Top Government Scholarships for Indian Students in 2025

Pursuing higher education can often feel financially challenging, but both the Indian government and foreign governments provide multiple scholarship opportunities to deserving students. These scholarships cover undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies in India as well as abroad. Below is a list of the most important government scholarships for Indian students in 2025.

This is a flagship program of the Government of India aimed at helping students from economically weaker and marginalized communities. It provides financial assistance for postgraduate and doctoral studies abroad, covering tuition fees, living expenses, and travel.

The PMRF is one of the most prestigious schemes for PhD candidates in premier institutes like IISc, IITs, and IISERs. Scholars receive a monthly stipend starting at ₹70,000, which increases over the course of their program, along with an annual research contingency grant of ₹2 lakh.

This scholarship supports PhD students in India and other Asian countries. It offers ₹18,000 per month along with an annual contingency grant to cover research expenses. It is a popular choice for students pursuing advanced research in fields like science, social science, and humanities.

Offered by the Department of Science & Technology, the INSPIRE program provides scholarships to undergraduate students in science. It includes a monthly stipend and a yearly contingency grant. NISER and IISER students particularly benefit from this scheme.

Launched under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, this fellowship allows traditional Gurukul scholars—who may not hold formal degrees—to enter top institutions like IITs. Fellowships of up to ₹65,000 per month are provided, encouraging cultural and academic integration.

The Uttar Pradesh government has collaborated with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to sponsor five students annually for master’s studies in the UK. This scheme covers tuition, living costs, and airfare, making international education accessible for meritorious students from the state.

The Assam government has introduced a direct financial aid scheme for students. It offers monthly support of ₹1,000 for Higher Secondary students, ₹1,250 for undergraduates, and ₹2,500 for postgraduates, benefiting students across communities.

Though funded by the US government, this is one of the most sought-after international scholarships for Indian students. It provides full funding for master’s programs, research, and professional development in the United States, including tuition, airfare, living expenses, and health insurance.

Offered by Commonwealth nations, these scholarships allow Indian students to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies in countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia. They are fully funded and focus on students with strong academic and leadership potential.

This UK government-funded program offers fully funded one-year master’s degrees at leading British universities. It emphasizes leadership qualities and global networking opportunities for Indian scholars.

A state-specific extension of the Chevening program, this scholarship funds women from Karnataka to pursue fully funded master’s studies in the UK. Five women are selected every year under this initiative.

The year 2025 offers Indian students a wide range of opportunities through both central and state-level government schemes, as well as international collaborations. Whether you wish to study in India or abroad, these scholarships can significantly reduce financial barriers and open doors to world-class education.