Overseas scholarship delays hit Telangana students hard

Telangana students waiting for overseas scholarships are facing financial difficulties as approved funds remain pending. The backlog has risen sharply in recent years, forcing many students and parents to approach banks for loans to meet tuition fees and other education expenses.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Congress government’s overseas scholarships, which are meant to ease financial strain of tuition fees, have become an ‘unexpected burden’ to students hailing from the economically weaker and marginalised sections.

Ever since the Congress party formed the government in the State in 2023-24, the pending applications seeking overseas scholarships up to Rs 20 lakh are just piling up, leaving students and parents in the lurch.

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In just three years, the overseas scholarships backlog increased from 188 in the academic year 2023-24 to 256 in 2024-25 to 386 in 2025-26. With pending scholarships from the government, students and parents are forced to fend for themselves by approaching banks seeking loans to fund their overseas education.

To ensure students hailing from economically weaker and marginalised sections study abroad in prestigious universities, the then State government had launched overseas scholarships under various names for different communities.

Students who receive an admission offer from a university in USA, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are extended up to Rs 20 lakh or whichever is less. In addition, one-way economy flight ticket fare and visa charges are also paid.

As per the information released by the Social Welfare Department, while 1,313 applicants from various communities sought overseas scholarships during 2023-24, 1,310 received approval at a budget of Rs 236.25 crore. However, even after three years since applications were approved, the government is yet to release Rs 42.75 crore in scholarships to 188 students, with 148 of them belonging to tribal communities.

Further, the backlog of applications increased with each passing year. A total of 246 out of 1,108 applications remained pending in 2024-25, blocking scholarships to the tune of Rs 89.70 crore.

Similarly, in response to notifications from the government, 394 candidates belonging to minorities and SC communities sought overseas scholarships during 2025-26. All applications have already been approved, with Rs 54.50 crore sanctioned amount but none of them received scholarships.

In the last 10 years, 9,986 out of 10,008 applications received approval. However, 862 applicants, with 386 in 2025-26,256 in 2024-25, 188 in 2023-24, 29 in 2022-23, and three in 2021-22, are yet to receive their scholarships.

Pending overseas applications

Academic year 2025-26

*Total applications: 394

*Applications sanctioned: 386

*Amount sanctioned: Rs 54.60 crore

*Pending applications: 386

*Scholarships released: Rs 0

Academic year 2024-25

*Total applications: 1,115

*Applications sanctioned: 1,108

*Amount sanctioned: Rs 193.98 crore

*Pending applications: 256

*Scholarships to be released: Rs 89.70 crore

Academic year 2023-24

*Total applications: 1,313

*Applications sanctioned: 1,310

*Amount sanctioned: Rs 236.25 crore

*Pending applications: 188

*Scholarships to be released: Rs 42.76 crore