Odisha govt launches scholarship scheme for SC, ST students seeking to study abroad

The Odisha government on Tuesday, August 18 launched a new scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students seeking to pursue postgraduate and PhD courses at top-ranked foreign universities.

Named 'Bidesh Sikhyabruti', the scheme has been introduced under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) to provide financial assistance to eligible students for higher studies abroad, the Higher Education Department said in a statement.

Students from SC and ST communities with an annual family income of up to Rs 12 lakh are eligible to apply, it said.

Applications for the academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27 can be submitted through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal from August 18 to 31, it added.

Under the scheme, 50 students will be supported every year across various streams and disciplines. A student can avail of the scholarship only once, either for a postgraduate or a PhD course, according to the guidelines.

The financial assistance will cover tuition fees, living expenses and other incidental costs related to studying abroad, with an upper ceiling of Rs 25 lakh per student per course per year.

For postgraduate courses, assistance will be provided for one or two years, depending on the duration of the course, while PhD students will receive assistance for two years. No extension will be provided beyond two years, the guidelines said.

The scheme is applicable to students securing admission to foreign institutions and universities ranked among the top 200, the statement said.

Applicants will also have to declare that they are not regular employees of any government organisation at the time of applying for the scholarship.