Best Indian Government Scholarships for Studying Abroad (2026 Guide)

The Indian government offers numerous scholarships to deserving students who face financial constraints in pursuing their higher education abroad. However, information about these opportunities is not easy to find. In this article, we have compiled the details of several scholarships offered by the central and state governments to support the education of exemplary students. Some of these are specifically reserved for students from underprivileged backgrounds to ensure equal educational opportunities. Let’s look at the details of these scholarships.

Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship

• Funded by the government of India.
• The scholarship is for students doing advanced research courses.
• It is for research in History, Economics and Political Sciences
• The scholarship amount is GBP 29,347. Economy class airfare (both ways) is also borne by the government.
• To be eligible, the candidate should be 30 to 40 years of age, with three years of teaching experience among other requirements.
• Get the details about this scholarship on the webpage dedicated to the scholarship.

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

• A Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
• The scholarship is for low-income, Scheduled Tribes (ST) students, who want to pursue their master’s degree, PhD, or post-doctoral courses abroad.
• This scholarship is offered to 20 students every year.
• More details about the scholarship are on the official website of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The Fulbright-Nehru Master's and Doctoral Research Fellowships

• These scholarships are administered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF). Its board of trustees includes five Indian members, nominated by the government of India.
• The scholarships offer the opportunity for outstanding Indian students to pursue their studies or research in the USA.
• The Master’s Fellowship is for courses in areas such as arts and cultural management, environmental studies, public health, and Journalism.
• The fellowships are for one to two years.
• The funding covers tuition fees, living costs, accident and sickness costs, J-1 visa expenses and a round trip economy class travel.
• Get more details from the official website dedicated to the Fulbright Nehru Fellowships

Apart from these scholarships offered by the Indian government, the state governments also support the dreams of students planning to study abroad.

Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities

• The Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities is a scheme launched by the Minorities Welfare Department of the Government of Telangana.
• It is for students belonging to minority communities in Telangana, who are interested in pursuing courses abroad.
• 500 such scholarships are given to minority students every year.
• The scholarship is offered to students pursuing their postgraduate or doctoral studies abroad.
• The scholarship amount will be released in two instalments and can be used towards tuition fees and living expenses. One-way ticket fare will also be covered.
• Read the eligibility requirements to qualify for the Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities.

Overseas Scholarship

• The Overseas Scholarship scheme offered by the Kerala government aims to support the upliftment of students from Other Backward Classes (OBC).
• The maximum scholarship amount is rupees 10 lakhs.
• Eligible students can pursue postgraduate or doctoral courses in fields such as medicine, engineering, pure sciences, agriculture, management, and law.
• The candidate should have procured admission at any of the top 600 universities listed in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
• Read the full requirements before applying for this scholarship.

Unnati: Kerala Overseas Scholarship for SC/ ST Students

• The SC/ST Development Department of Kerala offers the Government of Kerala Scholarship for Overseas Studies to SC/ST Students.
• It is a merit-based scholarship. Candidates should have achieved a minimum of 50 to 55 per cent in their qualifying examination.
• The scholarship amount is decided after evaluating the family income of the candidate.

Maharashtra Scholarship Scheme for Overseas Studies

• This foreign scholarship scheme is administered by the Department of Higher and Technical Education in Maharashtra.
• Candidates must have secured admission at a foreign university that ranks within the top 200 in the latest QS World University Rankings.
• They should be pursuing a postgraduate course.

Similar scholarships are offered by states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal too. Please check the state government websites for more information.

States like Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh offer Study Abroad Loan Programs that allow students to avail of scholarships up to 10 lakhs at an interest rate of four per cent or less.

While these government scholarships may be competitive, they have the power to transform the lives of students. These scholarships ensure that students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, are not at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing global opportunities and realising their dreams. All the best for your study abroad journey – the sky is the limit!