BHU Introduces 121 INI-Swayam Courses for January-April 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU)  just announced 121 credit-ready Institutes of National Importance (INI)–SWAYAM courses for the January–April 2026 academic session. This is a great expand for India’s online education learning system. With the help of this initiative, people will get a chance to study with flexibility and skill-oriented faculty, with an objective of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Out of all the total offerings, 71 courses are going to be led by BHU. On the other hand, the remaining courses are managed by other renowned institutions like Aligarh Muslim University, Rashtriya Raksha University, and many more. Individuals can get these courses for free on the SWAYAM platform. 

Wide Range of Disciplines Offered by BHU

 BHU’s 71 programmes for January 2026 includes a lot of subject matters like Science, Engineering, Management, Medicine, Education, and even Social sciences. This change ensures that learners coming from different educational backgrounds can also enjoy benefits from these programmes.

The SWAYAM courses led by BHU are going to happen on 26 January and 16 February 2026. Moreover, it will allow flexibility for both students and working professionals to register whenever their academic calendars align. Many of these courses are available in Hindi or bilingual format, making it easy to reach a wider, more larger audience.

The courses are designed and delivered by experienced BHU faculty members and focus on conceptual clarity, practical application, and industry-relevant skills. Depending on the subject, the course duration ranges from four to twelve weeks, enabling learners to complete them alongside regular academic or professional commitments.

Contributions from AMU and Rashtriya Raksha University

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) also introduced 48 INI-SWAYAM courses covering many subjects like Arabic, Humanities, and Social Sciences to Zoology. All AMU programmes will be going to happen on 26 January 2026.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) contributed 2 specialised courses focusing on Defence and Strategic Studies and Forensic Accounting. These courses are relevant for learners interested in law enforcement, financial investigation, and national security. 

Candidates who are interested can go to the official ‍‍‍‍‍SWAYAM portal, and enrol by visiting the website. Although the courses are free of cost, learners may opt to appear for an exam to earn certificates. 

Alignment with NEP 2020 and Global Collaborations

Dr Ashutosh Mohan, National Coordinator, INI–SWAYAM, Ministry of Education, Government of India, BHU, expressed that the programme shows a major step in improvising flexibility, access, and quality of education. He even highlighted that the programmes are made to a close spirit of NEP 2020, focusing mainly on interdisciplinary, inclusivity, and skill development. 

Additionally, he also stated that two internally co-developed courses will also be going to be a part of the INI-SWAYAM offerings. In this alliance with SEPT Competence Centre at University of Leipzig, Germany, BHU, introduced courses on Digital Marketing and Branding for Start-ups and Foundation of Digital Entrepreneurship.

Strengthening India’s Online Learning Ecosystem

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is a star initiative from the Ministry of Education, mainly focused on providing free access to quality education to all. In 2025 itself, BHU faculty members themselves developed 63 SWAYAM courses, underscoring university’s growing role in nourishing India’s digital learning ecosystem. 

With the launch of 121 INI-SWAYAM courses for the January–April 2026 session, BHU and other participating universities maintains to make a gap between traditional, conventional classroom and flexing, accessible online learning, empowering students and professionals who are willing to upskill, reskill, and academic excellence.