3 weeks ago
Tanzanian Student Says Indian Govt Pays Him ₹18,000–₹20,000 Stipend
A student from Tanzania went on a popular funny YouTube show called India's Got Latent.
He told the host, Samay Raina, that the Indian government gives him about ₹18,000 to ₹20,000 to help pay for living in India.
He uses that money for things like rent and electricity, and he also sends some of it to his mother back home in Tanzania.
India gives money like this to students from other countries through programs called scholarships.
One of these programs is run by a group called the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, or ICCR for short.
Students from Tanzania can apply through schemes like the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme.
These scholarships can pay for tuition, monthly living money, housing, medical insurance, and sometimes even plane tickets.
India is now giving more of these scholarships — Tanzania has 135 places for the 2026-27 school year, up from 85.
Some people online reacted strongly to the student's words, but the article notes that no one knows exactly which scholarship the student on the show is receiving.
On Samay Raina's YouTube show India's Got Latent, a Tanzanian student said the Indian government gives him ₹18,000–₹20,000 as a stipend, which he partly sends to his mother in Tanzania.
The student said the money arrives monthly or once every three months and covers expenses such as rent and electricity while studying in India.
Tanzanian students can seek funding through ICCR-administered schemes such as the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme.
India increased ICCR scholarship slots for Tanzania from 85 to 135 for the 2026-27 academic year — the highest allocation for any African country.
India's ICCR slots for African countries rose from 1,103 in 2025-26 to 1,499 in 2026-27, and Tanzania also receives more than 1,000 ITEC training slots annually.
- Who
- A Tanzanian student studying in India, featured on comedian Samay Raina's YouTube show India's Got Latent, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which administers the scholarship schemes.
- What
- The student said the Indian government provides him a stipend of ₹18,000–₹20,000 monthly or quarterly, which he uses for expenses and partly sends to his mother in Tanzania.
- Where
- India, where the student studies and the scholarship schemes operate; Tanzania, the student's home country; the High Commission of India in Dar es Salaam confirmed the increased allocation.
- When
- Around August 11, 2026, when the show clip surfaced online; the increase to 135 ICCR slots applies to the 2026-27 academic year.
- Why
- The stipend is part of Government of India scholarship schemes, including ICCR programmes such as the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme, that fund higher education for foreign students.
Scholarship supporters
Social media critics
Paying stipends to foreign students
Scholarship supporters
ICCR scholarships are fully funded by the Government of India and serve as an instrument of India's foreign policy, building cultural and people-to-people ties with countries such as Tanzania.
Social media critics
A social media reaction to the show — 'BRO WHAT THE FUCK? Indian students…' — voiced frustration over a government stipend going to a foreign student.
Key facts
- Stipend mentioned by student
- ₹18,000–₹20,000
- Payment frequency
- Monthly or once every three months
- Scholarship administrator
- Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), under the Ministry of External Affairs
- Key scholarship schemes
- India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme; Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme
- Tanzania ICCR slots 2026-27
- 135, up from 85 in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26
- Africa-wide ICCR slots 2026-27
- 1,499, up from 1,103 in 2025-26
- ITEC training slots for Tanzania
- More than 1,000 annually; over 10,000 beneficiaries since 1972
- Scholarship coverage
- Tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation allowances, medical insurance; airfare in some cases
Sources
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