Odisha has launched the Videsh Siksha Bruti scheme to support meritorious Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. This initiative will enable eligible students to pursue postgraduate and PhD programs in top global universities. The scheme will commence from the 2025-26 academic year. Selected students will receive financial assistance up to Rs 25 lakh annually.This initiative is part of the state’s efforts to promote inclusive education and provide global learning opportunities to talented students from marginalized communities.

This scholarship scheme provides financial assistance for students who wish to pursue postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral programs in reputed institutions across countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and other recognized destinations.

Key Features of the Scholarship Scheme

• Full tuition fee coverage for selected international universities.

• Living expenses, travel allowance, and visa fee support.

• Financial assistance for accommodation and study materials.

• Special preference for high-ranking global universities.

• Support for both Master’s and PhD degree programs.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION

• Eligibility by Income:
  Students from SC and ST communities with a family annual income of ₹12 lakh or below are eligible to apply.

• Academic Requirement:
  Applicants must have secured admission into postgraduate or PhD programs at universities ranked within the Top 200 of the QS World University Rankings.

• Application Cycles:
  The scholarship will accept applications twice a year:

  • July–August

  • December–January

• Selection Capacity:
  A total of 50 students will be selected every year across three major academic categories.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

• Financial Support:
  Each selected student will receive up to ₹25 lakh per year to cover

  • Tuition fees

  • Living expenses

  • Travel and academic-related costs

• Total Scholarships per Year:
  The scheme will award 50 scholarships annually.

• Stream-wise Allocation:

  • Engineering & Technical Streams – 10 Scholarships

    • 4 for Postgraduate (PG)

    • 6 for PhD

  • Medical, Agriculture, Architecture & Related Fields – 10 Scholarships

    • 4 for Postgraduate (PG)

    • 6 for PhD

  • General Higher Education – 30 Scholarships

    • 10 for Postgraduate (PG)

    • 20 for PhD

• Objective of the Scheme:
  The initiative aims to ensure that talented students from marginalised SC/ST communities in Odisha gain equal access to world-class global education opportunities.

OTHER KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Appointment Letters Distributed:
  The Higher Education Department issued appointment letters to 34 candidates recruited for Group C and Group D posts in aided colleges under the rehabilitation assistance policy.

• OSHEC Achieves a Milestone:
  The Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) received official copyright authorization to conduct Academic Performance Audits (APA) of higher education institutions.

• First State in India:
  With this development, Odisha becomes the first state in the country to adopt such a comprehensive academic evaluation system.

• Purpose of APA Mechanism:
  The Academic Performance Audit is expected to

  • Strengthen academic accountability

  • Improve institutional performance

  • Enhance the overall quality of higher education across the state.

Courses Covered

The scholarship will support studies in fields such as:

• Engineering & Technology

• Medical Sciences

• Social Sciences

• Law & Public Policy

• Pure Sciences

• Management & Finance

• Agriculture & Allied Fields

Application Process

Students can apply through the official portal of the Odisha ST & SC Development Department, where they must:

1. Register online

2. Upload academic certificates, caste certificate, income certificate

3. Submit admission offer letter

4. Provide statement of purpose (SOP) and other mandatory documents

A selection committee will evaluate applications based on merit, university ranking, and overall credentials.