Padho Pardesh- Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for the Students Belonging to the Minority Communities

The Ministry of Minority Affairs have implemented “Padho Pardesh”- A scheme of interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies for the students belonging to the minority communities viz. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis and want to pursue higher studies like Masters, M.Phil & Ph.D level outside India.

The interest subsidy will be given for the period of moratorium (i.e. course period plus one year or six months after getting a job, whichever is earlier) as per the education loan scheme of the Indian banks Association (IBA). Student  can  take  Educational  Loan  from  any Private Bank, Public Sector Bank, Scheduled commercial Bank and Co-operative Banks etc. which is a member of IBA.

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Eligibility for Padho Pardesh Scheme

A candidate must have secured admission in University abroad to pursue Post Graduate Diploma, Masters, Ph.D or M. Phil courses with overall family income exceeding not more than 6 lakhs per annum. Family income refers to gross income of parents of the candidate if he/she is unmarried or gross income of the spouse in case the candidate is married.

How to avail the Padho Pardesh Scheme

While taking loan from any Private Bank, Public Sector Bank, Scheduled commercial Bank or Co-operative Bank, the candidate should inform the bank that the Ministry of Minority Affairs have introduced Padho Pardesh Scheme for minority community students to help them pursue higher education abroad. The concerned bank will fill the candidate’s info in the Padho Pardesh Portal launched by Canara Bank which is the implementing agency for this particular scheme. The portal will be open for two months in every quarter.

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Candidates should have proof of belonging to a minority community which can be obtained from any religious body which issues such certificates or from the school/colleges principal.