Only 24 selected for overseas education scholarships for minorities this year

For the first time the state government has increased the number of beneficiaries for overseas education scholarships offered under the Minorities Development Department to 75 students.

But as the list of selected candidates was declared last week, it included only 24 names which has led to many questioning the scheme.

Alleging that at least 50 candidates had applied for the scholarships, students are demanding that the government declare a list of disqualified candidates along with reasons for their disqualification.

Whereas questions are also raised on lukewarm response claiming that the government did not create required awareness of the scheme.

Based on similar schemes for meritorious students coming from marginalised sections of society, this scheme under minority development department is for meritorious students coming from minority communities who have secured admissions to various post-graduate (PG) and PhD programmes in universities abroad which are among the top 100 ranked educational institutions as per the QS World University ranking.

Last week, the Minority Development Department declared a list of 24 candidates selected for overseas education scholarships for the academic year 2024-25.

This included 23 names for PG courses and 1 selection for PhD programmes abroad.

But soon after the list was out, many disappointed candidates started raising questions.