BHU, AMU, RRU launch 121 INI-SWAYAM courses for January-April 2026 session

The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has launched 121 credit-ready INI-SWAYAM (Institute of National Importance - Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) courses for the January-April 2026 session. Those interested can register through the official website at swayam.gov.in by February 28.

Marking BHU’s first semester as the national coordinator for INI-SWAYAM under the ministry of education, the university’s January 2026 catalogue has brought three universities together on a single digital shelf, offering various courses, as per an official statement.

The platform comprises a total of 121 programmes, of which 71 courses across science, engineering, management, medicine, education, humanities, social science, law and interdisciplinary studies will be offered by the BHU.

The multi-university platform is designed to focus on strong learner support, weekly analytics, and university credit pathways so that students benefit both academically and professionally, the university said.

Two globally co-developed courses under Swayam

The university will conduct the classes for these courses from January 26 to February 16, 2026. Moreover, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will offer 48 programmes in Arabic and Zoology, which will begin from January 26.

The Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) will also start two courses in defence & strategic studies and forensic accounting from January 26, 2026.

Ashutosh Mohan, national coordinator, INI–SWAYAM, MoE, GoI of the Institute of Management Studies, BHU, 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.”

In addition, two internationally co-developed courses will also be part of the INI-SWAYAM course catalogue, Mohan added.

“BHU has co-developed two distinctive offerings with the SEPT Competence Centre, University of Leipzig, Germany, which includes digital marketing and branding for start-ups, a hands-on course for customer discovery, media mix, measurement and growth. Foundation of digital entrepreneurship, idea validation, digital product basics, compliance and go-to-market for first-time founders,” the university added.

The courses in the pipeline include AEC, SEC, VAC, MD and major discipline programmes to support institutional boards of studies in mapping credits under NEP 2020.

“A few courses are also available in Hindi or bilingual where pedagogically appropriate, accessible, and designed with outcome-based rubrics and proctored assessments,” it concluded.