BHU introduces 121 SWAYAM courses across multiple disciplines

Banaras Hindu University has launched 121 credit-ready Institutes of National Importance SWAYAM courses for the January–April 2026 session, expanding online access to quality education across disciplines.

BHU will offer 71 courses beginning Jan 26 and Feb 16, 2026, covering sciences, engineering, management, medicine, education, humanities, social sciences, law, and interdisciplinary studies.

The initiative is part of SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds), a Ministry of Education program providing free online courses to students nationwide.

Aligarh Muslim University will offer 48 courses from Arabic to zoology starting 26 Jan 2026, while Rashtriya Raksha University will provide two courses in Defence and Strategic Studies and Forensic Accounting. Learners can enroll at swayam.gov.in/INI.

Dr Ashutosh Mohan, National Coordinator, INI–SWAYAM, MoE, Government of India, and faculty at BHU’s Institute of Management Studies, said, “This is a big step forward in terms of access, flexibility, and quality. BHU will make sure that the INI–SWAYAM courses are in line with the spirit of NEP 2020 by being interdisciplinary, focused on getting students skilled, and open to all motivated students.”

He added that two internationally co-developed courses will also be included.

In collaboration with the SEPT Competence Centre at the University of Leipzig, Germany, BHU has introduced courses on Digital Marketing and Branding for Start-ups.

These courses cover customer discovery, media mix, measurement, and growth strategies.

BHU has also launched the Foundation of Digital Entrepreneurship course, focusing on idea validation, digital product fundamentals, compliance, and go-to-market approaches for first-time founders. Some of these courses are available in Hindi or bilingual formats.

In 2025, BHU faculty had developed 63 SWAYAM programs, with course durations ranging from four to twelve weeks.

The programs cover commerce, management, arts, humanities, social sciences, life sciences, psychology, law, engineering, and Ayurveda, furthering the university’s mission to expand accessible, interdisciplinary, and skill-oriented education.