Bihar Minister Lakhendra Paswan recently announced that under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, SC/ST students will receive fully free education abroad — even when costs run into crores. It sounds revolutionary. Dr. Ashutosh Singh asks a direct question: who is this scheme really for?
What does the announcement promise?
The government claims the state will bear the full cost of study abroad. It speaks of equal opportunity for SC/ST communities. But until selection rules, seat numbers, countries, subjects, and eligibility are public, trusting the word ‘free’ is difficult.
Who is the scheme really for?
Studying abroad often costs more than ₹1 crore. Dr. Singh asks: is this for the talented rural child who cannot afford coaching, or will it reach only those who already have contacts and patronage? If distribution stays opaque, ‘social justice’ becomes another narrow benefit.
What do citizens deserve to know?
Every family should know: how selection works, how many seats exist, which countries and subjects are covered, and what merit criteria apply. Accountability before applause.
What makes subsidised study fair?
Dr. Singh argues that foreign education subsidies are justified only when: (1) merit and economic need are both visible, (2) selection is fully public, (3) return paths serve the state — research, teaching, or public-interest policy. Bihar needs citizens who can change systems, not only a list of people who went abroad.