Odisha Launches Overseas Scholarship for SC/ST Students

Odisha has launched the ‘Bidesh Sikhyabruti’ scheme to support SC and ST students pursuing postgraduate and PhD courses at top foreign universities. Selected students can receive up to ₹25 lakh per year, with 50 students supported annually.

The Odisha government has introduced the ‘Bidesh Sikhyabruti' scholarship scheme for meritorious students from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) to offer financial assistance to study at the top foreign universities for post-graduate and PhD courses. The scheme has been started under Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY).

The programme will select 50 students per year on an annual basis from various streams and disciplines. Financial support up to ₹25 lakh per student per course per year can be availed by eligible students. The support provided will be used to pay tuition fees, living expenses and other incidental costs for overseas education.

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The scheme has been launched for students from families whose annual income is up to ₹12 lakh. All applicants must obtain admission to eligible postgraduate or PhD programmes at foreign universities and institutions with the prescribed rankings. Previously, the announced institutions were from the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings.

Scholarship support will be available for one or two years, depending on the course length, for post-graduate courses. PhD students will be provided assistance for up to 2 years. The guidelines include that the support will not be given beyond the agreed time.

A student may only take up the scholarship, once for a post-graduate course or once for a PhD course. This is to enable the scheme to be available to a larger segment of students who are interested in pursuing studies in foreign countries.

The Odisha State Scholarship Portal is accepting applications for the academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Eligible student will be given a limited time to complete the application process from August 18 to August 31, 2026.

The aim of the initiative is to lower the financial costs of studying abroad, especially for students from low-income families. Cost is another key element to increase access to overseas education and is likely to be a significant cost in addition to tuition, accommodation, travel etc.

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The Government of Odisha hopes the scheme will help to increase student participation in higher studies in various fields by enrolling SC and ST students in well-reputed international institutions.

The Bidesh Sikhyabruti scheme thus introduces an overseas education arm to the overall initiatives taken by the Government of Odisha for access to higher education and increased opportunities to the students of the disadvantaged sections of the society.