Telangana Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Telangana State Government demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the educational advancement of minority communities through the Overseas Study Scheme for Minorities, popularly known as the "Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities". The Government of Telangana introduced this transformative initiative on May 19, 2015, recognising that students from minority communities often face significant challenges in accessing quality international education due to financial constraints and limited resources.

The scheme represents a pioneering effort by the Minorities Welfare Department to bridge the educational gap and provide deserving minority students with opportunities to pursue higher studies at prestigious foreign universities. The overseas study scheme provides comprehensive financial support to help talented students overcome economic constraints and pursue their academic dreams at prestigious universities worldwide.

This scholarship scheme for PG and PhD courses abroad has witnessed remarkable expansion since its inception. Initially designed to benefit 500 minority students annually with overseas education funding, the government enhanced the program, by adding 100 exclusive scholarships specifically for Christian Minority students.

The community-wise seat distribution, ensures equitable representation across all minority communities. Muslim students receive 480 seats, Christian students get 100 exclusive seats, while Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, and Parsi communities are allocated 5 seats each, ensuring inclusive participation in this transformative overseas education opportunity.

Apart from minority students, the state government is also providing scholarships to Brahmin Students under its Vivekananda Overseas Education Scheme.

Through this foreign education scholarship program, the Telangana State Government provides financial assistance up to Rs 20 lakhs per student for pursuing postgraduate and doctoral studies in Engineering, Management, Pure Sciences, Agriculture Sciences, Medicine and Nursing, Social Sciences, and Humanities disciplines. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, one-way air travel, and visa charges, making international education truly accessible to economically disadvantaged minority students.

The online application process through the Telangana ePASS portal (telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in) ensures transparency, ease of access, and efficient processing of scholarship applications. Eligible candidates can apply during the designated application windows for Spring and Fall season admissions, making this one of the most student-friendly overseas scholarship programs in India.

The scholarship implementation involves a rigorous merit-based selection process conducted by a State Level Screening Committee comprising senior officials from the Minorities Welfare Department, SC Development Department, JNTU, and Technical Education Department. This ensures that only the most deserving and academically excellent students receive this prestigious scholarship opportunity to study abroad.

The scheme operates on principles of transparency, merit-based selection, and equal opportunity. The State Level Screening Committee, comprising senior officials from various educational departments, conducts a rigorous selection process to identify the most deserving candidates. The program also ensures gender equity by reserving 33% of awards for women candidates, promoting female education and empowerment within minority communities.

By enabling minority students to study at accredited foreign universities and gain global exposure, the scheme aims to create future leaders who will contribute significantly to nation-building. The government expects that beneficiaries will return to India after completing their studies, bringing back valuable knowledge, skills, and international perspectives that will benefit their communities and the state at large.

Scheme Benefits

• Financial grant up to Rs 20 lakhs or actual tuition fees and living expenses (whichever is less)
• Scholarship amount disbursed in two instalments
  • Rs 10 lakhs upon submission of the landing permit/I-94 card,
  • and Rs 10 lakhs after the first semester results.
• One-way economic class air ticket to the country of study
• Visa charges coverage
• Eligibility for an education loan up to Rs 5 lakhs from nationalised banks at prevailing interest rates
• Permission to supplement allowances through a Research/Teaching Assistantship at a foreign university
• 33% reservation for female candidates
• Support for pursuing courses in prestigious universities across the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, France, and South Korea

Community-wise Scholarship Seat Distribution

The Government of Telangana has expanded the Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities from the original 500 seats to 600 seats per year. As per the orders, the seats are distributed among minority communities as follows:

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant must belong to minority communities
  • Muslim
  • Christian
  • Sikh
  • Buddhist
  • Parsi
  • Jain
• Must be a permanent resident of Telangana State
• Family income from all sources must not exceed Rs 5 lakhs per annum
• Maximum age should not exceed 35 years as on July 1st of the application year
• For PG courses, applicants must have secured a minimum 60% marks or equivalent grade in an undergraduate degree in Engineering/Management/Pure Sciences/Agriculture Sciences/Medicine and Nursing/Social Sciences/Humanities
• For PhD courses, applicants must have secured a minimum 60% marks or equivalent grade in a postgraduate course in relevant disciplines
• Must possess valid TOEFL/IELTS and GRE/GMAT scores as per university requirements
• Must have secured admission in an accredited foreign university in eligible countries
• Must hold a valid passport at the time of application
• Only one child per family is eligible for the award (one-time benefit per individual)
• Must have registered ePass ID number
• Must have secured admission between the specified dates as per the notification.

Required Documents

• Caste Certificate issued through Mee Seva
• Income Certificate from Mee Seva (showing family income less than ₹5 lakhs per annum)
• Date of Birth Certificate
• Aadhaar Card
• ePass ID Number
• Residential Certificate/Nativity Certificate proving Telangana residency
• Valid Passport copy
• Mark sheets from SSC/Intermediate/Graduation/Post-Graduation levels
• GRE/GMAT or equivalent qualifying examination score card
• TOEFL/IELTS score card
• Admission offer letter from a foreign university (I-20, Letter of Admission or equivalent)
• Latest Income Tax Assessment copy (if applicable)
• Bank passbook copy of a nationalised bank account
• Recent passport-size photograph (scanned and uploaded)
• Salary certificate from employer (for employed candidates or their parents/guardians)
• Latest monthly salary slip (for employed individuals)
• Self-certification declaring that no other sibling has availed this scholarship

Steps to Apply

• The application process for the Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities is completely online through the Telangana ePASS portal. The registration typically opens twice a year for Spring and Fall season admissions. Follow these steps to apply:
  • Visit the Telangana ePASS portal and check the latest notification for application dates
  • New users click 'Register' and create an account using Gmail/mobile/email. Existing users log in with credentials
  • Click on the 'Overseas Scholarship Services' tab and select 'Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities'
  • Enter name, father's name, mother's name, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar number, contact details, and address
  • Provide educational qualifications from SSC to the highest degree, with marks, institutions, and years
  • Fill in the details of schools attended from 4th to 10th standard to verify Telangana residency
  • Enter the nationalised bank account number, IFSC code, branch name, and upload the passbook copy
  • Provide passport details and enter GRE/GMAT and TOEFL/IELTS scores with test dates
  • Enter university name, country, course name, duration, start date, and upload admission letter/I-20
  • If a visa is obtained, enter visa details. Can be updated later if not yet received
  • Enter Mee Seva income certificate details showing family income less than ₹5 lakhs per annum
  • Provide Mee Seva caste certificate details proving minority community status
  • Scan and upload all required documents - certificates, mark sheets, Aadhaar, passport, test scores, admission letter, income and caste certificates
  • Verify all information, ensure all documents are uploaded, then click 'Submit'
  • Note down the application/reference number generated after submission
  • Print the application form and acknowledgement receipt for records
  • Regularly log in to the ePASS portal to check application status and respond to any queries
  • State Level Screening Committee reviews applications and prepares a merit list
  • Selected candidates receive a sanction order and must join the university within one year. Upload I-94/landing permit for the first instalment and semester results for the second instalment

Relevant Links

• Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities Application Form.
• Telangana Overseas Scholarship Scheme Guidelines.
• Revised Guidelines for Telangana Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
• Telangana Chief Minister's Overseas Scholarship Seats Distribution
• Telangana ePASS Portal

Contact Information

• Telangana ePASS Technical Issues: 040-23120311
• Telangana Minority Welfare Department Contact Details.