In a landmark push for educational equity, the Punjab government has unveiled a fully funded overseas scholarship scheme for students from low-income families, enabling them to pursue higher studies at 500 of the world’s top universities.

The initiative, announced by Punjab’s Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, will cover tuition fees, visas, international travel, and living expenses. It aims to empower youth from Scheduled Caste communities and landless agricultural laborers, traditionally marginalized in higher education, by removing financial barriers to global opportunities.

“This government stands firmly with the children of low-income families. We will ensure that financial hardship does not stand in the way of their dreams to study abroad,” Dr. Kaur said while launching the scheme.

Eligibility and inclusivity

Applicants must be below 35 years of age, hold a graduation degree with at least 60 percent marks, and belong to families with an annual income of less than ₹8 lakh. To ensure gender equity, 30 percent of scholarships are reserved for women candidates.

Full financial support

Beyond tuition and airfare, the scheme provides an annual maintenance allowance of ₹13.17 lakh and a contingency allowance of ₹1.35 lakh, ensuring recipients can focus fully on their academic journey without financial strain.

The Punjab government has curated a list of 500 leading global universities eligible under the scheme, positioning students to access world-class education and global research opportunities.

By combining financial support with targeted inclusivity, the initiative seeks to foster upward mobility and bridge both economic and gender divides in higher education.