India

Placement Information

• Partner Organization: United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF)
• Eligible Program Dates: 3 – 5 months from August – December 2026
• Host Institution Expectations: USIEF will coordinate with the selected Fulbright participant on their host institution placement.
• Language Requirement: None
• Monthly Allowance: Between $3,700 - $4,000 (exact amount to be confirmed at a later date)
• Dependent Information: An allowance of $2,000 per eligible dependent will be provided as part of the Fulbright grant. USIEF will provide administrative support to the participant and their dependents for procuring appropriate visas and assist with local logistics upon arrival in India. For scholars with dependent children, India has several good private schools and international schools with International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum to choose from. Please note that tuition support for dependents is subject to availability and requests for funding are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to research schooling options for their dependents during the application phase. 

Country Overview

India is the world’s largest democracy, with a vibrant and growing economy, rich history, kaleidoscopic diversity, and an enormous appetite for education. Its education system continues to expand at a rapid pace. India attracts faculty and students to study, teach, and conduct research, its expertise extending beyond the technical and business fields to nearly all academic disciplines.

Educational System Overview

In India, the federal government has played a key role in formulating national policies for educational development and regulates selected aspects of education throughout India. The federal Ministry of Education (earlier known as the Ministry of Human Resource and Development), through the Department of School Education and Literacy, is responsible for formulating policies on secondary education in India.

The 2011 census data reveals an overall literacy rate of 64.8 percent in India. This number is found to be lower among women and in rural areas. Also, there is a striking regional variation with a high literacy rate of 90.9 percent in Kerala to a low 47.0 percent in Bihar. The variations in the learning rate within the country are an indication of the complexities of the education scenario.

Resources

• Ministry of Education
• National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT)
• National Education Policy 2020
• National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE)
• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
• Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations
• National Institute of Open Schooling
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
• Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)

Possible Topics of Interest for U.S. Educators

There are several issues that deserve attention in the primary and secondary education sphere in India, some of which may be of specific interest to Fulbright participants.  

• Improving teacher performance by introducing them to new skills which can be implemented in classrooms. A project that examines how innovative teaching methods are introduced, improved, and scaled will be very relevant.  
• Comparing and contrasting global understandings of evaluation practice and its relationship to fostering educational change.
• The use of technology in the teaching and learning process is another area that has been prioritized for immediate intervention in the Indian education system. In India, there is usage of technology in classrooms, but these are limited to schools that are well resourced. A research project that investigates how technology can be used to improve learning outcomes, both subject specific and in the broader context, will be welcome.
• Promoting the learning of STEM subjects especially among girl students is a challenge. A project could explore how Indian educators make STEM education interesting and accessible for girl students.
• The government of India has taken several initiatives to strengthen inclusive education at the school level. However, a large section of children with special needs and learning disabilities are secluded and discriminated against.  A research project could identify the issues and challenges of inclusive education in India and consider some transferrable best practices.  
• One major problem that formal education in India faces is the quantity and quality of teachers. Research on the impact of policies on teacher qualification and how public and private schools are trying to bring an overhaul of teacher education may be of relevance.
• Post-pandemic reality and the challenges of rural and underserved areas in catching up to integrate online learning in schools.
• Other challenges such as teaching English as a second language and using child centered teaching approaches are of the utmost importance in the context of India, so research projects could consider these topics as well.