Punjab rolls out international scholarship covering tuition, travel, and living expenses

Punjab has launched a new overseas scholarship program aimed at helping students from low-income backgrounds pursue higher education abroad.

The initiative targets children from Scheduled Caste communities and landless agricultural laborers, with the goal of removing financial barriers and expanding academic opportunities.

The scheme will fully fund all expenses related to studying overseas, including visas, travel, tuition, and living costs.

“We stand firmly by the children of low-income families and will provide complete support for those who want to pursue higher education abroad,” said Punjab’s Social Security Minister, Dr Baljit Kaur.

Applicants must have at least 60% in their undergraduate studies and be under 35 years of age. Families with an annual income below ₹8 lakh are eligible.

The program also reserves 30% of scholarships for female students to encourage greater participation by women.

Students can apply to a government-curated list of 500 top-ranked international universities.

The financial support includes tuition fees, visa and travel costs, an annual maintenance allowance of ₹13.17 lakh, and a contingency allowance of ₹1.35 lakh.

The scholarship is designed to promote social mobility and address the gender gap in higher education opportunities.

By targeting promising candidates early in their academic careers, the government hopes to support equitable access to global education.

Dr Kaur emphasized the commitment to educational equity, reiterating, “We stand firmly by the children of low-income families and will provide complete support for those who want to pursue higher education abroad.”