Odisha announces scholarship programme for SC/ST students seeking overseas education

The Government of Odisha has recently introduced a scholarship program known as Bidesh Sikhya Bruti, which falls under their existing Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) initiative. This scheme aims to support students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) backgrounds in pursuing post-graduation and doctoral courses at among the best foreign universities and institutes, based on QS rankings.

Interested students can apply through the designated online portal, scholarship.odisha.gov.in, between August 18 and August 31, 2026.

Upon selection, up to 50 SC/ST students will be chosen to study in various streams. The scholarship offers financial assistance of up to Rs 25 lakh, which can be utilized for tuition fees (up to Rs 15 lakh), living expenses (up to Rs 7 lakh), and miscellaneous expenses (up to Rs 3 lakh). Thirty seats are reserved for students enrolled in courses offered by the Odisha government, while ten seats are set aside for engineering or technical degree programs, and the last ten seats are for medical, agricultural, architectural, or other professional courses.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet certain criteria. Their family's annual income should not exceed Rs 12 lakh, and they must have a permanent residence in Odisha. Additionally, students need to have scored at least 65% in their bachelor's or master's degree. The scholarship covers a duration of two years for Ph.D. programs, one to two years for master's degree courses, and the maximum age limit for recipients is 40 years for Ph.D. candidates and 35 years for master's degree recipients.

To apply for the Bidesh Sikhyabruti scheme, candidates must submit specific documents, including an Aadhaar card, income certificate of parents or guardian, caste certificate, residence certificate, passport-sized photograph, marksheet of the last exam taken, scanned signature, qualifying degree or provisional certificate, documents related to the admission process in the foreign university (such as the application form and offer letter), and a copy of their passport and visa application.

For further information about the selection process, registration, and detailed guidelines for the Bidesh Sikhyabruti scholarship program, students can visit the official Higher Education Department (DHE) website.