Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme

Benefits & funding

• Full tuition and compulsory university charges for the whole degree.
• Monthly living stipend of INR 18,000 for undergraduate scholars under ICCR’s 2026–27 financial terms.
• House-rent allowance of INR 6,500 a month in Grade I cities where campus hostel accommodation is not available; hostel accommodation is otherwise provided on campus.
• An annual book and stationery grant, and an annual educational tour grant.
• Airfare to India. ICCR’s general rule is that travel is paid only where a scheme provides it, and this scheme does.
• Medical costs are not covered. Scholars must buy their own health insurance with at least INR 500,000 of cover.

Eligibility

• Sri Lankan citizens only.
• Aged 18 to 40 as at 16 March 2026 under the 2026–27 notice. ICCR’s general applicant guidelines cap undergraduate awards at 35 as of 1 July, so confirm the limit that applies with the High Commission before applying.
• At least three passes at the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination.
• Physics, chemistry and mathematics are mandatory Advanced Level subjects for the engineering courses this scheme funds.
• A grade C pass in English at G.C.E. Ordinary Level and an S pass in English at Advanced Level.
• Not currently enrolled as an internal student on a degree programme at a Sri Lankan state university.
• The scheme funds only B.E. and B.Tech. degrees in information technology. Medical, paramedical and law courses fall outside the Government of India schemes for Sri Lanka.
• Awards are tenable at Indian state and central universities; ICCR excludes private and deemed universities.
• A passport valid for at least two years as of 1 July of the intake year is required at the ICCR registration stage.

Application process

1. 1
   Watch for the annual notice from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, published alongside the High Commission of India in Colombo; the 2026–27 Ministry notice was dated 5 March 2026.
2. 2
   Apply online through the Ministry’s foreign scholarships portal before the closing date. The 2026–27 round closed on 16 March 2026.
3. 3
   The Ministry shortlists candidates by Advanced Level Z score and calls them to a structured interview; its nominations then go to ICCR through the High Commission.
4. 4
   Selected candidates register on ICCR’s A2A portal for the academic year and complete the online application there.
5. 5
   List university and course preferences in priority order; the 2026–27 applicant guidelines allow up to five.
6. 6
   Universities confirm provisional admission on the portal. An ICCR selection does not override a university’s own admission rules, and submitting an application guarantees neither admission nor an award.
7. 7
   Accept the offer, complete medical and visa formalities, and travel to India on a student visa.

Program timeline

1. 3 March 2026

   the High Commission of India, Colombo announced the 2026–27 scholarships for Sri Lanka.

2. 5 March 2026

   Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education dated its 2026–27 scholarship notice.

3. 16 March 2026

   Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education closed applications for the 2026–27 undergraduate round; age was reckoned on this date.

4. 31 May 2026

   last date for ICCR’s AYUSH schemes; all other ICCR schemes, this one included, were closed for 2026–27.

5. Early March 2027 (expected)

   the 2027–28 notice, following the 2026–27 pattern.