Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: INDIA has announced 1,000 escholarships for Afghan nationals for the academic year 2025-26. The initiative, part of the Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN) through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), allows students to pursue online undergraduate and postgraduate courses through the government’s e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal.
The announcement, reported extensively by the Afghan media on September 2, extends India’s commitment to Afghan students, following similar scholarship grants in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
According to the World Bank, Afghanistan has one of the youngest populations in the world, with twothirds of the population being below the age of 25.
Under the scheme, Afghan nationals aged between 18 and 35 years can apply for a wide range of online programmes offered by nine Indian universities, including Jamia Millia Islamia, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Anna University, and Kurukshetra University. The courses span across disciplines such as Business Administration, Commerce, Computer Science, Arts, Political Science, Education, Journalism, Psychology, and Mass Communication.
“The applicant could be residing in any part of the world, but should have a valid National ID/ Passport of Afghanistan,” read the official document. Applications are open from September 1 to September 6, 2025, through the dedicated Afghan i-learn portal.
Degrees awarded are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and physical certificates will be handed over through the Indian Mission in Kabul. The selection process includes screening by Indian universities, identity verification by the Indian Mission in Kabul, and final approval by the Ministry of External Affairs and ICCR.
