Meet the 5 Indians who bagged the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for 2025
Five Indian students from different cities have bagged the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship 2025. They will attend Oxford University for postgraduate studies in diverse fields, from pandemic archives to astrophysics.
by India Today Education Desk · India TodayIn Short
- Five Indians named Rhodes Scholars for 2025
- Scholars to begin fully funded studies at Oxford
- Winners include first veterinary medicine scholar
Five exceptional students from Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kurukshetra, Ghaziabad, and Ranchi have been chosen as Rhodes Scholars for 2025. This prestigious honour will take them to the University of Oxford for fully funded postgraduate studies, joining a global cohort committed to creating positive change.
The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1903 and awarded in India since 1947, celebrates academic excellence, character, and empathy.
Dr Elizabeth Kiss, CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said, “The Rhodes Trust is delighted to introduce the extraordinary 2025 Class of Rhodes Scholars Elect who represent cultures and perspectives from every corner of the world.”
MEET THIS YEAR'S RHODES SCHOLARS
This year’s Indian Rhodes Scholars showcase diverse disciplines, each with unique aspirations:
- Rayan Chakrabarti (Kolkata), a Master’s student at JNU, plans to create an archive and museum documenting the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact in South Asia.
- Vibha Swaminathan (Bengaluru), a final-year law student at NLSIU, aims to study the legal and political fragilities of citizenship regimes while pursuing human rights litigation in Indian courts.
- Avanish Vats (Ranchi), a visually impaired graduate from St. Stephen’s College, is focused on epistemology and making philosophy accessible to people with disabilities.
- Shubham Narwal (Kurukshetra), the first Indian Rhodes Scholar from veterinary medicine, plans to explore conservation strategies for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
- Pal Aggarwal (Ghaziabad), a BTech student from IIT Bombay, aspires to study high-energy astrophysics, work towards becoming an astronaut, and advocate for women in science.
A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
The selection process for the Rhodes Scholarship is highly competitive, involving multiple rounds of interviews. The winners were chosen for their intellect, character, and commitment to impactful work.
“The level of intellect as well as the character and empathy displayed by the candidates continues to inspire us every year,” said the Rhodes India Secretariat.
The 2025 scholars are set to begin their journey at Oxford in October 2025, adding to the legacy of Indian Rhodes Scholars who have been making their mark globally since 1947.