The India-Afghanistan Fellowship Scheme is a transformative educational program designed to foster agricultural development in Afghanistan through human resource advancement. Initiated in 2010-11, the program started by offering 115 fellowships annually for Afghan students pursuing Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Indian Agricultural Universities (AUs). Over the years, the fellowship scheme has expanded, offering more opportunities to Afghan students to advance their knowledge in agriculture and allied sciences.

Evolution of the Fellowship Program

In the academic year 2012-13, the fellowship program was revised to include 276 fellowships (154 for Bachelor’s, 61 for Master’s, and 61 for Ph.D. programs). This was further increased to 277 fellowships in 2013-14 and 61 fellowships exclusively for Master’s programs in 2014-15. These fellowships are specifically aimed at supporting the education of Afghan scientists, faculty members, and students in India.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) plays a pivotal role in implementing this scheme. ICAR works with a network of 54 State Agricultural Universities, five Deemed-to-be Universities, four ICAR Institutes, one Central Agricultural University, and four Central Universities with agricultural faculties. These institutions are internationally recognized for their contribution to agricultural research and human resource development.

Why Indian Agricultural Universities?

India’s agricultural universities are strategically spread across the country, catering to various agro-climatic regions. These institutions are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, instructional farms, libraries, and computer laboratories. Additionally, they offer international student hostels, providing Afghan students with a comfortable and conducive learning environment.

Financial Support and Benefits

One of the key attractions of the India-Afghanistan Fellowship Scheme is the comprehensive financial support it offers to students at all levels:

Bachelor’s Degree: Students receive a monthly stipend of INR 12,000 for four years.

Master’s Degree: A monthly stipend of INR 12,000 for two years.

Ph.D. Programs: A monthly stipend of INR 15,000 for three years.

In addition to the stipends, the fellowship also covers essential expenses such as tuition fees, hostel fees, mess charges, medical expenses, and travel costs within India. A special research contingency grant of INR 6,000 per year for Master’s students and INR 10,000 per year for Ph.D. students is also provided.

Moreover, an annual bench fee of US $2,000 per candidate is paid to Indian universities, ensuring that Afghan students have access to top-quality research facilities.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the fellowship, Afghan candidates must meet certain educational and language requirements:

1. Bachelor’s Degree Program: Candidates must have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics.
2. Master’s Degree Program: Candidates must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree in agriculture or a related subject with a minimum Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA) of 5.50/10.
3. Doctoral Program: Applicants must have a Master’s degree in the respective or related field with a minimum OGPA of 6.5/10.

Additionally, proficiency in English is mandatory for all programs.

Application Process

The application process for the fellowship is streamlined to ensure that deserving candidates can benefit from this program. Afghan students are required to apply through their government, which then nominates candidates for the fellowship. These nominations are sent through the Afghan Embassy to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt. of India, which forwards the applications to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) in India.

After a thorough eligibility check by the ICAR Education Division, the selected candidates are placed in identified Indian Agricultural Universities. It’s important to note that once admission is granted to a university, students cannot switch to another institution. However, they can express preferences during the application process, and the Screening Committee may consider these preferences based on seat availability.

Conclusion

The India-Afghanistan Fellowship Scheme is not just a fellowship program; it’s a vital link in building strong agricultural capacities in Afghanistan. With top-notch academic infrastructure, financial support, and a well-structured application process, this scheme offers Afghan students a unique opportunity to gain world-class education in Indian agricultural universities.

As Afghanistan continues to rebuild its agricultural sector, the India-Afghanistan Fellowship Scheme will play a crucial role in empowering future leaders and experts in the field, thereby contributing to the long-term development of the region.