National Overseas Scholarship For Students With Disabilities

Description
A scholarship scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for regular, full-time students with disabilities to obtain higher education viz., Master's degree, or Ph.D. courses from foreign universities, in one of the specified fields of study. The students with the specified disabilities defined in Schedule of the "Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016" will be eligible under this scheme. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, loco-motor, mental retardation, and other disabilities. NOS is implemented offline by the DEPwD. At times SwDs are deprived of harnessing their latent skills and thereby miss the opportunity. This scheme aims to support SwDs to study further in order to prepare themselves to earn their livelihood and to find a dignified place for themselves in the society as they face several barriers physical, financial, psychological, mental in pursuing studies and living with dignity.

Exclusions
• Bachelors Level courses, in any discipline, are not covered under this scheme.
• candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from State Government, other agency, or through their own funds are not eligible to apply under this scheme.
• Not more than two children with disabilities of the same parents will be entitled to receive benefits of the scheme. Provided in case the second child is a _twin, the 'scholarship under this scheme will be admissible to both the twins.
• The candidate is not eligible for a scholarship to pursue the same level (Masters/Ph.D.) of course for which he/she has already acquired the qualification from any University/Institution either in India or abroad.
• Scholarship for studying in any class will be available for only one year. If a student has to repeat a class, she / he would not get scholarship for that class for a second (or subsequent) year.
• A scholarship holder under this scheme will not hold any other scholarship/ stipend. If awarded any other scholarship/ stipend, the student can exercise his/her option for either of the two scholarships/stipends, whichever is more beneficial to him/her and should inform the awarding authority through the Head of the Institution about the option made. No scholarship will be paid to the students under this scheme from the date he/she accepts another scholarship/stipend. The student can however, accept free lodging or a grant or ad-hoc monetary help from the State Government or any other source for the purchase of books, equipment or for meeting the expenses on board and lodging in addition to the scholarship amount paid under this scheme.

Definitions
Person with Disability (PwD)
“person with disability” means a person with long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others.
(Source: https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A2016-49_1.pdf)

Specified fields of study
Engineering & Management, Pure Sciences and Applied Sciences, Agricultural Science & Medicine, Commerce, Accounting and Finance and Humanities, Social Science including Law & Fine Arts.
(Source: https://nosmsje.gov.in/docs/nosGuidelines2022-23.pdf)

Family
(for determination of family income)– The parents and siblings below the age of 18 years, his/her spouse and also children below the age of 18 years. In case of married women, the in-laws, her spouse and children below the age of 18 years will be considered as family.
(Source: https://nosmsje.gov.in/docs/nosGuidelines2022-23.pdf)

Qualifying Examination
In case of PhD courses, the qualifying exam is Master’s Degree.
In case of Master’s Degree, the qualifying exam is Bachelor's Degree.
In case a student has completed Bachelors of Engineering after completing Diploma (Lateral Entry to 2nd year), percentage of marks obtained in Bachelor's degree will be taken into account.
(Source: https://nosmsje.gov.in/docs/nosGuidelines2022-23.pdf)

Benefits
• Annual Maintenance Allowance: For United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK: $15400 (US Dollars); For United Kingdom (UK): 9900 GBP (Great Britain Pounds)
• Contingency Allowance: For United States of America (USA) & other countries except UK: $1500 (US Dollars); For United Kingdom (UK): 1100 GBP (Great Britain Pounds)
• Equipment Allowance: 1500 INR
• Tuition Fees: Actual as charged
• Visa Fees: Actual Visa Fees in INR
• Poll Tax: Actual as charged
• Medical Insurance Premium: Actual as charged
• Incidental Journey Allowance & Equipment Allowance: 20 US Dollars for each or its equivalent in INR.
• Air Passage: Air passage grant on actual basis from India to the nearest place to the educational institution and back to India, by economy class and shortest route in arrangements with the national carrier, shall be provided.
• Local Travel: Second or Coach Class railway fare from the port of disembarkation to the place of study and back.
• In case of far flung places not connected by rail, bus fare(s) from the place of residence to the nearest railway station, actual charge of crossing by ferry, airfare to the nearest rail-cum-air Station and/or second class railway fare by the shortest route to the port of embarkation and back will be permissible. For attending interviews by the candidates at the place decided by the Government of India, the second-class fare/ordinary class bus fare from the city of their place of residence to the city in which the interviews for selection have been decided by the Government of India will be permissible.

Eligibility Criteria
1. The applicant must be a student.
2. The applicant must be Admitted into (or received an unconditional offer of admission) Masters's level courses and Ph.D. courses abroad in institutions/universities accredited by the Government/authorized body of that country.
3. The Disability Percentage of the applicant must be 40% & above.
4. The applicant must be 35 years or lesser in age, as on the first day of the month of advertisement of the scheme.
5. The Total Family Income of the applicant (from all sources) must not exceed ₹ 6 lakh per annum.

Application Process
Step 1: Step 1:
Offline — http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appl-Form%20-NOS(1).pdf
The candidates can download the application form from the following link: http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appl-Form%20-NOS(1).pdf

Step 2: Step 2:
Offline — http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Appl-Form%20-NOS(1).pdf
Send the duly filled application form along with the copies of the required documents to the following address:
Under Secretary (Scholarships)
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Room No. 516, 5th Floor, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
110 003
APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Required Documents
• Duly completed Pro-forma in duplicate
• Certificate of Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or Certificate of Passing 10th standard)
• Disability Certificate
• Voter ID
• Aadhaar Card
• Proof of residence, if the address mentioned in the application is different from the address mentioned in the Voter ID/Aadhaar Card.
• Copy of PAN Card of the applicant.
• Copy of Bank Account linked with Aadhaar No.
• Copy of PAN Card of Father/Mother/Guardian/Spouse
• Copy of Certificates and mark sheets in support of Educational qualifications.
• Income Tax Certificate in prescribed proforma
• Income Tax Return of the candidate/parents/guardians whose income is considered to determine the income ceiling.
• Details of the proposed study (in not more than 500 words)
• Copy of admission papers from the accredited universities/Institutions
• Copies of offer of admission by the university/prospectus etc.
• Self-attested certificate to the effect that you are not availing of any other scholarship for the same Course of study.
• Income Certificate Form.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a duration to the prescribed financial assistance?
A: Yes, the prescribed financial assistance will be provided up to the completion of the course / research or the following period, whichever is earlier:
PhD - 04 years (Four years)
Master's Degree - 03 years (Three years)

Q: What all shall be covered under Contingency Allowance?
A: The Contingency allowance shall be for books/essential apparatus/ study tour/ travel cost for attending subject related conference, workshops etc./ typing and binding of thesis etc.

Q: Are there any terms to availing the Maintenance Allowance?
A: The payment of Maintenance Allowance is linked with furnishing of progress report. For first semester/six months, the maintenance allowance may be paid to the scholarship awardee in the first instance as an advance. Thereafter, the maintenance allowance for the next semester/six months may be paid only after receipt of the satisfactory progress report of the awardee for first six months/semester.

Q: Are the awardees are permitted to supplement their prescribed allowances by undertaking Research / Teaching Assistantship?
A: Yes, the awardees are permitted to do so upto $2400 per annum and for awardees in UK, 1560 GBP per annum.

Q: How many scholarship slots are there in this scheme?
A: In each selection year, 20 fresh awards, subject to availability of funds, will be given under this scheme.

Q: Is there any earmarking for women candidates?
A: Yes, there is 30% of the awards for each year shall be earmarked for women candidates. However, in case, adequate women candidates are not available as per the stipulations of the scheme, then the unutilized slots will be utilized by selecting suitable male candidates.

Q: Are Bachelors Level courses also covered under this scheme?
A: No, Bachelors Level courses, in any discipline, are not covered under this scheme.

Q: I have completed my studies abroad on a scholarship from state govt. Am I eligible to apply for this scheme?
A: No, candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from State Government, other agency, or through own funds are not eligible to apply under this scheme.

Q: How many children of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for scholarship?
A: Not more than two children of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for scholarship.
A. The second child of the same parents/guardians will be considered only if slots are still available in the last cycle of the year in which the applicant has applied.

Q: I hold a Master’s Degree from an Institute in India. Am I eligible to apply for this scheme if I have an unconditional offer letter for a Master Degree from an institute located outside India?
A: The candidate is not eligible for scholarship to pursue the same level (Masters/Ph.D.) of course for which he/she has already acquired the qualification from any University/Institution either in India or abroad.

Q: How would I know the status of my application?
A: A list of selected / not-selected candidates will be uploaded on the portal. Individual email / messages will also be sent to all registered applicants.