Has India Launched 1,000 Online Scholarships for Afghan Students?

Kabul/New Delhi, Sep 2 (NationPress) In a remarkable initiative aimed at fostering higher education among Afghan youth, India has unveiled 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan citizens for the 2025-26 academic year. This program is part of the Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN) administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), enabling students to enroll in online undergraduate and postgraduate courses via the government’s e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal.

The announcement, which received extensive coverage in Afghan media on Tuesday, underscores India’s ongoing commitment to supporting Afghan students, following similar scholarship offerings in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

As reported by the World Bank, Afghanistan possesses one of the world’s youngest demographics, with approximately two-thirds of its population under the age of 25. The Afghan youth play a pivotal role in the country's development and are vital for fostering peace and prosperity.

Eligibility for the scheme is open to Afghan nationals aged between 18 and 35, who can apply for a diverse array of online programs from nine Indian universities, such as Jamia Millia Islamia, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Anna University, and Kurukshetra University.

Available courses cover various fields, including Business Administration, Commerce, Computer Science, Arts, Political Science, Education, Journalism, Psychology, and Mass Communication. This ensures that Afghan learners can acquire globally relevant skills without leaving their home country.

“Applicants may reside anywhere globally but must possess a valid National ID/ Passport of Afghanistan,” the official document states.

Applications are being accepted from September 1 to September 6, 2025, via the dedicated Afghan i-learn portal.

The Ministry will release the scholarship amount for each semester to its implementing agency, which will then transfer the funds directly to the respective Indian universities/institutes at the semester's commencement. The scholarships will cover tuition and other applicable fees, but no stipends or additional payments will be provided.

Emphasizing India’s enduring educational collaboration with Afghanistan, the ICCR highlighted that students can study “anytime, anywhere” using laptops, tablets, or smartphones with internet connectivity.

Degrees conferred will be recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and physical certificates will be distributed through the Indian Mission in Kabul.

The selection process entails screening by Indian universities, identity verification by the Indian Mission in Kabul, and final approval from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and ICCR.

This initiative reinforces India’s position as a hub for inclusive, technology-driven education and showcases its dedication to strengthening people-to-people connections with Afghanistan through cultural and academic exchange.