No degree? No problem! Govt lets Gurukul scholars join India's top institutions, including IITs, with fellowships up to Rs 65,000

The Indian government has thrown open the gates of its top-tier institutions, including IITs, to students from India’s traditional gurukul system, even if they don’t hold formal academic degrees.

As reported by The Times of India, the initiative is called Setubandha Vidwan Yojana, and it's designed to bridge India’s ancient knowledge systems with modern academic research. Under this scheme, scholars from gurukul backgrounds can now apply for research fellowships at IITs and other institutions, earning up to Rs 65,000 per month, along with annual research grants.

What’s Special About the Programme?

This is the first national-level initiative to recognise the depth of traditional learning in Shastras and Indian knowledge systems (IKS) without insisting on school or college degrees.

Instead, to apply, students must have:

• At least five years of study at a recognised gurukul
• Proven knowledge in fields such as Sanskrit, Ayurveda, philosophy, mathematics, or classical arts
• The programme is backed by the Ministry of Education and implemented by the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Division of Central Sanskrit University (CSU).

Two Categories of Fellowships:

• Category 1 (Postgraduate-level): Rs 40,000/month + Rs 1 lakh/year grant
• Category 2 (PhD-level): Rs 65,000/month + Rs 2 lakh/year grant

Fields of research include:

• Anvikshiki Vidya (Philosophy and Cognitive Science)
• Ganit-Bhaut-Jyotish Vidya (Maths, Physics, Astronomy)
• Bhaishajya Vidya (Ayurveda and Health Sciences)
• Sanskrit Grammar, Performing Arts, Political Theory and more

A senior Education Ministry official told TOI, “Setubandha is a bold step to formally welcome traditional scholars into India's mainstream academic system. It gives value to deep knowledge, even if it comes without conventional degrees.”

Rooted in NEP 2020 Vision

This move follows the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which called for integrating Indian knowledge systems into mainstream education. NEP reimagined learning as holistic, inclusive and rooted in India’s civilisational heritage, while embracing global standards.

In just five years, NEP has already transformed classrooms:

• More children are learning in mother tongues
• Play-based learning has replaced rote methods
• Girls' enrolment and female PhD rates have doubled
• 14,500 PM Shri Schools are being developed as future-ready learning hubs

Digital tools like Diksha, PM e-Vidya, and Swayam have made education accessible to millions. Over 5.3 crore learners have enrolled in online platforms.

Why This Matters

India has long celebrated thinkers and scholars from its traditional schools of learning. Yet, until now, these minds were largely left out of formal academic spaces like IITs and major research institutions.

With this bold step, India recognises that wisdom isn’t limited to formal classrooms. Whether in ayurveda, language, astronomy or music, traditional scholars now have a pathway to contribute meaningfully to 21st-century science and policy.

Inputs from TOI