The Ministry attributes this freeze to the lack of clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), a high-level body chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A July 1 government communication cited by the newspaper stated: “Provisional award letters to the remaining candidates (from serial number 41 to 106) in the selected list may be issued in due course, subject to availability of funds.”

Established in 1954–55, the NOS scheme offers financial assistance to students from historically disadvantaged and oppressed communities, including Scheduled Castes (SC), De-notified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), semi-nomadic tribes, landless agricultural labourers, and traditional artisan families, with an annual household income cap of Rs 8 lakh. It enables them to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies abroad.

In previous years, all selected candidates received provisional letters without delay. This year, however, the Ministry has adopted what it describes as a “phased approach” that hinges on funding availability—a move that has left many scholars in limbo just weeks before international admissions deadlines.

Speaking to The Hindustan Times, an unnamed ministry official pointed squarely to bureaucratic red tape at the highest levels: “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.”

Government Says no funds, but spends over ₹500 crore on PM’s Foreign Trips

The claim of “lack of funds” for the National Overseas Scholarship stands in stark contrast to the significant public expenditure on Prime Minister Modi’s own overseas travel. According to data provided by the Ministry of External Affairs in response to a parliamentary question raised by MP Fauzia Khan, over ₹517 crore was spent on PM Modi’s foreign visits between 2014 and 2022 alone. This includes costs for chartered flights, accommodation, logistics, and security. The expenditure on a single foreign trip often exceeds the annual budget for the NOS scheme. The contrast has drawn serious concern among student groups, academics, and civil society organisations, who view this disparity as a reflection of the state’s shifting priorities—away from inclusive education and toward high-profile statecraft.

Broader pattern of scholarship disruptions

This isn’t an isolated instance. A series of scholarship schemes targeting marginalized students have faced similar bottlenecks, delays, and arbitrary exclusions in recent months—raising questions about systemic withdrawal of support for higher education among Dalit, minority, and backward-class students.

Take the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), for instance. This fellowship, awarded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to research scholars from six notified minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi), has left over 1,400 PhD candidates without stipends for months. According to a Wire investigation published in June 2025, payments to most scholars have been stalled since December 2024. Some have not received their stipends even prior to that period. (Detailed report may be read here and here.)

Similarly, the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes witnessed chaos during its June 2024 cycle. Initially, the National Testing Agency (NTA) released a list of 865 selected candidates in March 2025. However, just a month later, a revised list slashed the number to 805—removing 487 previously selected scholars without explanation or transparency, triggering anguish and confusion across research institutions.

Political Pushback and Declining Numbers

On June 10, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and INC leader, Rahul Gandhi, wrote to Prime Minister Modi, raising alarm over what he described as the “deplorable” condition of hostels, malfunctioning portals, and erratic disbursement of scholarships across the country. He particularly highlighted the case of Bihar, where the state’s scholarship portal allegedly remained defunct for three consecutive academic years, effectively denying all aid to eligible students during 2021–22.

As per the report of The Wire, Gandhi noted a steep decline in the number of scholarship recipients: “The number of Dalit students receiving scholarships fell by nearly half, from 1.36 lakh in FY23 to just 69,000 in FY24.” He also criticised the quantum of scholarship disbursals, stating that many students complain the amounts are “insultingly low” and insufficient to cover basic expenses.

A larger crisis of educational access?

The government’s repeated invocation of “fund constraints” and committee approvals, despite existing budgetary allocations, has sparked outrage among students and education rights advocates, who say that the current delays are not mere administrative lapses but indicative of a broader policy shift away from targeted educational equity. For many first-generation learners from SC, OBC, EBC, and minority backgrounds, these scholarships represent their only pathway to higher education, especially abroad or at the doctoral level. As things stand, the fate of 66 National Overseas Scholarship awardees remains suspended in uncertainty, and with it, their long-cherished hopes of studying abroad.

Related:

Union scraps Maulana Azad Scholarships for Research Scholars from Minority Communities

Why has the Union govt pulled the plug on minority education schemes?

AISHE survey shows enrolment of Muslim students in higher studies falls significantly compared to other communities

Maulana Azad Foundation terminated by Centre as government cuts down on minority schemes

The post Funds Withheld, Futures on Hold: Dalit, OBC, Minority students face scholarship crisis amidst delays and cuts appeared first on SabrangIndia.

These questions responded to by Pratima Bhoumik, who currently serves as the union minister of state in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In the response, the minister provided that the said scheme aims to empower OBC students by way of awarding fellowship in obtaining higher education.

The answer also contains the data regarding the details of the researchers from OBC classes who have benefited from the scheme. As per the data, the highest number of scholars between the periods of 2018- 2023 were between 2022-2023, wherein a total of 1070 scholars received funds for education. On the other hand, the lowest number of scholarships, 324 in total, were granted in the year 2018.

The data also provides state-wise details of the number of scholarships provided. Based on the data, the state of Uttar Pradesh consistently granted the highest number of Junior Research Scholarships (JRF) between 2018-2023. Notably, the number of scholarships has also been increasing with each year.

In a total contrast to this, the data shows that no OBC beneficiary from the state of Arunachal Pradesh benefitted from this scheme between 2018-2021. Post this, between 2021-2023, a total of 5 scholars have benefited from the scheme in the state. Even in the case of the union territory of Chandigarh, only 5 scholars who have benefited from the scheme in the last five years.

Notably, while most of the states show an increasing pattern in the number of scholars benefitted in the last five years, six states showed a different trend. In the states namely, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, a constant decline in the number of beneficiaries in the past five years can be observed from the data. It is pertinent that while we appreciate the overall increase in the number of scholarships provided to the OBCs, focus is also on ensuring that all states follow a positive pattern, with increase in the number of beneficiaries, and ensure that an equitable number of beneficiaries exist in accordance to the population of each state.

The table provided in the answer is as follows:

The complete answer can be read here:

Related:

Infant mortality rate: UP records highest rate for SC at 57.8, Chhattisgarh at 41.6 for ST

MOE: Alarming dropout rates among SC, ST, and OBC students in premium institutes of India since 2018

Union data shows increasing beneficiaries of scholarships for OBCs in the past 5 years

The post OBC Fellowship Scheme: Highest number of beneficiaries in UP, lowest in Arunachal Pradesh and Chandigarh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The response by BSP MP, Ritesh Pandey, and the government detailed that over the last five years, a staggering 13,626 SC, ST, and OBC students have discontinued their education. The data reveals that 4,596 OBC candidates, 2,424 SC, and 2,622 ST students chose to drop out of Central Universities during this period. Furthermore, the statistics show that in the renowned institutes such as IITs, 2,066 OBC candidates, 1,068 SC, and 408 ST students decided to discontinue their educational pursuits. Similarly, at the esteemed IIMs, 163 OBC, 188 SC, and 91 ST candidates had dropped out.

He further gave the reason for the dropouts, stating that migrating to other courses is an occurrence, “In the Higher Education sector students have multiple options and they choose to migrate across institutions and from one course/programme to another in the same institution. The migration/withdrawal if any, is mainly on account of securing seat by the students in other departments / institutions of their choice or on any personal ground.” Furthermore, the ministry has no record of the data related to National Law Universities, as these institutes come under state legislature.

Furthermore, addressing concerns of dropouts in the university, the minister replied, “In order to proactively address any issues of SC/ST students, institutes have set up mechanisms such as SC/ST students’ cells, Equal Opportunity Cell, Student Grievance Cell, Student Grievance Committee, Students Social Club, Liaison officers, Liaison Committee etc. Further, University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued instructions from time to time for promoting equity and fraternity amongst students.” He also stated that the government has initiated several measures to address the issue. These include fee reductions, the establishment of additional educational institutes, scholarship programs, and access to national-level scholarships. Sarkar spoke about specific initiatives by the government like the ‘waiver of tuition fees in IITs’ and the provision of national scholarships under the Central Sector Scheme, aiming to support the welfare of SC/ST students.

The complete answer can be viewed here (1):

Furthermore, on December 4 the education minister responded to questions posed by A Raja, an MP from the DMK party. He had asked the minister questions on the discrimination records against Dalits and Tribals in private schools that was reported in the past 3 years, specific regulations by the government or by the CBSE to address said discrimination, and lastly the details of the circulars sent by the central government to private schools regarding instances and redressal of discrimination against these students.

The government responded by saying that Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act 25 % of seats in private schools are reserved for students belonging to disadvantaged groups or economically weaker sections, and furthermore, that the NEP 2020 has a provision that states it necessary for special attention to be given to reduce educational inequities pertaining to ST and SC groups. Interestingly, what the minister did not provide here was an answer to the question on how many instances of discrimination were noted against ST and SC students in private schools in the last three years.

The presence of marginalised students in universities has already presented dismal figures. According to the Ministry of Education’s report for the academic year 2020–21 earlier this year, it was revealed that amongst India’s 4.13 crore total registered students in universities about 14.2% belonged to the Scheduled Caste  category, 5.8% to the Scheduled Tribe  category, and 35.8% belonged to the Other Backward Class groups.

In addition to student demographics, a  concern emerges in the realm of teachers as well as responding to a query in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Education Subhash Sarkar earlier this revealed until April 1, 2023 India’s central universities have only on vice-chancellor from the SC community, one from the ST community, and about five from the OBC communities, revealing that all is not too well for teachers from marginalised communicates as well and revealed that in 45 central universities in India.

The complete answer can be viewed here (2):

Related:

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Government a threat to Indian legacy, education, jobs: Gandhian institute taken over, residents evicted, bulldozer to follow

SC deems caste-based discrimination in higher education system to be a ‘very sensitive matter’

Towards Quality Universal and Accessible Education for All!  Protests against NEP 2020

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