- UP Govt & UK’s FCDO launch Chevening Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Scholarship for meritorious students
- Five students from Uttar Pradesh to study master’s degrees in top UK universities annually (2025-28)
- Scholarship covers fees, research, airfare & living costs; reflects strengthening India-UK educational ties under Vision 2035
The government of Uttar Pradesh and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK have introduced a new scholarship program to foster future world leaders. Declared on the 19th of August 2025, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Britain's High Commissioner Lindy Cameron inked a memorandum of understanding in Lucknow to launch the 'Chevening Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Uttar Pradesh State Government Scholarship Scheme', under which five meritorious students from UP will get scholarships annually to study for master's degrees at the UK's best universities.
The programme will be operative for three academic years, from 2025-26 to 2027-28, with further renewal possibilities from 2028-29 onwards. The programme is inspired by the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and is designed to bring UP onto the global academic map. The scholarship will also pay for fees, examination and research fees, a living allowance, and airfare, with an overall estimated cost per student of £38,048 to £42,076 (approximately Rs 45–48 lakh). The UP government will pay about £19,800 (Rs 23 lakh), and the UK's FCDO will pay for the rest.
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British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, expressing her enthusiasm for the new partnership, said it was “a pleasure to formalise the agreement in Lucknow”. She emphasised that the scholarship reflects the deepening educational connections between India and the UK and aligns with broader initiatives outlined in Vision 2035, launched during Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the UK.
The Chevening programme, which is already the largest in India, has funded over 3,900 scholars and fellows since 1983. Its alumni are now employed in a range of sectors including cybersecurity, science, policymaking, and development, and act as a 'living bridge' between India and the UK.
Consequently, this program has the potential to provide groundbreaking global opportunities to promising students from Uttar Pradesh, advancing education, research, and leadership while enhancing relations between the two countries.
