DAKSHIN

Partnership in Capacity Building

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)

The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) is India’s leading capacity building platform for foreign partners. ITEC is one of the oldest institutionalised arrangements for development cooperations institutes on 15 September 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India.

The underlying objective was to establish relations of mutual concern and inter-dependence based not only on commonly held ideals and aspirations, but also on solid economic foundations.

The ITEC Programme has the following components:

Training (civilian and defence) in India of nominees from the ITEC partner countries
Deputation of Indian experts abroad
Study Tours

It operates through varied modalities such as:

eITEC (for online trainings using digital delivery platforms),
ITEC-Executive (short-term policy-focussed, in-person trainings for senior government executives),
ITEC-Onsite
ITEC-Expert (onsite capacity building assignments carried out by Indian experts).

ITEC is administered by the Development Partnership Administration-II Division of the Ministry of External Affairs. Learn more about it Read More

Fellowship Programmes

C.V. Raman Fellowship for African Researchers

The C.V. Raman Fellowship is a prestigious initiative designed to promote scientific and technological collaboration between India and African countries. Launched under the India-Africa Forum Summit, the fellowship aims to provide opportunity to African researchers to conduct collaborative research in various areas of science and technology in different Indian universities and research and development (R&D) institutions. The Fellowship is offered in several categories, ranging from Doctoral/ Post Doctoral Fellowship for duration of 6 months, Visiting Fellowship for 3 months and Senior Fellowship for 1 month. The Fellowship includes monthly sustenance allowances, contingency grant, and return air fare by economy class etc.

India Science and Research Fellowship (ISRF)

The India Science and Research Fellowship (ISRF) offer scientists and researchers from neighboring countries of India the opportunity to collaborate on cutting-edge research in Indian institutions. Through this fellowship, researchers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand work in research areas across all major disciplines of science and technology including engineering and medical sciences in India. In FY 2022-23, the India Science and Research Fellowship were awarded to 50 candidates.

ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AIRTF)

The ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AIRTF) is a cornerstone between India and ASEAN member states to encourage and promote cooperation in areas of science, technology and innovation. The Fellowship offers opportunity to young researchers to conduct six months of research in Indian academic and research institutions ranging from two to six months. Up to 50 fellowships are awarded to young scientists and researchers from ASEAN-Member States to get affiliated with Indian academic and R&D institutions.

DBT-TWAS Biotechnology Fellowships

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under Ministry of Science and Technology in India, and UNESCO - the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) established the DBT-TWAS Biotechnology Fellowship. It offers foreign scholars from developing countries to pursue PhD in biotechnology in research institutions in India.

A total of 15 fellowships are awarded in Full-time and Sandwich under DBT-TWAS Fellowship.

ISA Solar Fellowship for Mid-Career Professionals

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) offers two-year fellowship to mid-career professionals in solar energy deployment. Targeted at government officials, policymakers, and administrators from ISA member countries, the fellowship equips professional with the knowledge needed to implement solar energy projects and promotes sustainable energy practices in their home countries.

ICAR Fellowships

ICAR provides several fellowships to support foreign students studying agriculture in Indian institutions as part of human resources development. These include: India-Africa Fellowship in Agriculture, India-Nepal Fellowship in Agriculture, and National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NHAEP) supported Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Netaji Subhas - ICAR International Fellowship

The Netaji Subhas - ICAR International Fellowship awards overseas candidates PhD degree in priority areas related to plant sciences, animal sciences, social sciences, fisheries, agricultural engineering, food processing and natural resource management in Indian Agricultural Universities. Under the fellowship, Up to 30 fellowships are provided every year.

Educational Programmes by Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP)

India hosts the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP) aimed at towards the dissemination of knowledge in areas of space science and technology and their Applications since 1995. The center provides postgraduate-level education in remote sensing, satellite meteorology, space communications, etc. CSSTEAP, under the initiative of the UN, helps in capacity building for Asia-Pacific region in field of space and technology.

Study in India Program

Launched in 2018, the Study in India (SII) program welcomes international students to pursue a diverse range of courses across disciplines including STEM, management, humanities. Through partnerships with over 160 top-tier Indian universities/institutions, the SII program provides students from South-East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East with access to world-class educational opportunities. The program offers various incentives, including tuition fee waivers for meritorious students, simplified admission processes, and a transparent online platform to facilitate student enrollment. Around 4900 students have been admitted through SII for AY 2022-23.

IIT Doctoral Fellowship in India for ASEAN (DIA)

The DIA fellowship scheme enables scholars from ASEAN countries to pursue PhDs in various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), aiming to strengthen the relationship between India and ASEAN. Selected candidates will receive funding equivalent to that of Indian PhD students, including a monthly stipend and an annual research grant for up to 5 years. Candidates can apply via the DIA for ASEAN portal.

IIT Bombay Fellowship for AARDO Member Countries

This fellowship waives tuition fees for participants from African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) member countries. It covers tuition for up to two years for a Master's program and up to four years for a Ph.D., subject to academic performance. AARDO, an inter-governmental institution, promotes South-South and Triangular cooperation among 33 member nations.

IIT Madras Ravishankar G International Student Fellowship

IIT Madras offers MTech and PhD scholarships to deserving international students. Recently launched MTech programs in cutting-edge fields like cyber-physical systems, data sciences, and quantum computing aim to admit around 50 international students, funded through alumni contributions.

India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform

The India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform (IAHSP) is a transformative initiative led by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to strengthen health research and training between India and African countries. Through structured training programs, the platform builds the capacity of African health practitioners and researchers in various fields of health science. In FY 2022-23, sixteen ICMR/AU-STRC Health practitioner fellows were trained in the following two virtual courses organized at ICMR-NICPR, Noida & ICMR-NIRT, Chennai, respectively.

National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) International Training Programmes

The focus of the programmes of NIRDPR is on building capacities of development professionals for effective management of ongoing initiatives for rural development. The findings of the research, action research, village adoption and case studies are also utilised in the training programmes. The training programmes are also offered to a significant number of international participants across the world, particularly from developing countries of Asia and Africa. In FY 2025, a few courses such as the course on e-Governance Strategies and Best Practices in India, Sustainable Agriculture Development Strategies for Rural Development, Design Thinking in Rural Development and Achievement of Rural Development Goals, and an Advanced Course on MIS and Data Analytics for RD Professionals will be offered.

International Training Programmes by The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)

MANAGE undertakes training for national and international stakeholders, action research, policy advocacy, implementation of Govt. of India schemes, agri-business education, agri startup development, consultancy and knowledge outreach activities.

It offers various training programmes off line and online. International participants may attend all Online Training Programs and Webinars free of charge. For physical/offline programs, a course fee of US $500 is charged, covering lodging and boarding. Participants are responsible for their own air travel, visa, and additional expenses. The programs can be sponsored through bilateral, triangular, and international cooperation institutes.