Through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and bilateral institutional partnerships, Maldivians have access to training designed to improve professional knowledge, administrative skills and service delivery.
India increased the Maldives’ annual allocation of in-person ITEC training places from 200 to 300 for 2024–25, according to the Indian High Commission. The expansion provides additional opportunities for working professionals to undertake specialised courses at Indian institutions.
ITEC, administered by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, is a longstanding international capacity-building programme. It connects participants from partner countries with training institutions offering professional and technical education.
For eligible participants, the funding helps remove a major barrier to overseas professional development. Support includes international airfare, course fees, accommodation and a living allowance, subject to programme conditions.
The cooperation extends across several areas of Maldivian public and professional life. India’s External Affairs Ministry reported that more than 1,000 Maldivians visited India during 2023 under institutional agreements and ITEC programmes, covering fields including civil services, customs, the judiciary, media, local governance, audit, sports, anti-corruption, human rights, policing and aviation security.
That breadth means the partnership reaches staff whose work affects everyday services, from government administration and revenue collection to access to information and public safety.
A substantial component focuses on strengthening the civil service. India and the Maldives renewed an agreement in August 2024 to train another 1,000 Maldivian civil servants during 2024–2029 through India’s National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG).
The renewed arrangement followed the completion of an earlier commitment to train 1,000 Maldivian officials under an agreement signed in 2019. Participants included senior administrators and officials from oversight institutions.
The programmes combine classroom learning with exposure to administrative practices. Areas covered include digital governance, policy implementation and approaches to improving public service delivery, allowing participants to examine systems that could inform their work in the Maldives.
Specialised professional development also forms part of the partnership. India’s National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics has documented training involving customs officers from the Maldives alongside participants from other countries. Its programmes emphasise practical learning, sharing experience and solving operational problems.
Media professionals have also been included, with the official ITEC platform publishing a dedicated in-service training programme for Maldivian journalists. Such courses provide a route for staff already in employment to develop their expertise through further study.
Alongside short-term training, India supports academic education through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The Maldivian Higher Education Ministry listed an “Aid to Maldives” scholarship scheme for the 2026–27 academic year, reflecting the continuation of this education pathway.
The High Commission’s published bilateral overview records more than 170 Maldivian beneficiaries of ICCR scholarships since 2012–13. Scholarships and professional courses serve different needs: one supports academic qualifications, while the other allows employees to build skills relevant to their existing responsibilities.
For professionals seeking training, available ITEC courses are published online. Applications generally require endorsement through the designated national authority and consideration by the Indian High Commission and relevant training institution, with selection dependent on course requirements and eligibility.
Together, these programmes make education and workforce development a continuing part of India–Maldives cooperation, supporting both individual career development and the institutions in which participants work.
