NOS-SWD

National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities

5.8/10

A scholarship scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for regular, full-time students with disabilities to obtain higher education viz., Master's degree, or Ph.D. courses from foreign universities, in one of the specified fields of study.

Central Composite

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment

Nodal department: Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): Yes

Categories: Education & Learning, Social welfare & Empowerment

Sub-categories: Universities and higher education, International education, International students, Scholarships and student finance, Financial assistance, Citizen empowerment, Aids/Appliances

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Scholarship, Student, Person With Disability, Higher Education, Degree, Empowerment, PhD, Post-Graduation

Details

A scholarship scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for regular, full-time students with disabilities to obtain higher education viz., Master's degree, or Ph.D. courses from foreign universities, in one of the specified fields of study.

The students with the specified disabilities defined in Schedule of the "Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016" will be eligible under this scheme. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, loco-motor, mental retardation, and other disabilities. NOS is implemented offline by the DEPwD.

At times SwDs are deprived of harnessing their latent skills and thereby miss the opportunity. This scheme aims to support SwDs to study further in order to prepare themselves to earn their livelihood and to find a dignified place for themselves in the society as they face several barriers physical, financial, psychological, mental in pursuing studies and living with dignity.

Benefits

  • [ [ { "children": [ { "text": "Annual Maintenance Allowance: "
  • "bold": true }
  • { "text": "For United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK: $15400 (US Dollars); For United Kingdom (UK): 9900 GBP (Great Britain Pounds)" } ] }
  • { "children": [ { "text": "Contingency Allowance: "
  • "bold": true }
  • { "text": "For United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK: $1500 (US Dollars); For United Kingdom (UK): 1100 GBP (Great Britain Pounds)" } ] }
  • { "children": [ { "text": "Equipment Allowance:"
  • "bold": true }
  • { "text": " 1500 INR" } ] }
  • { "children": [ { "text": "Tuition Fees:"
  • "bold": true }
  • { "text": " Actual as charged" } ] }

Annual Maintenance Allowance: For United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK: $15400 (US Dollars); For United Kingdom (UK): 9900 GBP (Great Britain Pounds)

Contingency Allowance: For United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK: $1500 (US Dollars); For United Kingdom (UK): 1100 GBP (Great Britain Pounds)

Equipment Allowance: 1500 INR

Tuition Fees: Actual as charged

Visa Fees: Actual Visa Fees in INR

Poll Tax: Actual as charged

Medical Insurance Premium: Actual as charged

Incidental Journey Allowance & Equipment Allowance: 20 US Dollars for each or its equivalent in INR.

Air Passage: Air passage grant on actual basis from India to the nearest place to the educational institution and back to India, by economy class and shortest route in arrangements with the national carrier, shall be provided.

Local Travel: Second or Coach Class railway fare from the port of disembarkation to the place of study and back.

In case of far flung places not connected by rail, bus fare(s) from the place of residence to the nearest railway station, actual charge of crossing by ferry, airfare to the nearest rail-cum-air Station and/or second class railway fare by the shortest route to the port of embarkation and back will be permissible. For attending interviews by the candidates at the place decided by the Government of India, the second-class fare/ordinary class bus fare from the city of their place of residence to the city in which the interviews for selection have been decided by the Government of India will be permissible.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be a student.
  • The applicant must be Admitted into (or received an unconditional offer of admission) Masters's level courses and Ph.D. courses abroad in institutions/universities accredited by the Government/authorized body of that country.
  • The Disability Percentage of the applicant must be 40% & above.
  • The applicant must be 35 years or lesser in age, as on the first day of the month of advertisement of the scheme.
  • The Total Family Income of the applicant (from all sources) must not exceed ₹ 6 lakh per annum.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

5.8
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 6.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 5.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 6.0/10 Moderate
Financial impact 5.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 3.0/10 Good
Women inclusivity 8.0/10 Good
Awareness 7.5/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility6.0
  • Financial impact5.0
  • Rural utility5.0
  • Awareness7.5
  • Simplicity4.0
  • Inclusivity8.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme provides essential support for students with disabilities seeking higher education abroad.

Key challenges addressed

  • Financial barriers for students with disabilities
  • Access to higher education opportunities

Most beneficial for

  • Students with disabilities
  • Women candidates

Likely challenges

  • Complex application process
  • Limited awareness among potential beneficiaries

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme may not reach all eligible candidates due to awareness and application complexities.

Rural challenges

  • Limited access to information
  • Transportation issues to submit applications

Digital challenges

  • Low internet penetration in rural areas

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Slow processing of applications

Awareness challenges

  • Lack of outreach programs

Application analysis

Application mode
Offline office
Documents burden
Moderate
Verification complexity
Moderate
Office dependency
High
DBT dependency
None
CSC support
Limited
Estimated citizen effort
High

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach Moderate
  • Gender reach High
  • Target income group Low-income families
  • Occupation reach Students

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Composite
Benefit frequency
One-time for course duration
Benefit practicality
High, if eligible
Financial meaningfulness
Not applicable
Long-term impact
Positive impact on employability and self-sufficiency

Plain-language guidance

This scholarship helps students with disabilities study abroad for higher education. It covers Master's and Ph.D. programs.

Who should apply
Students with disabilities who have been accepted into foreign universities.
Who may struggle
Those unfamiliar with the application process or lacking necessary documents.
Best application route
Apply via the Ministry's office by submitting a filled application form and required documents.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Offline

Step 1:

The candidates can download the application form from the following link: http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appl-Form%20-NOS(1).pdf

Step 2:

Send the duly filled application form along with the copies of the required documents to the following address:

Under Secretary (Scholarships)

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Room No. 516, 5th Floor, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan

CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

110 003

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

Is there a duration to the prescribed financial assistance?

Yes, the prescribed financial assistance will be provided up to the completion of the course / research or the following period, whichever is earlier: PhD - 04 years (Four years) Master's Degree - 03 years (Three years)

What all shall be covered under Contingency Allowance?

The Contingency allowance shall be for books/essential apparatus/ study tour/ travel cost for attending subject related conference, workshops etc./ typing and binding of thesis etc.

Are there any terms to availing the Maintenance Allowance?

The payment of Maintenance Allowance is linked with furnishing of progress report. For first semester/six months, the maintenance allowance may be paid to the scholarship awardee in the first instance as an advance. Thereafter, the maintenance allowance for the next semester/six months may be paid only after receipt of the satisfactory progress report of the awardee for first six months/semester.

Are the awardees are permitted to supplement their prescribed allowances by undertaking Research / Teaching Assistantship?

Yes, the awardees are permitted to do so upto $2400 per annum and for awardees in UK, 1560 GBP per annum.

How many scholarship slots are there in this scheme?

In each selection year, 20 fresh awards, subject to availability of funds, will be given under this scheme.

Is there any earmarking for women candidates?

Yes, there is 30% of the awards for each year shall be earmarked for women candidates. However, in case, adequate women candidates are not available as per the stipulations of the scheme, then the unutilized slots will be utilized by selecting suitable male candidates.

Are Bachelors Level courses also covered under this scheme?

No, Bachelors Level courses, in any discipline, are not covered under this scheme.

I have completed my studies abroad on a scholarship from state govt. Am I eligible to apply for this scheme?

No, candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from State Government, other agency, or through own funds are not eligible to apply under this scheme.

How many children of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for scholarship?

Not more than two children of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for scholarship. A. The second child of the same parents/guardians will be considered only if slots are still available in the last cycle of the year in which the applicant has applied.

I hold a Master’s Degree from an Institute in India. Am I eligible to apply for this scheme if I have an unconditional offer letter for a Master Degree from an institute located outside India?

The candidate is not eligible for scholarship to pursue the same level (Masters/Ph.D.) of course for which he/she has already acquired the qualification from any University/Institution either in India or abroad.

How would I know the status of my application?

A list of selected / not-selected candidates will be uploaded on the portal. Individual email / messages will also be sent to all registered applicants.

Definitions

  • Person with Disability (PwD)
  • Specified fields of study
  • Family
  • Qualifying Examination

References

Guidelines
http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/scholarship2(1).pdf

Apply

Apply now

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Education & Learning, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Eligibility for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Benefits under National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities is managed by Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Applications for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities.
Is National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities a central government scheme?
Yes, National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can students apply for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Can CSC centres help users apply for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.