Introduction
The Indian government has laid out several types of scholarships that students can avail themselves of in order to materialise their aspirations and embark on a journey of experiencing a multicultural learning environment. The scholarships also align with the five pillars of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), i.e., Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability aiming to equip the youth of India with skills to handle national as well as international matters efficiently. These include the following:
- Merit-based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students with higher academic excellence or achievements in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
- Subject-specific Scholarships: A few scholarships are specifically awarded to students who wish to study or gain expertise in certain subjects. These scholarships essentially aim to promote learning in specific fields such as STEM fields or Arts and Humanities.
- Student-based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to certain members from certain communities. For example, there are scholarships awarded to certain castes or genders i.e., females to foster a culture of higher education and bring them to par with the rest of the society.
Importance of Scholarships for Indian Students
The Ministry of External Affairs maintains that a total of 13,54,954 Indian students migrated to other countries to gain education in 2022 which included 55,465 students travelling to the UK and 5,000 students travelling to Ireland respectively. These numbers have only risen in the past two years and so has the cost of education. These scholarships provide individuals with an opportunity to invest in their futures on their own terms without having to avail of student loans. The system endeavours to achieve equity in the global education sector apart from raising the quality of life abroad. A plethora of students who innately wish to not financially depend on their parents despite the available means have also benefitted from these programmes. Given the fact that scholarships cover tuition fees, living costs as well as other expenses, they furnish students with the ability to make additional choices for themselves such as living independently, choosing accommodation and commute routes, working part-time jobs for fewer hours, or not at all in some cases in order to prioritise education over earning money. They also help students focus on research projects, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, internships, etc. apart from recognising their previous hard work and boosting self-esteem and confidence to remain consistent.
These scholarships have also been pivotal in bringing diversity to the fields of higher education in the country. Not only courses in technical fields with well-defined curricula such as robotics or astrophysics that require highly advanced infrastructure and research in fields but specialised programmes such as publishing or graphic designing are now a considerable reality for Indian students given the financial backing from scholarships. The ability to move out of one’s comfort zone and employ the insurmountable potential among Indian students has been a monumental feat of these scholarships.
Overview of Popular Indian Government Scholarships
The following section will cover a few popular scholarships proffered by the Indian government along with their eligibility criteria, durations, and application processes for study abroad programmes.
This highly prestigious scholarship is provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Environment, the Government of India in order to socially uplift and empower students hailing from socially disadvantaged communities. This includes low-income students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans. It supports their pursuit of higher education abroad at master’s and doctoral levels in universities or institutions accredited by the government/authorised body of that country. Students from any field of study can opt for this scholarship except topics/courses concerning Indian Culture/heritage/History/Social studies on India-based research.
Benefits:
The ministry holds out 125 fresh awards every selection year inviting applications from students. In case, there are vacant seats, there will be a second round of applications. The scholarship covers Annual Maintenance Allowance, Annual Contingency Allowance, Tuition Fees, Visa Fees, Medical Insurance Premium, Incidental Journey Allowance & Equipment Allowance, and Airfare.
The category-wise distribution of seats is as follows:
| S. No. | Category | Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| a.) | Scheduled Castes | 115 |
| b.) | Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes | 06 |
| c.) | Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans | 04 |
| Total Slots | 125 |
Eligibility Criteria:
- The student must score at least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination, i.e., bachelor’s degree grade in case you are applying to master’s degree and master’s degree grade for applying to Ph. D. courses. The student must provide the marksheets for all semesters/terms in order to be eligible.
- The student must be under 35 years of age on the 1st of April of that selection year.
- The total family income must not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year.
- One candidate will be awarded only once.
Application Process:
In order to apply for this scholarship, the candidate must apply online at the ministry portal, i.e., www.nosmsje.gov.in after ensuring their eligibility. The selection year is April-March of every year. The first round of applications is invited in February/March.
A. Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship:
This prestigious scholarship is awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and is fully funded by the Government of India. This specific scholarship is awarded to one individual, placing them at the highly reputed St. Antony College, University of Oxford London offering them the status equivalent to that of a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. The duration of this scholarship is one year at the beginning of the programme, however, based on the performance of the candidate, the duration of the scholarship can be extended for another year (no fresh application is invited that year).
Benefits:
This scholarship covers a total of INR 33,51,804.92/- (£29,944.85) which includes a stipend amount of INR 24,69,524.83/- (£22,063.00), travel allowance of INR 99,617/- (£890.00), college lunches worth INR 2,69,514/- (£2,407.00), 6 high table dinner of INR 76,000/- (£679.00) and other administration charges of INR 4,39,916/- (£3,930.85).
Eligibility Criteria:
The eligibility criteria to apply for this scholarship are as follows:
- The candidate must possess an excellent academic record throughout their careers with at least a 60 per cent score in their post-graduation degree. They must hold a PhD degree in their chosen field of study with recognised published works with high merit.
- The scholarship is only meant for candidates from subjects including History, Economics and Political Science.
- It promotes advanced learning in young scholars between 30 to 40 years of age.
- Further, the candidate must have teaching experience of a minimum of three years at graduate/postgraduate levels after having completed their Ph.D. degree.
Application Process:
The students are required to fill out an application on the online portal which is circulated to institutes/universities as well as UGC and is also advertised in the leading newspapers. The shortlisted candidates are then called for an interview. The list of shortlisted candidates is published on the ministry’s website in March.
B. Fulbright-Nehru Master’s and Doctoral Research Fellowships:
Fullbright-Nehru Master’s and Doctoral Research Fellowships are offered by the US-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) through the collaboration of the Indian government and USIEF in order to foster a culture of learning and research. The scholarship is meant for individuals who have demonstrated magnificent leadership qualities to pursue a master’s or doctoral level education at a US-accredited university/institution. Covering a wide range of fields, Master’s Fellowships can be availed by students from fields such as Economics, Public Health, Journalism and Mass Communication, International Legal Studies, Environmental Studies/Science, Urban and Regional Planning, etc. On the other hand, the doctoral research fellowships can be availed by students hailing from backgrounds such as Agricultural Sciences, Anthropology, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Economics, Education Policy and Planning, Energy Studies, Environmental Science/Studies, History, Language/Literature/Linguistics, Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications), Mathematical Sciences, Neuroscience, Physics, Sociology, Visual Arts, etc.
Benefits:
The master’s fellowship provides a candidate with round-trip economy class air travel, visa support, tuition fees, and living expenses and covers accident and sickness expenses per the country’s guidelines. The duration for these fellowships is up to two years.
The doctoral fellowships help the candidate with J-1 visa support, Accident and Sickness expenses (per government guidelines), round-trip economy class air travel, applicable allowances and modest affiliation fees apart from a monthly stipend for the student’s daily expenses. The duration is six to nine months.
Eligibility Criteria:
- For Master’s Fellowships:
- In order to be eligible for this scholarship, the candidate must have completed an equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree with a 55 per cent score at least. The bachelor’s degree must be four years, otherwise, they must possess a master’s degree or a full-time postgraduate diploma.
- Apart from this, the candidates must also have at least three years’ relevant full-time (paid) work experience.
- Also, the candidate must not have any other degree from a US university.
- Should be committed to returning to India, employing their skills for the betterment of society here.
- For Doctoral Fellowships:
- These fellowships are meant for young Ph.D. scholars to assist them in conducting research for their dissertation, therefore, the submission must be at least three months apart from the end date of this programme.
- The candidate must be registered for a PhD in an Indian institute on/before 1st November 2024.
- The application must contain a Letter of Recommendation from the supervisor stating the research topic, date and the need for this fellowship.
- A copy of their qualifying degree’s research papers/extracts of dissertation or thesis is needed.
- The Indian bureaucratic staff is not eligible.
Application Process:
- For Master’s Fellowships:
Online applications are to be submitted at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026.
- For Doctoral Fellowships:
The applications must be submitted at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026.
C. Fullbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Doctoral Research:
This scholarship is the result of the U.S.-India Climate Fellowship Programme launched in September 2014 to analyse and research climate change-related issues and thereby, build capacity. It is funded by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) to Indian research scholars registered for a PhD at an Indian institution on behalf of both governments. The scholars are supposed to research topics related to subjects such as Earth, Atmosphere and Environment Sciences to be incorporated in their doctoral thesis. The duration of this scholarship is six to nine months.
Benefits:
The beneficiaries of this scholarship are affiliated with a university/institution in the US. The fellowship covers expenses of j-1 visa support, round-trip economy class airfare, accident and sickness expenses, a modest settling-in allowance, a monthly stipend, and a professional allowance.
Eligibility Criteria:
- To avail of this fellowship, the candidate must be registered at an Indian institution/university for a Ph.D. programme.
- They must possess adequate research in the relevant field of study.
- They must not be in the last phase of their PhD programme.
Application Process:
The application for this scholarship can be filled out online at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2025.
Note: One must note that these scholarships can only be availed by Indian citizens, therefore, the candidate must have Indian citizenship to be eligible for any of the above-mentioned scholarships.
How to Apply for Indian Government Scholarships
1. Researching Scholarship Options
There are plenty of government-funded scholarships for Indian students aiming at safeguarding students and other stakeholders from any sort of financial strain. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to conduct thorough research before moving forward. Apart from this, the candidate must check authorised government websites, instead of depending on other arbitrary sites. Relying on these sites might cloud significant information leading to wastage of time and resources.
2. Understanding Eligibility Criteria
Moving forward, it is also necessary to assess the eligibility criteria of the targeted scholarship. For example, while applying for a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship, the candidate must ensure that their submission of the thesis is at least three months away from the end date of the fellowship since the fellowship is meant for doctoral scholars who are in the preliminary stages of the PhD.
3. Document Preparation
One of the most important steps while applying for such impressive scholarships is the preparation of documents. The potential candidates must ensure that they possess all the required documents while filling out the application form. In case, they are applying online, the uploaded documents must be scanned clearly. All the academic transcripts, proof of income, recommendation letters, identity proofs, etc. must be in the required order.
Additionally, one must understand that the personal statement is one’s golden chance to influence the decision committee in their favour. Avoiding practices such as the use of AI to generate personal statements or plagiarism is a must. Instead, the personal statement must showcase why and how the candidate is the right choice for the scholarship. It must emphasise their academic brilliance and otherwise diligent personality.
4. Application Submission Process
5. Follow-up and Interview Process
Key Tips for Securing a Government Scholarship
1. Start Early and Plan Ahead
One can not emphasise enough the importance of starting early and planning ahead of time while applying for such scholarships. Students sometimes do not realise the necessity of preparing well in advance and wait for the last date to fill out applications. This often ensues last-minute panics, chaos and confusion in case something goes southwards.
A variety of these scholarships are highly competitive with seats being full in the first round itself. Besides, the last dates of applications are final with no further representations till the next cycle. Therefore, it is highly recommended to follow the timeline and apply early.
2. Emphasise Academic and Extracurricular Achievements
It is no revelation that academic excellence is the most vital factor when aiming for a government scholarship. Typically, the scholarships consider the overall personalities of the candidates. Their presence of mind, community treatment, interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, all play a part in securing a government scholarship.
3. Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement
As mentioned above, personal statements are your chance to retell your life story in your own words. The best practice to write a compelling personal statement is to be genuine while maintaining the formal integrity of the document. The language must be easy to understand and simple while showcasing your ability to express effectively.
A personal statement comprises various aspects such as why you chose a certain field, your academic and professional backgrounds, why you wish to gain education abroad, your personal and professional goals, etc. Ensuring that you address each of these aspects can certainly result in a compelling personal statement.
4. Seek Guidance from Experts
While conducting your research is indispensable, seeking guidance from experts around you may help you endlessly. Several educational consultancies employ seasoned consultants to assist students with the right course of action while applying for scholarships and abroad education. It would be wise to understand the dos and don’ts of scholarships from them.
Moreover, the letter of recommendation may further strengthen your case. A good word from a known name in the industry never harms a candidate. Therefore, it is important to secure and attach recommendation letters from your mentors or supervisors.
FAQs
1. Does the government of India offer any specific scholarship to uplift socially marginalised communities?
Yes, there are several scholarships to bring the marginalised communities to the forefront. For example, National Overseas Scholarship (NOS), is a prestigious scholarship for students from low-income marginalised communities.
2. What is the last date to apply for a government scholarship to study abroad?
The last dates for the scholarships vary. The students must keep an eye on the official websites for information regarding the same.
3. What are the eligibility criteria for the Fulbright-Nehru Master's Research Fellowship?
In order to be eligible for this scholarship, the candidate must have completed an equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree with a 55 per cent score at least. The bachelor’s degree must be of four years, otherwise, they must possess a master’s degree or a full-time postgraduate diploma. Apart from this, the candidates must also have at least three years’ relevant full-time (paid) work experience. Also, the candidate must not have any other degree from a US university. Lastly, they must be committed to returning to India, employing their skills for the betterment of society here.
