After World War II, US Senator J. William Fulbright introduced legislation to the US Congress that would eventually become one of the most prestigious international educational exchange programs in the world. Fulbright’s proposal was simple: he wanted to use proceeds from the sales of surplus war property to fund the “promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture and science.” Fulbright’s goal of promoting international peace through educational and cultural exchanges is perhaps even more important today.

The program – working with universities, schools, bi-national Fulbright Commissions, government agencies, non- governmental organizations and the private sector – actively seeks out individuals of achievement and potential who represent the full diversity of their respective societies and selects nominees through open, merit-based competitions. The Fulbright Program is now the largest educational scholarship program in the world and operates between the US and more than 155 countries.

The United States – India Educational Foundation (USIEF) coordinates all Fulbright program initiatives in India, including the advising and selection of its award candidates. Fulbright – Nehru Awards enable the most outstanding students, academics and professionals in India and the US to study, research and engage in work experiences with greater potential benefit for both countries. India has one of the largest Fulbright Programs worldwide, awarding more than 17,000 Fulbright fellowships and other grants to Indians and Americans since it began.

The bill establishing the Fulbright Program became US law in 1946. In 1950, India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and US Ambassador Loy Henderson signed the Indo – US bi-national agreement on educational exchange, which established the United States Educational Foundation in India (USEFI) to administer the Fulbright Program.

On July 4, 2008, Indian and the US committed to jointly fund the Fulbright Program as equal partners when India’s Foreign Secretary Mr. Shiv Shankar Menon and US Ambassador Dr. David C. Mulford signed a new agreement. As a result, the USEFI was renamed the United States – India Educational Foundation (USIEF) and funding for the core programs, renamed Fulbright – Nehru Fellowships, doubled.

The US Ambassador to India and Indian Foreign Secretary are honorary co-chairs of the USIEF Board, a bi-national board of directors consisting of five Americans nominated by the US Ambassador and five Indians nominated by the Government of India. USIEF offices are located in the four metropolitan cities of New Delhi (headquarters), Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.