Phnom penh: Forty-one Cambodian students have been selected for scholarships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship for the Academic Year 2026-27. They will pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs at leading higher educational institutions in India with fully funded scholarships provided by the Government of India.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh hosted an event on January 25 to honor the selected students. The event was presided over by H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport. Indian Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung congratulated the scholarship recipients, noting India's status as a home to some of the world's oldest learning centers and a vast higher education ecosystem.
H.E. Ambassador urged the students to take full advantage of the educational facilities in India and expressed confidence that the scholarships would open new opportunities. He highlighted that many students from Cambodia will gain access to prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology and other renowned institutions known for academic excellence and research through the ICCR scholarship program. He also expressed hope that the students' experiences would contribute to Cambodia's development and strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
ICCR, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, manages approximately 4,000 scholarships annually under more than 20 schemes for students from nearly 180 countries. Currently, over 6,000 international students pursue higher education in India through ICCR-supported programs. More than 350 Cambodian students have benefited from ICCR scholarships to date, having either completed or currently pursuing their studies in India.
The ICCR Scholarship Programme offers Cambodian students the chance to study at prestigious Indian institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Delhi University, Nalanda University, Andhra University, among others. The programme covers disciplines such as engineering, science, technology, humanities, Buddhist studies, philosophy, management, and social sciences.