Sat Sep 06 17:58:17 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Tamil Nadu government has launched a new overseas scholarship program for Muslim students, allocating ₹3.6 crore to support 10 students annually. The scholarship, capped at ₹36 lakh per student, will assist with postgraduate studies in various fields at institutions ranked within the top 250 globally by QS. This initiative follows the discontinuation of the central government’s Padho Pardesh scheme and aims to promote educational and economic advancement within the Muslim community. Applicants must meet criteria including academic qualifications, age limits, and a family income ceiling of ₹8 lakh per year. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, visa fees, medical insurance, and airfare.
**News Article:**
**Tamil Nadu Launches Overseas Scholarship for Muslim Students**
**CHENNAI, September 6, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu government has unveiled a new overseas scholarship program designed to support the higher education of Muslim students. The initiative, announced today, will provide financial assistance of up to ₹36 lakh to 10 students annually, enabling them to pursue postgraduate studies at top-ranked global institutions.
The program comes three years after the central government’s Ministry of Minority Affairs discontinued the Padho Pardesh scheme. The Tamil Nadu government responded by allocating ₹3.6 crore for the 2025-26 academic year to ensure the continuation of educational support for minority communities.
The scholarship will be administered through the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board on a pilot basis, targeting institutions ranked within the top 250 in the Global QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings. Eligible fields of study include engineering, management, sciences, agriculture, medicine, commerce, economics, humanities, and law.
To qualify, applicants must have a family income not exceeding ₹8 lakh per annum, possess a foundation degree with at least 60% marks, and have secured an unconditional admission offer. The age limit for postgraduate applicants is 30 years as of April 1st of the selection year.
The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, visa fees, medical insurance, and airfare at the start and end of the program. Disbursements will be made in four equal installments. A state-level selection committee will be responsible for reviewing applications.
“This scholarship represents our commitment to supporting the educational and economic advancement of students from minority communities,” stated a government spokesperson. “We believe this initiative will empower these students to achieve their academic goals and contribute significantly to society.”
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