India has unveiled 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan students for the academic year 2025–26, providing access to online higher education through Indian universities.
About the E-Scholarship Programme
- Opportunity for Afghan nationals to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses online from Indian universities.
- Beneficial amidst Afghanistan’s current challenges in educational infrastructure.
Eligibility and Age Criteria
- Applicants must be Afghan nationals aged between 18 and 35 years.
Participating Indian Universities
Nine Indian universities are part of the 2025–26 scholarship cohort, including:
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
- Anna University
- Kurukshetra University
Continuation of Previous Support
- India had offered similar e-scholarships in 2023–24 and 2024–25.
- Long-term commitment to Afghan human resource development through education.
India’s Role in Afghan Education
- India is a major destination for Afghan students for both on-campus and online education.
Access and Application Process
- All learning and examinations will be conducted through the e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn platform.
- Application process to open shortly through the ICCR scholarship portal.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams:
- Scheme name: Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN)
- Academic year: 2025–26
- Mode: Online learning via e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal
- Number of scholarships: 1,000
- Eligibility: Afghan nationals aged 18–35
- Participating universities: 9 Indian universities including IGNOU, Jamia, Anna University
