India Launches Quad Scholarships Worth $500,000 for Indo-Pacific Student

India has introduced a new initiative to offer 50 Quad scholarships, collectively valued at $500,000 (around Rs 4.17 crore), to students from the Indo-Pacific region. These scholarships will support students pursuing a 4-year undergraduate engineering degree at Government of India-funded technical institutions.

This initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the Quad Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The fellowship will be administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), a global not-for-profit organization. Beginning in 2024, the program will also expand to sponsor master's and doctoral students to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the United States.

According to the official website, the fellowship "develops a network of science and technology experts committed to advancing innovation and collaboration in the private, public, and academic sectors within their own nations and among Quad countries." The program also fosters cross-cultural understanding among Quad Fellows through networking opportunities with leading scientists, technologists, and policymakers.

Eligibility for Master's and Doctoral Program

- Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

- They must be citizens or legal permanent residents of one of the Quad countries—Australia, India, Japan, or the United States—or from a Southeast Asian nation.

- Applicants should have completed a bachelor's degree.

Financial Benefits

Each Quad Fellow will receive a one-time grant of $40,000 (approximately Rs 33.4 lakh) to cover academic expenses. Additional eligibility details will be announced soon.

The Quad is a strategic diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.