India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme in India, Know More About It

India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme

Initiated in the academic year 2010-11, the India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme has been a catalyst for fostering agricultural human resource development in Afghanistan. With an initial offering of 115 fellowships annually for Master’s and Ph.D. programs in Indian Agricultural Universities, the program has evolved significantly over the years. This article explores the details, benefits, eligibility criteria, and application process of the fellowship program.

Overview table of India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme

Aspect	Details
Initiation	Academic year 2010-11
Scope	Fostering agricultural human resource development in Afghanistan
Number of Fellowships	Initially 115 annually for Master’s and Ph.D. programs; increased to 276 (including backlog) from the academic year 2012-13
Programs Covered	Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs in agriculture and allied fields
Implementation	Through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Agricultural Universities (AUs) system
Fellowship Amount	– INR 12,000 per month for Bachelor’s and two years of Master’s programs – INR 15,000 per month for three years of Ph.D. programs
Coverage	Tuition fees, hostel fees, mess charges, medical expenses, travel within the country, research contingency grant, group insurance, bench fees of US $2000 per candidate per year (covered under the India-Afghanistan Fund)
Eligibility Criteria	– Language proficiency – Specific criteria for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs
Application Process	– Online application submission – Government sponsorship required for Afghan nationals – Scrutiny and recommendation by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt. of India
Required Documents	– Application documents – Recommendation and nomination letters – Verification documents – Document deposits (if required) – Official communication channels through MEA and DARE, Govt. of India
Conclusion	The program signifies collaborative efforts between India and Afghanistan in advancing agricultural education and human resource development

India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme for Indian Students

The fellowship program, conceived to support formal education for Afghanistan scientists, faculty, and students in India, began with 115 fellowships. However, starting from the academic year 2012-13, the program underwent revisions, increasing the number of fellowships to 276, including backlog, covering Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs. Subsequent years saw a consistent commitment to education, with 277 fellowships in 2013-14 and 61 for Master’s in 2014-15. The program is implemented through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Agricultural Universities (AUs) system, comprising 54 State Agricultural Universities, five Deemed-to-be-Universities, one Central Agricultural University, and four Central Universities with Agricultural Faculty.

Benefits of the Fellowship

The India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme provides financial support to scholars pursuing agriculture and allied sciences. The fellowship amounts to INR 12,000 per month for Bachelor’s and two years of Master’s programs, while Ph.D. candidates receive INR 15,000 per month for three years. The fellowship covers tuition fees, hostel fees, mess charges, medical expenses, and travel within the country. Additionally, there is consideration for a research contingency grant and group insurance. Bench fees of US $2000 per candidate per year, as per SAARC countries, are payable to the Indian AUs and covered under the India-Afghanistan Fund.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Language Proficiency:
   • Must possess a proficient knowledge of English for all programs.
2. Bachelor’s Degree Programme:
   • For admission in B.Sc. programs (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, and Bachelor of Technology/Biotechnology), candidates must have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics.
3. Master’s Degree Programme:
   • For admission in M.Sc. programs (Agriculture and allied fields), candidates must have a four-year bachelor’s degree in agriculture or a related subject.
   • M.V.Sc. program requires candidates to have passed B.V.Sc. & A.H. with internship under a 5-year degree program.
   • M.Tech. program requires candidates to have passed B.Tech. or B.E. program.
   • Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA) of 5.50/10 or equivalent percentage of marks at the Bachelor’s degree level.
4. Doctoral Programme:
   • Requires a Master’s degree in the respective or related subject.
   • OGPA of 6.5/10 or equivalent percentage of marks at the Master’s degree level.

Application Process

1. Online Application Submission:
   • Prospective fellows should submit their applications online through the prescribed application portal.
2. Government Sponsorship:
   • Afghan nationals applying for the fellowship must seek sponsorship from their government.
3. Application Scrutiny:
   • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt. of India, receives and scrutinizes the applications, ensuring they meet the necessary criteria.
4. Recommendation by Afghan Government:
   • Upon scrutiny, recommended nominations are sent through the Embassy of Afghanistan to the MEA, Govt. of India.
5. Forwarding to DARE:
   • The MEA forwards the applications to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Govt. of India.
6. Assessment by ICAR:
   • The Education Division of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) evaluates the eligibility of candidates and recommends admission to Indian Agricultural Universities.
7. Communication of Selection:
   • The University communicates the final selection to the candidates, along with a recommendation letter from ICAR/DARE.
8. Document Verification:
   • Fellows awarded the scholarship must present original documents for verification by the respective College/University during the admission process.
9. Course Commencement:
   • Once all formalities are complete, the selected candidates can commence their courses in the designated Indian Agricultural Universities.

Required Documents

1. Application Documents:
   • All applications must be submitted online through the prescribed process.
2. Recommendation and Nomination:
   • Afghan nationals should be recommended by the Government of India following nominations by the Afghanistan Government.
3. Verification Documents:
   • Fellows awarded the scholarship must bring original documents related to their qualifications for verification by the respective College/University during admission.
4. Document Deposits:
   • Some Indian Agricultural Universities may require the deposit of original documents, which will be returned to the candidate upon completion of the course.
5. Official Communication:
   • All official communication, including recommendation letters, will be facilitated through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt. of India, and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Govt. of India.

Conclusion: India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme

The India-Afghanistan Fellowship Programme stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between the two nations in advancing agricultural education and human resource development. As the program continues to evolve, it remains a beacon of hope for aspiring Afghan scientists and students, nurturing a cadre of professionals capable of contributing significantly to their nation’s agricultural landscape.

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