Five Indians selected as Rhodes Scholars for studying at Oxford University in 2025

A law student committed to citizenship rights, a literature major aspiring to pursue museum anthropology, a philosophy student focused on epistemological injustice, an aspiring astrophysicist from IIT-Bombay, and a veterinarian are among the Indians selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2025.

The five scholars will head to the University of Oxford in October 2025, where they will join a global cohort of over a hundred scholars to pursue fully funded postgraduate studies.

The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1903, is the world’s oldest and most prestigious graduate fellowship. The scholarships for India began in 1947 and have been awarded annually to exceptional individuals from the country.

“The Rhodes Trust is delighted to introduce the extraordinary 2025 Class of Rhodes Scholars Elect, who represent diverse cultures and perspectives from around the world. For more than a century, the Rhodes Trust has brought exceptional individuals to Oxford, fostering a vibrant global community,” said Elizabeth Kiss, CEO of the Rhodes Trust.

“We eagerly anticipate the invaluable contributions these scholars will make, not just during their studies, but throughout their lives, as they join the community of Rhodes Scholar alumni who are working to create a more equitable and sustainable future,” she added.

The Indians selected for 2025 are:

• Rayan Chakrabarti, a master’s student at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Arts and Aesthetics,
• Vibha Swaminathan, a final-year law student at the National Law School, Bangalore,
• Avanish Vats, who has researched accessibility in education and healthcare for disabled individuals in Jharkhand,
• Shubham Narwal, pursuing a bachelor’s in veterinary science and animal husbandry at ICAR, Bareilly,
• Pal Aggarwal, a final-year BTech student in engineering physics at IIT-Bombay.

"It is heartening to see candidates from such diverse disciplines, institutions, and parts of the country applying for the Rhodes Scholarship. Each year, we are impressed not only by the intellect of the applicants but also by their character and empathy,” said the Rhodes India secretariat in a statement.

“We are grateful to all the selectors who guided us through the rigorous selection process and are very proud of the five Rhodes Scholars-Elect. They will benefit from Oxford’s rich intellectual resources and will join a lifelong community dedicated to changing the world for the better,” it added.