About ICCR

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded on 9th April 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India. Since then we have seen in India the consolidation of Indian democracy, the establishment of an equitable social order, the rapid development of the Indian economy, the empowerment of Indian women, the creation of a vibrant infrastructure of world-class educational institutions, and the powerful revitalization of scientific traditions.
There has also been a revival, reiteration and renewal of the five-millennia old Indian culture, exemplified by the energetic projection, development and experimentation in Indian arts, the confident and creative expansion of Indian languages, and the great energy in Indian cinema. ICCR, in harmony with these developments, is in unison with contemporary India.

The last five decades have been one of the most exciting periods in the arts in India's long history. Indian literature, music and dance,

Indian paintings, sculpture and crafts, as well as Indian theatre and films, has each witnessed great outbursts of creativity. ICCR continues to encourage improvisation and experimentation with the new, while it pays homage to the classical as well as the folk forms of India's cultural expression.


ICCR is about a communion of cultures, a creative dialogue with other nations. To facilitate this interaction with world cultures, the Council has strived to articulate and demonstrate the diversity and richness of the cultures of India, both in and with other countries of the world.

The Council prides itself on being the pre-eminent instrument of cultural diplomacy and the sponsor of intellectual exchanges between India and partner countries. It is the Council's resolve to continue to symbolize India's great cultural and educational efflorescence in the
years to come.

Scholarship

International Students Division

Studying in India

From time immemorial, India has been a centre for learning. Thousands of years ago, great scholars used to teach through the scriptures. A variety of subjects such as philosophy, religion, medicine, literature, drama and arts, astrology, mathematics and sociology were taught and masterpieces on these subjects were written. Under the Buddhist influence, education was available to virtually everyone who wanted it and some world famous institutions arose out of the monasteries, such as Nalanda, Vikramshila and Takshashila. Nalanda, which flourished from the 5th to 13th century AD, was especially noteworthy. It had at one time about 10,000 resident students and teachers on its roll, including Chinese, Sri Lankan, Korean and other international scholars.

During the 11th century, the Muslims established elementary and secondary schools, "Madrasas" or colleges, and even universities at cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Allahabad, mostly using Arabic as the medium of instruction. During the medieval period, there was excellent interaction between Indian and Islamic traditions in all fields of knowledge like indology, religion, philosophy, fine arts, painting, architecture, mathematics, medicine and astronomy.

With the arrival of the British, English education came into being with the help of the European missionaries. In 1817, Hindu College was established in Kolkata. The Elphinstone Institution was set up in 1834 in Mumbai. In 1857 three universities were set up at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. Since then, Western education has made steady advances in the country. With 354 universities and thousands of colleges affiliated to them, 428 engineering colleges and technological institutes, more than a 100 medical colleges, scores of agricultural institutes and many other specialised centres of learning and research in every subject and discipline, India can claim its position as one of the leading countries providing quality higher education to its people as well as to students and scholars from countries all over the world.

Today Indian universities and institutes of higher education and research have made a significant contribution to transmission of knowledge and enquiry into frontiers of science and technology. In the field of traditional subjects such as arts and humanities as well as in pure sciences, applied physics and chemistry, mathematics and in areas of technology, the universities and higher institutes have been playing a leading role in transforming the country into a modern industrialised, technologically advanced state. The ushering of the Green Revolution and the tremendous progress in dairy development have made India a major food-producing country on one hand; on the other hand, its development of space technology, production and launching of indigenous satellites, development of peaceful nuclear energy have brought it into the forefront of technologically advanced nations to which a large number of developing countries looks for training and guidance.

Indian universities and institutes of higher learning have been playing their role to promote the needs and aspirations of higher education and research to Indian students and scholars. These centres have been extending their cooperation and friendship towards students of other developing countries also, where facilities for higher studies and research are not adequate. In addition, a number of overseas students are also drawn to Indian educational institutions providing high-quality education at very competitive prices

Scholarship schemes being administered by ICCR: -

The I.C.C.R on behalf Government of India offers scholarships and fellowships to international students wishing to study in India in various programs and disciplines. Scholarships are available also for research work and non-formal courses (Religion, Classical Music, Dance and Crafts).
Click here for details of scholarship schemes available for International Students.

ICCR offers 1804 scholarships every year under its various scholarship schemes. International students from over 70 countries study in different universities and educational institutions spread all over India to pursue a variety of courses from under-graduate to post-doctoral level in various subjects.

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Offer of scholarships are sent to the respective Governments through Indian diplomatic missions abroad. Nominations are received from the respective Governments in the Indian diplomatic missions concerned. These are forwarded to ICCR for final selection and placement. Direct applications from candidates cannot be considered by ICCR. International government nominees have to fill prescribed forms for Scholarships for Foreign Nationals that are available with Indian missions abroad. While filling in the forms, the candidate must specify the course he wishes to pursue such as i) certificate/diploma ii) undergraduate degree iii) postgraduate degree iv) doctoral research work only. Candidates are also advised to consult the Handbook of Indian Universities available with Indian missions abroad to ensure the availability of their choice of a course in India. The application forms should include the required number of copies of educational certificates along with three copies of passport-size photographs. In some cases, a no objection certificate from the candidate's employer or place of work is also required.

Scholarships are also given for learning Indian Classical Music, Dance, Painting and Sculpture.

* Details of scholarship schemes
* Country-wise details of offer of slots under General Cultural Scholarship Scheme
* Terms & Conditions
* Guidelines For Missions (Annexure-I)
* Study Tour
* Scholarship Form for Foreign Nationals Pdf | Download
* Annexure-II Pdf | Download
* Welfare Activities For International Students
* Archives

For more details you may contact naresh.kumari@iccrindia.org, neelam.chopra@iccrindia.org and kewal.krishan@iccrindia.org

Source: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)