The Odisha government has introduced the 'Videsh Siksha Bruti' scheme to support meritorious students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities who wish to pursue higher education abroad. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj officially launched the programme on Wednesday, which will take effect from the 2025-26 academic year. Students from SC and ST families earning up to ₹12 lakh annually can apply if they secure admission to postgraduate or PhD programmes in the Top 200 QS-ranked universities worldwide. The scheme will select 50 students annually, offering scholarships of up to ₹25 lakh per year per student. Applications will be accepted twice yearly, in July-August and December-January. Additionally, the state government distributed appointment letters to 34 candidates for Group C and D posts in aided colleges. The Odisha State Higher Education Council also received copyright to conduct Academic Performance Audits, making Odisha the first state to implement such a system.
Scholarship Details and Eligibility Criteria
The scheme targets SC and ST students whose families have an annual income of ₹12 lakh or below. To qualify, applicants must have secured admission to postgraduate or PhD programmes in foreign universities ranked within the Top 200 in QS rankings. Applications will be invited twice every year, during July-August and December-January. A total of 50 students will be selected annually across various disciplines. Of these, 10 students will be from engineering and technical education, 10 from medical, agriculture, architecture and other technical streams, and 30 from higher education fields. Each successful candidate will receive financial support of up to ₹25 lakh per year to cover their studies abroad.
Source: Link