The Ministry of External Affairs launches applications for 150 Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) slots for 2025-26, targeting NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, and ECR-country workers’ children pursuing Indian undergraduate degrees. Covering 75% institutional costs up to $4,000/year (excluding food), 50% reserves for females with 17-21 age cap and 60% Class 12 marks minimum. Deadline January 30 via spdcmea.gov.in prioritizes NAAC A-grade, NITs, central universities.
US-based BITS Pilani alumnus Mahesh Samdani donates $1 million, funding first scholarships from 2026-27 for meritorious undergraduates at the Pilani campus. The Samdani endowment supports tuition, fostering alumni giving amid rising private philanthropy in technical education.
STEM Scholars by Nasscom Foundation and Optum CSR aids 3rd/4th-year B.E./B.Tech/Pharmacy/Life Sciences students from underprivileged backgrounds in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad with INR 30,000/year plus mentorship/internships. Tata Capital Pankh targets Classes 9-12, undergrads, polytechnics, ITIs up to INR 1.2 lakh/year for incomes <INR 6 lakh, domiciled in select states. Mahindra Big Boss Nayi Pehchan aids female Class 9 and first-year engineering/diploma girls up to INR 1.2 lakh.
University of East Anglia announces GBP 7,000 (2:1 equivalent) / GBP 6,000 (2:2) merit scholarships for Indian postgraduates starting September 2026/January 2027, deducted from tuition. Bath Global Excellence offers GBP 10,000 for 3rd/4th-year STEM undergrads (deadline February 4), while KTH India covers full Master’s tuition for Indians (January 15). Summer Research Fellowship 2026 via IAS-INSA-NASI supports STEM students/teachers.
Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships (applications closed) awarded 5,000 slots up to INR 2 lakh/degree for first-years from <INR 15 lakh households, emphasizing girls/disabled with alumni networks. SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha supports school-to-overseas with INR 15k-20 lakh across categories. Inlaks Shivdasani opens mid-February for up to USD 120k overseas (9 months-4 years).
Government contemplates raising ST overseas scholarships from 20 to 50 slots, enhancing tribal access to global education. ICCR allocates 640 general + 100 culture-study slots for 2025-26 (deadlines passed, but signals scale). WHY TAP launches AI certification with 50% merit scholarships + stipends for January 2026 intake.
National Scholarship Portal lists central/state schemes amid Karnataka UAS protests over delays/cuts (fees halved to INR 15k vs INR 38k prior). With deadlines clustering January 15-30, students blend merit-means applications across domestic/international for 2026 opportunities.
