ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)
(a): The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements two National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) schemes. One is implemented by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment under which financial assistance is provided to selected students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans for pursuing Masters and Ph.D level courses abroad. The other is implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwD) under which scholarship is provided to the selected students with disabilities for pursuing Masters and Ph. D level courses abroad. Similarly, Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing NOS Scheme for students belonging to ST communities. There is no proposal to include other categories of students under any of these schemes.
(b): Does not arise.
(c): The process of selection in the Ministries/Departments are as follows:
(i) Under the scheme run by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment 125 meritorious SC students are given scholarship every year. Applications are invited on the online portal of the Ministry. The online applications of the eligible candidates are placed before a Selection-cum-Screening Committee for making their recommendations for selection in
accordance with the conditions of the scheme. The merit list is prepared based on the international ranking of the institutions in which the candidates have secured admission.
(ii) In respect of the scheme run by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), the receipt of applications of National Overseas Scholarship for 20 slots are open throughout the year. The applications are screened by the Screening Committee as per the conditions of the Scheme. The candidates shortlisted by the Screening Committee are placed before the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee assesses individual candidate’s educational qualifications and experience, and draw a merit list which finally and decisively completes the selection procedure.
(iii) With regard to the scheme of NOS of Ministry of Tribal Affairs 20 meritorious ST students are given scholarship every year. Applications are invited on the online portal of the Ministry. All applications received within the stipulated period are put before an independent Screening Committee for short-listing of the applications. The candidates short listed by the Screening Committee are required to present themselves for personal interview before the Selection Committee. The merit list is prepared, based on the assessment of candidates by the Selection Committee. The selected candidates are given two years time to secure admission in the accredited University/Institute abroad.
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