with expenditure surpassing initial estimates substantially over recent years (₹298.39 crore versus the planned ₹175 crore), fiscal oversight remains a pressing concern.

This case raises broader questions regarding long-term sustainability and scalability within government programs aimed at empowering socio-economically disadvantaged groups. While securing additional funds has ensured continuity this year, structural measures might potentially be needed to prevent similar issues in future iterations of schemes like NOS.

Rahul Gandhi’s critique underscores political scrutiny on commitments towards inclusivity but should also encourage collaborative dialogues on strengthening systemic frameworks rather than partisan reproaches alone.

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