The Odisha government has rolled out a landmark overseas education scholarship aimed at empowering meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students to pursue higher studies at leading international universities.

Launched on November 26 by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, the ‘Videsh Siksha Bruti’ scheme offers financial support of up to ₹25 lakh per student per year, covering tuition fees, accommodation, and academic expenses for postgraduate and doctoral programmes abroad. The initiative will take effect from the 2025–26 academic session.

Calling it a transformational step, Suraj said the programme is intended to open global academic pathways for students from low-income and underrepresented communities, enabling them to pursue degrees in world-class institutions long out of reach due to financial constraints.

Eligibility and selection process

To qualify, applicants must:

·        Belong to SC or ST communities

·        Have an annual family income of ₹12 lakh or less

·        Secure admission to a university ranked within the Top 200 of the QS World University Rankings

Applications will be accepted twice yearly — in July–August and December–January — with 50 scholarships awarded annually across three academic streams.

Scholarship distribution by streams

Suraj noted that the design ensures representation across diverse disciplines while prioritising research-oriented pursuits.

Additional initiatives announced

Alongside the scholarship rollout, appointment letters were handed to 34 candidates recruited across aided colleges under the state’s rehabilitation assistance policy.

In another milestone, the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) received official copyright to conduct Academic Performance Audits (APA) across higher education institutions, making Odisha the first state in India to adopt a formalised academic evaluation framework.

Suraj said the APA mechanism will enforce greater accountability and raise academic quality statewide.