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The Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, one of India's biggest platforms linking national security with future learning and research, began today at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. Organized by the Indian Army in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), the Dialogue brought together military leaders, global scholars, defence-tech innovators, diplomats, and students to discuss how India must educate, train, and prepare its next generation for a rapidly evolving security landscape.

While inaugurating the event, Hon'ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu said that the workforce needed during the forthcoming decades-civilian and military-must be 'technologically agile, ethically grounded, and future-ready'. The emphasis has to be on new curricula, state-of-the-art research ecosystems, and greater youth and women involvement in domains such as cyber security, space, AI, and cognitive warfare. The President referred to the opening by the Indian Army of fresh opportunities for young scholars and an upgrade of its own training structures, bringing military education in tune with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, while delivering the keynote address, highlighted that the security challenges for India have gradually become multi-domain, which demands new learning frameworks and inter-disciplinary exposure. He termed the long-term transformation roadmap of the Army—HOP 2032, STEP 2037 and JUMP 2047—as models that integrate technology, design thinking, operational learning and research collaboration between the military, academia and industry. General Dwivedi maintained that indigenisation, innovation ecosystems, organizational reform and military–industry–academia fusion are four pillars on which India’s next decade of defence capability will rest—the last dimension being an area where universities and think tanks will play a decisive role.

Announcing 2025 as the Ministry of Defence's "Year of Reforms," Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh said self-reliance in defence manufacturing was also changing the face of technical education in the country. With 75% of the capital procurement budget being reserved for the domestic industry, he added that universities have to re-align their engineering, AI, robotics, material science and design courses to support India's growing defence industrial base. He underlined the great job prospects for talented graduates in defence R&D, manufacturing, simulation, and cyber areas.

NITI Aayog CEO Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam flagged the imperative for India's higher education institutions to prepare students for various global transitions: demographic shifts, climate stress, AI adoption, and new forms of warfare. He underlined the role that research universities can play in shaping long-term national security and economic resilience while urging stronger integration of defence studies, strategic affairs, and emerging technologies into mainstream academic programs.

Former Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. K. VijayRaghavan outlined a three-stage strategy to build India's scientific and technological edge. He called for:

• Short-term agility through startups and university-led innovation
• mid-term capability building with indigenous software and value-chain control, and

Long-term investments in basic sciences, such as biotechnology, materials research, and cognitive sciences.

He proposed the setting up of a Defence Technology Council to fast-track mission-driven academic and scientific collaborations.

On Day One, young scholars, students from defence universities, and academic experts attended thematic sessions on operational strategy, defence reforms, and civil–military fusion. The deliberations outlined the increasing scope of partnership between universities, skill development centres, and research institutions for India’s defence transformation.

Concluding the day, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said technology is changing the education and training requirement for the ‘Soldier of the Future’. Speaking at a time when AI, hypersonics, robotics and autonomous systems are redefining war, he said multi-domain competence, intense technical training and intellectual preparedness will be critical to India’s strategic tomorrow. Day Two will see a special session by the Raksha Mantri on reforms that will shape defence learning, technical skilling and long-term capability building. Spread over two days, CDD 2025 aspires to be a mega knowledge platform for students, educators, researchers and the defence community by further reinforcing the Indian Army's commitment to building a Sashakt, Surakshit aur Viksit Bharat through education, innovation and national capacity development.

Congress's Adarsh Nagar MLA Rafeek Khan today accused the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt of deliberately tightening selection norms under the Swami Vivekanand Scholarship for Academic Excellence to such an extent that it has become "not just difficult, but impossible" for students to avail of it.

First announced in 2021 by then Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the scholarship covers the complete tuition and living expenses in top-ranked global and domestic universities for eligible students who are domiciled in Rajasthan.

Citing the govt's written reply in the Assembly on the matter, Khan wrote on X: "The data clearly exposes the fallout of revised scholarship rules." According to the govt's figures, only 427 students were selected for the scholarship in 2023–24 against 500 sanctioned seats–300 international and 200 domestic–and the number fell even lower in 2024–25 to 341.

This drop, Khan said, had come when applications in both years had passed 1,000, adding that new rules had "choked the scheme from within" and increased the gulf between opportunity promised and opportunity delivered.

Khan further claimed that the government was also evading answers to direct questions on fee payment delays, property, and surety conditions, apart from the number of students affected due to procedural hurdles. "The govt dodged the core questions. They offered scattered figures, incomplete explanations, and hid behind the excuse of technical difficulties in uploading documents on the portal," he said.

Khan further said the govt did not disclose the fact that its delays made a majority of potentially eligible students unable to meet international admission deadlines.

Khan accused the government of "deliberately weakening" the scholarship scheme and said Rajasthan's youth deserve more transparency and accountability rather than "statistical jugglery". The application process was opened only in August this year by which time nearly 90% of the eligible students had already missed the academic cycle abroad, he added.

IITH has instituted scholarships annually for deserving students. The scholarships are extended either as concessions in tuition fees or through direct benefit transfers to students' bank accounts.

Among the schemes, the Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship is for applicants belonging to GEN, GEN-EWS, and OBC categories. Their parental gross annual income should not be more than Rs 4,50,000, and the applicant will be required to attach an acknowledgement of Income Tax Return from the Income Tax Department as proof of income for parents or guardian.

The MCM Scholarship at IIT Hyderabad limits the total number of awardees to 25 percent of class strength. In addition, students must achieve a minimum of 7.0 SGPA/CGPA and have no active backlogs in any course, including additional courses, to be eligible for this scholarship. The shortlisted candidates will receive a monthly pocket allowance of Rs 1,000 as the scholarship benefit.

A student can avail of only one scholarship, stipend, or financial assistance from one stakeholder in a given period of time. They are not entitled to more than one scholarship and financial assistance for the same academic year from different sources, either from government, private, or other external agencies.

Only those students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes whose gross annual parental income does not exceed Rs 4,50,000 are eligible for the SC/ST Scholarship Scheme at IIT Hyderabad. The applicant should attach an acknowledgment of the Income Tax Return as proof of income and must have maintained a minimum SGPA/CGPA of 7.0 with no active backlogs in any course.

There is no limit on the number of awards under this scheme, provided eligibility criteria are fulfilled. Short-listed students receive Rs 250 per month as pocket money in addition to an actual license fee refund and dining charges. However, beneficiaries may only avail of one scholarship or financial assistance from any single stakeholder in any academic year.  Of this, 460 students graduated with BTech, while 20 students completed BDes among the undergraduate programmes, and the postgraduate cohort comprises 11 MA graduates in Development Studies and Health, Gender & Society, 98 MSc graduates and 33 MDes graduates including 10 who completed MDes by Practice.

The Maharashtra government has approved scholarships for 75 students from minority communities to pursue higher studies in reputed foreign universities. Among the grantees, 67 will pursue post graduation while the remaining seven will pursue doctoral research, officials familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times.

The state minority development department approved scholarships for 75 applicants on November 20, officials said.

The scheme for annual scholarships to 75 minority students who had secured admission to universities ranked within the top 200 in the QS World Rankings was announced two years ago. But only 24 students were granted the scholarship during the first year, that is 2024-25, as approval for implementing the scheme was received late, officials said. Among the 24 chosen candidates, 22 students had availed benefits, the officials added.

“This year, we received applications from 149 students, among whom 109 were found eligible for the scheme,” a senior official from the minority department told Hindustan Times.

The applications were scrutinised by a selection committee headed by the secretary of the minority department and secretaries from higher and technical education, social justice, and school education departments, after which 75 applicants were selected.

"Since the scheme is limited to 75 students, the remaining 34 students found eligible have been placed on the waiting list," said the senior official quoted earlier.

The tuition fees, living expenses, and other associated costs are covered by the scholarship scheme, and students need to complete their studies within the stipulated time.

The selected students under the scheme this year will attend universities including University College Landon, University of Sydney, Australia, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, University of Auckland, New Zealand, University of California, USA, University of Chicago, The Australian National University, Johns Hopkins University, USA, Monash University, Australia, The University of Queensland, Australia, New York University, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands amongst others.

Ashoka University has opened applications for the 16th cohort of the Young India Fellowship, its flagship one-year postgraduate programme that completes 15 years this cycle. For the upcoming Class of 2026–27, selected 100 Fellows will receive scholarships, supported by HDFC Bank. 

The process of examination will be holistic and rigorous. Round 1 applications are now open and will be accepted until January 19, 2026. The priority deadline within Round 1 is December 8, 2025. Applications received by this date will be reviewed sooner for interviews.

Launched in 2011, YIF is recognized for its multidisciplinary learning format and serious emphasis on leadership, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The program will start offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies from this year, thereby strengthening its academic framework. Fellows take approximately 18 diverse courses, work out an immersive real-world project, and interact closely with experienced faculty members, visiting experts, and distinguished alumni.

Reflecting on this journey of the Fellowship, Founder & Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Pramath Raj Sinha, said YIF holds a special place at Ashoka as “a microcosm of what all of Ashoka has to offer and the best of what Ashoka has to offer.” Vice Chancellor Somak Raychaudhury added that YIF alumni are today working across the world and “many of them are at the top of their field.

Over the last 14 years, almost 2,400 alumni have graduated from the Fellowship and are contributing across government, civil society, development, academia, research, the corporate sector, multilateral organisations, entrepreneurship, sports, and the arts.

Eligibility and scholarships

Applicants need to have a recognized undergraduate degree by July 2026 or be a final-year student at the time of application. There is no age limit, and applicants from all walks of life with any nationality are welcome to apply. Applications are free, and shortlisted candidates will subsequently be invited for an online interview.
All selected Fellows will be awarded scholarships ranging from 25% to 100% of tuition, residence and meals. A limited number of the very best candidates will be offered the Chancellor's Scholarship, which covers full tuition and residence. For more details and the application form, please visit: yif.ashoka.edu.in

In a blockbuster placement season that has even taken seasoned recruiters aback, IIM Ahmedabad has achieved 100 percent summer placements for its PGP and PGP-FABM Class of 2027, placing all 410 MBA students and 46 FABM students within three days. The institute has for long been considered India's gold standard for management education, and this year witnessed extraordinary hiring momentum across consulting, BFSI, tech, FMCG, manufacturing, and global roles, marking one of the strongest seasons despite the global slowdown. More than 165 companies participated this year, offering over 230 unique roles; there was also a noticeable surge in first-time recruiters and a sharp rise in dream application conversions as students sought out personalized and high-aspiration career paths.

Consulting dominated once again, and leading the pack was BCG with 24 offers, followed by McKinsey 17 and Bain and Kearney with 15 each. In investment banking, it remained strong, with Goldman Sachs at 11 and Standard Chartered at 9, while private equity firms such as Blackstone, Ares Management, and Gaja Capital also showed active participation. Accenture Strategy emerged as a major recruiter across clusters with 39 offers, while companies like Vector Consulting Group, American Express, and EY-Parthenon contributed significantly as well.

In Cluster 2, heavy hiring was seen by BFSI, FMCG, tech, and conglomerates, with FinIQ Consulting 17; Mahindra & Mahindra 10; JioStar 10; Procter & Gamble 8; and Amazon 8. FMCG participation increased compared to earlier years, with HUL picking up five interns. In Cluster 3, too, tech and manufacturing firms strengthened their footprint: TCS 13 led the technology sector, followed by Adobe 5 and Microsoft 4, while Hero MotoCorp, Tata Steel (each three) and Suzuki Japan offered specialized manufacturing and engineering internships. International placements also continued apace across Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Middle East.

 Sector-wise, consulting led the charts with 166 offers, followed by BFSI with 105, FMCG & Durables with 37, conglomerates with 27, while retail, pharma, IT, media, and engineering constituted the rest of the pool. More than 50 new recruiters joined the process, including Apple, Philip Morris International, PepsiCo, Purplle, Umami Bioworks, and Medtronic India, further strengthening the institute's recruiter ecosystem.

Over 35 organizations participated in the 'Conclave' from sectors such as agri-tech, FMCG, food processing, ESG consulting, agri-inputs, and supply chain. Accenture, EY, Godrej Agrovet, Bayer, Nestle, United Breweries, DeHaat, PI Industries, Varaha, Amul, Everest Instruments, among others. New companies like Umami Bioworks, Marico, PepsiCo, UPL, FIL Industries, Verdesian Life Sciences, Drum Foods, Sundrop Brands, and DCM Shriram expanded the recruiter base. IIM Ahmedabad added that detailed analytics will be shared shortly under the Indian Placement Reporting Standards.