Gurukul Students To Get Research Opportunities In IITs Through Setubandha Scholarships

New Delhi, July 30:In a significant step towards bridging traditional Indian education with contemporary academic systems, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) division of the Central Sanskrit University, has unveiled the Setubandha Scholar Scheme. The initiative aims to bring meritorious students from Gurukul backgrounds into the mainstream of higher education and research.

Under the scheme, students trained in traditional Indian knowledge systems will now have the opportunity to pursue formal postgraduate and PhD degrees, including at premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Scholars selected for the programme will be awarded monthly scholarships starting at ₹40,000.

Postgraduate students under the scheme can avail scholarships up to ₹1 lakh, while PhD candidates may receive financial support of up to ₹2 lakh. All degrees will be officially conferred by the Central Sanskrit University.

Professor Srinivasa Varkhedi, Vice-Chancellor of the Central Sanskrit University, highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, “This scheme will serve as a vital bridge between the ancient Gurukul tradition and modern research. It will provide recognition to traditional scholars and unlock new paths for academic innovation.”

The Setubandha Scholar Scheme is being hailed as a transformative move to integrate India’s rich heritage of indigenous knowledge with the formal structures of modern education.