Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Odisha Launches Overseas Scholarship for SC, ST Students
Odisha has started a scholarship called Bidesh Sikhyabruti.
It helps SC and ST students study for postgraduate or PhD degrees in other countries.
Their family income must be no more than Rs 12 lakh a year.
The foreign university must be ranked among the top 200.
The government plans to support 50 students each year.
The scholarship can pay for tuition, living costs and other study expenses.
Students can receive up to Rs 25 lakh per course per year.
They must apply through the Odisha Scholarship Portal, and the reported application period runs from August 18 to August 31.
Odisha launched the Bidesh Sikhyabruti scheme for SC and ST students pursuing postgraduate or PhD courses abroad.
Eligible applicants must have annual family incomes of no more than Rs 12 lakh.
The scheme supports 50 students annually admitted to foreign institutions ranked among the world’s top 200.
Each student may receive up to Rs 25 lakh per course per year for tuition, living and incidental expenses.
Applications are submitted through the Odisha Scholarship Portal, with reported application dates of August 18 to 31; one account specifies 2026.
- Who
- The Odisha government and eligible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.
- What
- The government launched the Bidesh Sikhyabruti overseas scholarship for postgraduate and PhD study.
- When
- The scheme was launched on Tuesday. Applications are reported as open from August 18 to August 31; one article specifies August 18–31, 2026, while another refers to academic years 2025–26 and 2026–27.
- Where
- Applications are submitted through the Odisha Scholarship Portal for study at eligible foreign institutions.
- Why
- To help eligible SC and ST students pursue higher education abroad without the full financial burden.
- Scheme name
- Bidesh Sikhyabruti, also spelled Bidesh Sikhya Bruti
- Administering programme
- Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana
- Eligibility
- Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students with annual family incomes up to Rs 12 lakh
- Annual beneficiaries
- 50 students
- University requirement
- Admission to a foreign institution ranked among the top 200; one account specifies the QS World University Rankings
- Maximum assistance
- Rs 25 lakh per student per course per year
- Covered costs
- Tuition fees, living expenses and other incidental study costs
- Duration and use
- Postgraduate support lasts one or two years depending on course duration; PhD support lasts two years. A student may use the scholarship only once, with no extension beyond two years.
