Tue Mar 04 12:40:00 UTC 2025: **Telangana’s Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme Stalled, Raising Concerns**
HYDERABAD, March 4, 2025 – The Telangana Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship scheme, designed to support students pursuing master’s degrees abroad, has stalled, raising concerns among students and activists. While ₹118 crore was allocated for the scheme in FY 2023-24, no student received the scholarship that year.
Data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request reveals that although 2,974 students were selected between 2018 and 2022, and 2,723 availed the scholarship, no funds have been disbursed since then. The selection process for the fall 2022 intake remains “under progress,” effectively halting the program for over a year.
While the scheme initially saw strong response, with over 5,700 applications received since its inception in 2018, the recent stagnation has prompted criticism. Student groups argue that the delay undermines a valuable initiative that fosters academic excellence and international collaboration.
Muhammad Faraz Ahmed, Telangana Secretary of the Students Islamic Organisation, emphasized the need to revive the scheme, highlighting the significant number of students from Telangana aspiring to study abroad. He urged the state government to increase its budgetary allocation for education in the upcoming budget session. He also pointed out that the scheme specifically benefited students from minority communities, and its continuation is crucial for promoting high-quality research.
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