Bhubaneswar, August 18: The Higher Education Department on Tuesday announced the schedule for State Government’s 'Bidesh Sikhyabruti' scheme for SC and ST students to pursue higher studies in foreign countries.

Interested students desiring to avail of the scholarship under the scheme are advised to submit their application through the OSS Portal (https:fischolarship.odisha.gov.in) from August 18 to 31.

The department in a release said that, students having an annual family income of up to Rs 12 lakh are eligible to avail of the benefits under this scheme, which will support a total of 50 SC and ST students.

The department advised the interested students desiring to avail of the scholarship under the scheme to submit their application for the academic year 2025-2026 and 2026-27 through the OSS Portal.

The detailed 'Bidesh Sikhyabruti' guidelines can be viewed on the website of the Higher Education Department.

The Odisha Government has introduced a new scheme 'Bidesh Sikhyabruti' for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students aspiring to pursue postgraduate and Ph.D. courses in the top 200 QS-ranked foreign institutes and universities.

The scholarship scheme has been introduced under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY) to provide financial assistance to eligible students for higher studies abroad.

As per the guidelines, for postgraduate courses, assistance will be provided for one or two years, depending on the duration of the course, while PhD students will receive assistance for two years. No extension will be provided beyond two years, the guidelines added.