India Offers 1,000 E-Scholarships to Afghan Students for 2025–26

In a gesture of continued academic and diplomatic outreach, India has announced 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan students for the academic year 2025–26. The scholarships will be granted under the Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN) administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) through the e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal. This initiative reaffirms India’s support for education, capacity building, and people-to-people ties with Afghanistan.

About the E-Scholarship Programme

Digital Higher Education for Afghan Youth

The scholarships provide an opportunity for Afghan nationals to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses through online mode from prestigious Indian universities. The scheme is especially beneficial amid Afghanistan’s current socio-political challenges, where educational infrastructure has been severely impacted.

Eligibility and Age Criteria

Applicants must be Afghan nationals aged between 18 and 35 years, ensuring that young learners are the primary beneficiaries of this educational opportunity.

Participating Indian Universities

Nine Institutions Offering Courses

The following nine Indian universities are part of the 2025–26 scholarship cohort,

• Jamia Millia Islamia
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
• Anna University
• Kurukshetra University
• And others offering diverse online programmes

These institutions will provide degrees across disciplines such as humanities, science, commerce, management, and IT—all accessible via the e-VB portal.

Continuation of Previous Support

Third Consecutive Year of Scholarships

• India had offered similar e-scholarships in 2023–24 and 2024–25, and this continuation signals a long-term commitment to Afghan human resource development through education. The SSSAN initiative remains one of India’s most visible educational support programmes for Afghanistan post-2021.

India’s Role in Afghan Education

• Over the years, India has emerged as a major destination for Afghan students, with thousands having studied in India through on-campus and now online formats, funded by ICCR, MEA, and other government bodies.

Access and Application Process

E-VidyaBharati Portal as the Learning Hub

• All learning, lectures, and examinations will be delivered through the e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn platform, making the programme accessible from anywhere in Afghanistan with an internet connection.

Application Window

• The application process is expected to open shortly through the ICCR scholarship portal, where eligible candidates can submit documents, choose courses, and receive enrolm

Key points for exam

• 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