Odisha launched the Bidesh Sikhyabruti scholarship to help meritorious SC and ST students pursue postgraduate and PhD studies at top-ranked universities abroad. Applications are now open until September 18, 2026.
For students in Odisha who want to pursue higher education overseas, the state government has introduced a new financial support scheme with assistance of up to ₹25 lakh per student per course per year.
Called Bidesh Sikhyabruti, the scholarship is part of the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) and is specifically aimed at eligible students from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The scheme is administered by the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha. See its official Bidesh Sikhyabruti guidelines for Odisha Higher Education Department here.
What is the Bidesh Sikhyabruti scholarship?
According to the Odisha Higher Education Department’s guidelines, Bidesh Sikhyabruti has been created to provide financial assistance to meritorious SC and ST students from Odisha who wish to pursue postgraduate or PhD programmes at internationally recognised institutions abroad.
The government describes the initiative as a way to promote access to global higher education and reduce financial barriers for students from disadvantaged communities.
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How much financial assistance is available?
Selected students can receive up to ₹25 lakh per student, per course, per year. The assistance covers three broad categories:
- Tuition fees: up to ₹15 lakh
- Living expenses: up to ₹7 lakh
- Miscellaneous expenses: up to ₹3 lakh
The total ceiling is therefore ₹25 lakh per year. The guidelines provide assistance for one or two years for postgraduate programmes, depending on the duration of the course. For PhD programmes, assistance is available for two years. The scheme does not provide an extension beyond two years.
Who can apply for Bidesh Sikhyabruti?
The scholarship is meant for students who meet the scheme’s eligibility requirements, including:
- The applicant must belong to the SC or ST category.
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of Odisha.
- The applicant’s annual family income must not exceed ₹12 lakh.
- The applicant must have secured admission to an eligible foreign university.
- The institution must fall within the top 200 of the latest available QS World University Rankings.
The scheme covers postgraduate and PhD programmes across different academic streams and disciplines.
Which foreign universities are eligible?
Admission to a foreign institution alone does not automatically make a student eligible. Applicants must secure admission to a foreign institution or university that falls within the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings.
The Odisha State Higher Education Council will use the institution ranking as an important factor. Alongside, their previous academic performance will be used as a tie-breaker.
How many students will receive the scholarship?
The Odisha government will support 50 students every year under Bidesh Sikhyabruti. The allocation covers:
- 30 students for courses under the Higher Education Department
- 10 students for engineering and other technical courses
- 10 students for medical, agriculture, architecture and other professional courses
The scheme is available across disciplines rather than being restricted to a single field of study.
Can a student receive the scholarship more than once?
No. The guidelines state that a student can avail of Bidesh Sikhyabruti only once and must choose either a postgraduate programme or a PhD programme for the scholarship.
Students are also required to comply with the conditions laid out in the scheme guidelines, including reporting their academic progress during the period of scholarship support.
Bidesh Sikhyabruti 2026: Application deadline
Applications for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years were initially opened through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal on August 18, 2026. The original deadline was subsequently extended. The latest deadline is September 18, 2026
Where to apply?
Eligible students can submit their applications through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSS Portal).
Odisha State Scholarship Portal — scholarship.odisha.gov.in
Students should check the portal and the official Higher Education Department guidelines for the latest application instructions and document requirements before submitting the form.
Why the Odisha scholarship matters for researchers and students
International postgraduate and PhD education can involve substantial tuition, accommodation and living costs. For students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, these expenses can become a major barrier even after securing admission to a strong overseas university.
Bidesh Sikhyabruti attempts to address that gap by combining financial assistance with a merit-based selection process linked to globally ranked institutions.
The Odisha government’s stated objective is to reduce inequality in access to global academic opportunities and enable students from SC and ST communities to build careers in research, academia and other professional fields.
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