The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), founded in 1950, has been a key pillar of India’s cultural diplomacy and educational outreach. Since the introduction of its scholarship program in 1989, more than 100,000 students from over 140 countries have pursued higher education in India. Each year, over 3,000 international students enroll through ICCR’s wide range of scholarship schemes, which support undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, performing arts, engineering, and humanities.
For citizens of the Russian Federation, four ICCR scholarships are currently available: the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme (A1201), the Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme (A1209), the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Cultural Exchange Scholarship Scheme (A1206), and the AYUSH Scholarship Scheme. These fully funded programs ensure a comfortable and rewarding academic experience, covering tuition fees, monthly living stipends, hostel accommodation, annual contingency grants, and medical benefits, with some also including international airfare.
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme offers students a wide choice of fields, including arts, science, commerce, and humanities, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Applicants can select from ICCR’s network of more than 130 empanelled universities, including leading central and state institutions recognized for their academic excellence and strong support for international students.
The Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme, named after India’s legendary artist, is ideal for those devoted to Indian performing and cultural arts. It supports studies in Indian classical dance and music, theatre, sculpture, languages, and even Indian cuisine. Notably, this scholarship includes international economy airfare, allowing recipients to focus entirely on their creative growth.
The Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Cultural Exchange Scholarship Scheme operates under bilateral cultural agreements between India and other nations. It supports undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies across a wide range of academic fields, though medical, paramedical, fashion, law, and integrated courses are excluded.
The AYUSH Scholarship Scheme, run jointly by the Ministry of AYUSH and ICCR, promotes India’s traditional systems of medicine and wellness. It covers Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, supporting study at undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. levels. This scheme provides full financial support, including tuition, stipends, and international airfare. Applicants must be physically and mentally fit, proficient in English or Hindi, and at least 18 years old, with no upper age limit.
To apply for any ICCR scholarship, candidates must meet the academic and language requirements of their chosen universities and satisfy the eligibility conditions of the specific scheme. Each applicant can select up to five universities in order of preference. All applications must be submitted online via the ICCR A2A (Admissions to Alumni) Portal at https://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in, which provides user manuals, FAQs, and detailed city and university information.
Updates about the AYUSH Scholarship and other programs will be shared as soon as ICCR releases them. Applicants are encouraged to follow ICCR’s official VK and Instagram pages or contact ICCR by email for the latest information:
ICCR also maintains an Alumni Portal at www.iccr.almaconnect.com to help former scholars stay connected and continue engaging with India’s global cultural and academic community.
ICCR scholarships offer Russian students an exceptional opportunity to study in India, a land of profound culture, tradition, and learning, while building lasting bridges of friendship and mutual understanding between India and Russia.
