The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has officially opened applications for eligible Sri Lankan citizens to pursue postgraduate studies in India under several prestigious scholarship schemes for the 2026/27 academic year.
A total of 75 scholarships are available, divided between Master’s and PhD programs offered by the Government of India through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Scholarship Breakdown
The opportunities are categorized by study level and specific memorial schemes:
1. Master’s Degree Programs (60 Total Scholarships)
- Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme (40 slots): Focused on Engineering, Science, and Agriculture.
- Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme (20 slots): Covers Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities, and Arts.
2. PhD Programs (15 Total Scholarships)
- Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme (10 slots): Open to Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities, and Arts.
- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme (5 slots): Open to the same fields as the Nehru PhD scheme.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Must be a citizen of Sri Lanka.
- Age: Between 18 and 40 years old as of March 16, 2026.
- Education: * Master’s: Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with a class in a relevant field from a UGC-recognized university.
- PhD: Must hold both a Bachelor’s Degree (with a class) and a Master’s Degree in a relevant field from a UGC-recognized university.
- Employment: Government, University, or State Corporation employees must channel their applications through the Head of their Institution.
- Documentation: A valid passport is mandatory for the application process.
Note: The ICCR does not provide admissions for Medical, Paramedical (Nursing, Physiotherapy, etc.), Fashion Designing, or Law
| Details | Master | PhD |
| Application | Click Here |
| Closing date | 16.03.2026 |
