ICCR has announced 100 Scholarship slots globally under the Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme (A1209) for pursing study of Indian Culture such as dance, music, theatre, performing art, sculpture, Indian languages, Indian cuisine, etc. for the academic year 2025-26.
2.         Applications from interested international students for the academic year 2025-26 will be invited online through ICCR'S A2A Scholarship Portal https://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in which will be operational from 20 February 2025. Applicants will have the option to apply to 5 universities/institutes in the order of their preference of study. Before applying, they are advised to check the eligibility criteria, course offerings and documents required on the respective universities’ websites.
3. For Academic Year 2025-26, a 500-word essay in English has been introduced to ascertain English Proficiency. Besides, students can also submit their TOFEL/ IELTS etc. Standardized Test scores, if available.
4. The general guidelines for applying for a scholarship are as follows: 

1. For undergraduate/postgraduate courses, applicants should be between 18 to 40 years (18 years as on date 01.07.2025) and for PhD Programmes – 50 years maximum.
2. Applicants must be in sound health, and should not submit incomplete/fraudulent documentation, in case of which their selection procedure will automatically be deemed as canceled. 
3. It is compulsory for all ICCR scholarship students to procure Medical Insurance policy with minimum sum assured for Indian Rupees Five Lakhs per annum.  Applicants are advised to ensure that they must have medical insurance coverage on their own either before travel or immediately after reaching India, whatever is convenient to students. Students can purchase medical insurance from any of the insurance companies of their choice. However, to facilitate students, A2A Scholarship Portal has two insurance companies for referral purposes. Applicants are advised to be aware of the change in medical insurance policy. ICCR has uploaded the revised norms on its Portal. 
4.   ICCR may amend some provisions of scholarships from time to time and it is incumbent on students to accept the revised norms. 
5. ICCR advises students to stay in the campus hostel, if available. However, students are allowed to stay in private accommodation if the concerned institute does not insist on staying in their hostel.
6. It is essential for the applicants to familiarize themselves with living conditions at their destination/University, wherever possible. 

5.         Important timeline for the admission process is below:

20 Feb 2025	Opening of ICCR Portal for submitting the application
30 April 2025	Last date of application to be submitted by students
31 May 2025	Last date for Universities to inform the decision to students
15 June 2025	Last date for allocating scholarship and generating Offer Letters
22 June 2025	Last date of acceptance by students
01 July 2025	Based on the number of acceptances in the first round (if acceptances are less than the scholarship seats allocated) scholarship will be offered to other students who were not considered in the first round
01 July 2025	Second-round students to convey their acceptances