Five exceptional Indians have been selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2025 to pursue postgraduate studies at Oxford University. This diverse group includes a law student passionate about citizenship rights, a literature major interested in museum anthropology, a philosophy student focused on epistemological injustice, an aspiring astrophysicist from IIT-Bombay, and a veterinary student from ICAR, Bareilly.
The scholars will join over a hundred peers from around the world in October 2025 for fully funded studies at the University of Oxford, a prestigious institution that has been awarding Rhodes Scholarships since 1903. The program has been recognizing outstanding individuals from India since 1947.
Rhodes Trust CEO Elizabeth Kiss expressed excitement about the 2025 cohort, stating, “These exceptional individuals represent cultures and perspectives from across the globe, and we look forward to the invaluable contributions they’ll make both during their time at Oxford and beyond.”
The Indian Rhodes Scholars-elect include:
– Rayan Chakrabarti, Master’s student at Jawaharlal Nehru University
– Vibha Swaminathan, final-year law student at National Law School, Bangalore
– Avanish Vats, researcher on accessibility in education and healthcare for disabled individuals
– Shubham Narwal, Veterinary Science student at ICAR, Bareilly
– Pal Aggarwal, Engineering Physics student at IIT-Bombay
The Rhodes India secretariat congratulated the scholars, highlighting their impressive intellect, character, and empathy. These individuals will join a global network of Rhodes Scholars working to create a more equitable and sustainable future.
Also read: Rhodes Scholarships invitation