Team siliconindia

• Odisha government launches ‘Videsh Siksha Bruti’ for SC/ST students pursuing studies abroad.
• Eligible students can receive up to Rs 25 lakh per year for PG and PhD programs in top-ranked universities.
• Applications open twice a year; scheme aims to support 50 students annually.

The Odisha government on Wednesday launched the ‘Videsh Siksha Bruti’ scholarship scheme to support meritorious SC and ST students aspiring to pursue higher education abroad. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj formally inaugurated the initiative, which will take effect from the 2025-26 academic year.

Under the scheme, students from SC and ST communities with an annual family income of Rs 12 lakh or below are eligible. Applicants must have secured admission to postgraduate or PhD programs at foreign institutions ranked among the top 200 by QS World Rankings.

The scholarship will support up to Rs 25 lakh per year per student. Each year, 50 students will be selected, 10 from engineering and technical streams, 10 from medical, agriculture, architecture, and other technical disciplines, and 30 from higher education programs. Applications will be invited twice a year, in July-August and December-January.

During the event, the department also handed appointment letters to 34 candidates for Group C and D posts in aided colleges under rehabilitation assistance.

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Additionally, the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) received copyright to conduct Academic Performance Audits (APA) of higher education institutions, making Odisha the first state in India to implement such a system. The move aims to enhance academic standards across the state’s universities and colleges.

This initiative reflects Odisha’s commitment to promoting inclusive education and providing SC/ST students with global opportunities to pursue advanced studies while strengthening the overall quality of higher education in the state.