Assessing ICCR’s Assistance to Afghan Students Stuck in India Post the Collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has been awarding scholarships to Afghan national students under its Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN). This process is being done under the supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs of India. With the takeover of the country by the Taliban on August 15, 2021, many students got stuck in India even after completing their studies. Observing this situation, the ICCR started extending scholarships to these students to enable them to continue their education at higher levels. This paper intends to examine the process involved in extending the scholarships and the challenges being faced by Afghan students during their stay in India, the level of awareness of students about the procedure for applying for the extension and the adequacy of the scholarships and facilities, and their engagement in cultural activities organized the ICCR in collaboration with their respective educational institutions. This paper is based on primary as well as secondary data. The primary data has been based on the information collected through a questionnaire or online survey of 103 students studying at different universities in India, and the secondary data has been collected from various related documents. The findings of the paper will help in analyzing the success of the scheme (SSSNA) in providing opportunities for continuing their education and maintaining and enhancing socio-cultural ties between the two nations.