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The Padho Pardesh scheme provides interest subsidies on education loans to minority students aiming for higher studies Read More... abroad. Read less

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Planning to study for your Master's, M.Phil, or PhD in a foreign land? The Padho Pardesh scheme by the Ministry of Minority Affairs could be a significant help for you. Launched under the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities in 2006, this initiative aims to make overseas education more accessible.

What Is This Scheme?

Padho Pardesh is essentially an interest subsidy on educational loans. It's designed to ease the financial burden for meritorious students from minority communities who wish to pursue higher education (Master's, M.Phil, or PhD) in specific courses abroad. This means the government helps cover a part of the interest that accrues on your education loan while you are studying.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is specifically for students belonging to notified minority communities in India. If you dream of pursuing advanced studies in subjects like arts, commerce, science, engineering, medical fields, and many more listed under the scheme, and your family income meets the criteria, you can be a beneficiary.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Studying abroad can open up a world of opportunities, but the cost can be a major hurdle. Padho Pardesh aims to level the playing field by reducing the financial pressure associated with education loans. This can lead to better career prospects and personal growth for students from minority backgrounds, contributing to their overall development and employability on a global scale.

Objective

The Padho Pardesh scheme provides interest subsidies on education loans to minority students aiming for higher studies abroad.

Benefits

No. of Slots:900The slots will be allocated as per Govt. of India reservation policy. However, 30% of slots will be reserved for women candidates.Nature of Assistance:Fellowship@ ₹ 50,000/- p.m.Contingency@ ₹ 50,000/- p.a.Escorts/Reader Assistance@ ₹ 3000/-p.m.(fixed) in cases of PWD (Person with disability)Norms for Utilizing Contingency Grant:The Contingency grant may be utilized for minor equipment useful for research such as laboratory equipment or laptop costing less than ₹ 50,000/-, chemicals, and other research-specific items within the ceiling of ₹ 1,00,000 p.a. with the approval of the host university/institution. The items purchased from the contingency grant are assets of the university/institution and at the end of the fellowship are to be handed over to the host university/institution. The contingency grant cannot be used for international travel or the purchase of furniture.HRAHostel accommodation may be provided to the scholars by their institutions. In such cases, the scholar is eligible to draw only hostel fees excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. If the scholar makes his/her own arrangements for accommodation, he/she shall be entitled to draw HRA as per the ceiling and categorization of cities by the Govt. of India. In case, the scholar wishes to draw HRA, he/she is required to submit a certificate, in the prescribed format, to his institution.Medical AssistanceNo separate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the scholars may avail the medical facilities available in their Institutions concerned.Leave(i) Earned Leave for a maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to public holidays may be taken by a scholar. However, they are not entitled to any other vacation, such as summer, winter, and pooja vacations, etc.(ii) Maternity/paternity leave as per the Govt. of India norms issued from time to time shall be available for scholars at full rates of the fellowship once during the tenure of the fellowship.(iii) An ‘Intermittent Break’ for a maximum total period of 1 year shall be permissible to the women scholars. The break can be availed a maximum of 3 times during the entire period of the fellowship. However, the total duration of the break shall not exceed one year. No fellowship shall be available for the period of such break(s). This period of intermittent breaks shall not be counted towards the tenure of the fellowship, and thus effectively the total period of fellowship shall remain the same.(iv) ‘Academic leave’ shall be permissible only for one year throughout the tenure for any kind of academic/teaching assignment/foreign visit in connection with research work. However, during the period of academic leave no fellowship, contingency, etc will be paid by the UGC. The period of academic leave will be counted towards the tenure. Expenditure on foreign visits in connection to research work cannot be claimed from UGC.(v) All kinds of leave shall be availed by the scholar only with due approval of the institution concerned.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must have secured admission to an approved Master's, M.Phil, or PhD program at a recognized university or institution abroad.
Your family's total annual income from all sources should not exceed ₹ 6,00,000.
You must have already obtained an education loan from a scheduled bank under the Indian Banks Association (IBA) Education Loan Scheme.
Applications must be submitted during your first year of study. Late applications will not be considered.
Priority might be given to applicants from states and union territories with lower bank interest rates.
Benefit payments may be linked to your Aadhaar number.

How To Apply

To avail the benefits of the Padho Pardesh scheme, you need to follow these steps:

Secure admission to a Master's, M.Phil, or PhD course at a foreign institution.
Obtain an education loan from a scheduled bank recognized by the IBA.
Complete the Padho Pardesh scheme application form.
Submit all the required documents to the concerned authorities. Ensure your application is submitted within your first year of study.

For detailed application procedures and official forms, please refer to the Ministry of Minority Affairs website.

Documents Required

Completed application form.
Admission letter from the foreign university/institution.
Valid Passport.
Income certificate from the competent authority.
Proof of education loan application/sanction.
Aadhaar Card.

FAQ’s

Can I apply for Padho Pardesh if I've already received subsidies for other courses?

Yes, you can still be eligible for the Padho Pardesh scheme for your postgraduate diploma, Master's, M.Phil, or PhD studies abroad, even if you received a subsidy under other schemes like CSIS for undergraduate courses. This also applies if you pursued M.Tech in India with subsidy and are now pursuing an MBA abroad.

What is the family income limit to be eligible for this scheme?

To qualify for Padho Pardesh, your family's total income from all sources should not exceed ₹ 6.00 lakh per annum. You’ll need to provide an income certificate issued by the competent authority to prove this.

When is the right time to apply for this scholarship?

It's crucial to apply for the Padho Pardesh scheme's benefits during your very first year of study abroad. Applications submitted in the second year or later won't be accepted.

What does it mean to be 'meritorious' for this scheme?

Under the Padho Pardesh scheme, students who have successfully secured admission abroad and meet all other eligibility criteria are considered meritorious.

Is the interest subsidy guaranteed for everyone who applies?

The scheme aims to provide interest subsidies to all eligible applicants, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. There's a limit of 400 students selected each year. The Ministry will do its best to accommodate as many eligible students as possible.

What happens if my education loan amount is more than ₹ 20 lakhs?

The interest subsidy under the Padho Pardesh scheme is currently limited to the amount specified in the IBA model scheme, which is ₹ 20.00 lakh. You will not receive the subsidy for any loan amount disbursed above this limit.

Can I get the subsidy if my course has some part in India and some part abroad?

You can be eligible for the interest subsidy even if your course involves study partly in India and partly abroad, provided that the final degree is awarded by a foreign university.

Which documents do I need to submit for the application?

You will need to provide the application form, your admission letter, passport, an income certificate, your education loan application details, and your Aadhaar card.

Which income certificate should I submit – the latest one or an older one?

An income certificate issued by the competent authority at the time you availed your education loan will be considered sufficient.