India Awards ICCR Scholarships to 541 Bangladeshi Students for 2026-27 Academic Year

DHAKA, Aug. 4, 2026 — India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, has urged Bangladeshi students selected for the prestigious Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships to serve as "Ambassadors of Bangladesh and India" during their academic journey in India.

Speaking at a send-off ceremony hosted by the High Commission of India in Dhaka on Tuesday, Trivedi congratulated the recipients of the 2026-2027 ICCR Scholarship Programme and encouraged them to make the most of their educational experience by excelling in their studies, exploring India's cultural diversity, building lasting friendships and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two neighbouring countries.

More than 120 scholarship recipients from Dhaka attended the farewell event before departing for India to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees in disciplines including engineering, pharmacy, fine arts, music and other academic fields at leading Indian institutions.

This year, 541 Bangladeshi students secured ICCR scholarships from more than 7,700 applications submitted nationwide, reflecting the programme's highly competitive selection process. According to the High Commission, only around 6 percent of applicants were selected following proficiency tests and interviews conducted by the Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh.

Among the recipients, 500 students received the Subarno Jayanti Scholarship to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in both STEM and non-STEM disciplines. Another 38 students were awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Dance and Music Scholarship for studies in music, dance and cultural fields, while three students secured the ICCR QUAD Scholarship to undertake undergraduate STEM programmes in India.

Addressing the students, the Indian envoy said India was ready to welcome the scholars with open arms and described studying in the country as an opportunity to experience its rich cultural diversity alongside academic excellence. He also thanked the parents of the scholarship recipients for placing their trust in India's higher education system.

The ICCR Scholarship Programme is one of the Government of India's flagship educational initiatives for outstanding Bangladeshi students, enabling them to pursue higher education at premier Indian institutions across engineering, science, humanities, literature and fine arts.

The fully funded scholarships cover tuition and university fees while also providing monthly stipends to support students' living expenses. Scholarship recipients have opportunities to study at leading institutions, including the Indian Institute of Technology, National Institute of Technology, University of Delhi, Visva-Bharati University, University of Mumbai and Anna University.