Odisha Launches Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme to Support SC/ST Students Pursuing Higher Studies Abroad

Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education Department today unveiled the Videsh Siksha Bruti Scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at helping meritorious SC/ST students pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies in top global universities. The scheme, formally launched by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, will come into effect from the 2025–26 academic year.

The newly introduced scholarship is designed for SC/ST students whose family income does not exceed ₹12 lakh per annum. To qualify, applicants must secure admission into postgraduate or Ph.D. programmes at foreign universities ranked within the Top 200 of the QS World University Rankings. Applications will be invited twice annually—once in July–August and again in December–January—to ensure wider participation.

Under the scheme, 50 students will be selected each year, distributed across key academic disciplines. Ten scholarships have been earmarked for Engineering and Technical Education and another ten for Medical, Agriculture, Architecture and other technical fields. The remaining thirty scholarships will support students pursuing courses under the Higher Education category. Each student selected under the programme will receive financial assistance of up to ₹25 lakh per year to support tuition fees and living costs abroad.

Alongside the scholarship launch, the Department also handed over appointment letters to 34 candidates selected for Group C and Group D posts in aided colleges under the Rehabilitation Assistance scheme. The newly recruited staff members received their appointment orders from the Minister, who urged them to uphold dedication and integrity in their service.

A significant institutional milestone was also announced during the event. The Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) has been granted the copyright to conduct Academic Performance Audits (APA) for higher educational institutions across the state. With this, Odisha becomes the first state in the country to formally adopt a standardised, state-led academic audit mechanism aimed at improving institutional performance, accountability and quality benchmarks.

Speaking at the ceremony, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the Government remains committed to creating an equitable, future-ready higher education ecosystem. He emphasized that the new scholarship scheme will empower talented SC/ST students to pursue global academic opportunities without financial constraints. He added that OSHEC’s strengthened mandate will elevate academic standards across institutions.

Higher Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal encouraged the newly appointed staff to carry out their responsibilities with sincerity and highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the higher education framework in Odisha. Director of Higher Education Kali Prasanna Mahapatra, who delivered the welcome address, joined senior officials and department staff in attending the programme.