IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme 2026–27 is a Government of India initiative that provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects and research. The scheme aims to develop skilled AI professionals, encourage research and innovation, and help students build careers in Artificial Intelligence. The programme operates under the IndiaAI FutureSkills pillar of the IndiaAI Mission. IndiaAI, an independent business division of Digital India Corporation, implements the programme under the oversight of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Under this programme, the IndiaAI Fellowship supports eligible Undergraduate (UG), Integrated Dual Degree (IDD), and Postgraduate (PG) students, while the IndiaAI Research Fellowship specifically supports eligible PhD scholars. UG and IDD students can receive financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh, while PG students can receive up to ₹2 lakh, depending on their semester at the time of application. Eligible PhD scholars can receive ₹70,000 per month in the first two years, ₹75,000 per month in the third year, and ₹80,000 per month in the fourth and fifth years. PhD fellows may also receive a research contingency grant of ₹2 lakh for each eligible completed 12-month period, subject to the scheme guidelines. Eligible fellows may also receive one-time assistance of up to ₹1 lakh to attend qualifying international conferences.

The IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme covers eligible Indian nationals enrolled in full-time academic programmes who meet the requirements for their respective fellowship category. Students from engineering, computer science, medicine, law, commerce, business, liberal arts, and other disciplines may apply if their proposed project or research meets the scheme's AI-related requirements. UG and IDD applicants generally need a minimum CGPA of 7.0, 70% marks, or an equivalent grade, along with at least three AI- or data-related courses. PG applicants must satisfy the prescribed academic requirements for their application semester. PhD applicants must meet the applicable doctoral enrolment, academic qualification, and research conditions.

Applicants should check the eligibility criteria for their respective fellowship before applying. UG and IDD students must apply at the prescribed stage of their course, while PG students can apply during the first, second, or third semester, subject to the applicable requirements. PhD applicants must be freshly admitted or first-year full-time doctoral scholars during the applicable application window and must meet the prescribed academic and research criteria. They must also maintain satisfactory research progress and cannot receive another scholarship, fellowship, stipend, salary, or similar financial assistance from another source for the same PhD programme at the same time. Continued support depends on compliance with the scheme guidelines.

For the 2026–27 academic year, applications for the IndiaAI Fellowship and IndiaAI Research Fellowship opened on 16 October 2026. The last date to apply is 30 November 2026, according to the IndiaAI fellowship portal announcement. Eligible applicants must submit their IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme applications through the official portal. The process includes DigiLocker-based authentication, entry of academic and project details, and uploading the required marksheets, institutional endorsements, bank details, and photograph. PhD applicants must also ensure that their institution completes the required onboarding process before they apply.

Students exploring other opportunities under the Digital India Corporation umbrella can also learn about the Digital India Internship Scheme and the NeGD Non-Technical Internship Programme.

Scheme Benefits

• Provides financial support to students working on Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects and research.
• Encourages AI research across different academic disciplines.
• Supports students in developing practical AI skills and research experience.
• Promotes research in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture and governance.
• Provides eligible fellows with financial assistance to present their AI research at qualifying international conferences.
• Strengthens collaboration between academic institutions and industry to develop skilled AI researchers in India.
• Fellows at every level can claim one-time international conference support of up to ₹1 lakh.

Fellowship Details

The fellowship amount depends on the student's academic programme and the semester in which they apply. Eligible students receive financial assistance in instalments, subject to the scheme's academic and project progress requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

Students applying for the IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme must meet the academic, enrolment and research requirements for their respective fellowship category. The following tables explain the eligibility conditions for undergraduate, integrated dual degree, postgraduate and PhD students.

• For Undergraduate (UG) applicants:
  • Must be in the final year of a full-time UG programme (B.Tech, BCA, BA Honours, B.Com Honours, B.Sc. Honours, etc.), in any discipline.
  • 3-year UG programmes can apply after the 4th semester, once 2nd-year results are out.
  • 4-year UG programmes can apply after the 6th semester, once 3rd-year results are out.
  • Must have completed at least 3 full-time AI-related courses before the final year — through the regular curriculum, or external platforms like NPTEL with certificates uploaded.
  • Must have a CGPA of at least 7.0, or 70% marks, in the last completed semester.
  • The nominated project must be in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
• For Integrated Dual Degree applicants:
  • Must be in the final (UG) year of a 5-year Integrated/Dual Degree programme, in any discipline.
  • Can apply after the 8th semester, once 4th-year results are out.
  • Same CGPA (7.0/70%), 3-AI-course, and project requirements as UG applicants.
• For Postgraduate (PG) applicants:
  • Must have a confirmed admission to a full-time PG programme (M.Tech, MCA, MA Honours, M.Com Honours, M.Sc. Honours, etc.), in any discipline.
  • Can apply only during the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd semester of the PG programme.
  • Applying in the 1st semester needs a CGPA of at least 7.0/70% in the UG degree.
  • Applying in the 2nd or 3rd semester needs a CGPA of at least 7.0/70% in both the UG degree and the PG programme so far.
  • Must have completed at least 3 full-time AI-related courses.
• For PhD applicants (IndiaAI Research Fellowship):
  • Must have a confirmed admission to a full-time PhD programme, and be freshly admitted or in the first year — scholars beyond the first year cannot apply.
  • The research must be substantively centred on Artificial Intelligence, such as Machine Learning, Deep Learning, NLP, Computer Vision, Generative AI, Reinforcement Learning, or Robotics.
  • Must not be receiving any other scholarship, fellowship, stipend, or salary for the same PhD when the IndiaAI Fellowship begins.
  • Needs a CGPA of at least 8.0 (or 80%) after a Bachelor's degree, or at least 7.5 (or 75%) after a Master's degree.
  • A relaxed track exists for Medical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Social/Behavioural Sciences PhD scholars: minimum 55% aggregate marks, with additional supporting documents.

Required Documents

Applicants must upload the required academic records, institutional endorsements, bank proof and other supporting documents through the official IndiaAI Fellowship Portal. The documents may vary depending on whether the applicant is pursuing an undergraduate, integrated dual degree, postgraduate or PhD programme.

Document Upload Requirements

• Latest undergraduate marksheet: PDF format, 20 KB to 2 MB, where required.
• Project guide endorsement: PDF format, 20 KB to 2 MB.
• Institution head endorsement: PDF format, 20 KB to 2 MB, wherever required.
• Passport-size photograph: JPG, JPEG or PNG format, 20 KB to 500 KB.
• Additional supporting document: PDF format, up to 2 MB, where applicable.
• Bank proof: Upload the passbook front page or cancelled cheque in a format accepted by the portal. Ensure that the applicant's name and bank details are clearly visible.

Note: Applicants should check the latest category-specific guidelines and prescribed endorsement formats before submitting the application. Upload all required documents through the official IndiaAI Fellowship Portal. Documents submitted by email will not be accepted as application submissions.

Steps to Apply

Applicants can apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship only online, through the official IndiaAI Fellowship Portal. The portal does not accept applications or documents sent by email.

1. Visit the IndiaAI Fellowship Portal and click "Student Login" or "Apply Here."
2. Log in using DigiLocker/Meri Pehchaan, with a valid APAAR ID, either through a DigiLocker PIN or OTP-based authentication.
3. Consent to share your DigiLocker documents, including your APAAR ID, with the IndiaAI Fellowship portal.
4. Select your programme category from the dashboard, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Integrated Dual Degree, or Phd.
5. Fill in your personal details; most fields auto-fill from DigiLocker, and you manually add your branch, programme, email, category, and institution name.
6. Enter your education details, enrolment number, CGPA or percentage, and your three AI-related courses.
7. Enter your bank details and upload a bank proof document.
8. Enter your project title, a brief of up to 500 words, the domain, and your Project Guide's details. Use only an official institutional email ID for the Guide, Gmail or Yahoo IDs are rejected.
9. Accept the mandatory declarations and upload the required documents.
10. Preview the full application and check every field carefully, edits aren't possible once submitted.
11. Submit the application and note the Application ID shown on the confirmation screen.
12. Track your status on the portal; your Project Guide must verify and forward the application before IndiaAI reviews it.

Note for PhD Applicants: PhD applicants must ensure that their institution is onboarded on the IndiaAI Fellowship Portal before applying. The institution must nominate a Nodal Officer, who must register on the portal and obtain approval. Eligible scholars can submit their applications only after the institution completes the onboarding process. The institution will scrutinise the applications and may shortlist up to 5 eligible candidates per fellowship cycle for forwarding to IndiaAI. Shortlisting does not guarantee the award of the fellowship.

Important Dates

Relevant Links

• IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme Online Application
• IndiaAI Research Fellowship Scheme Online Application
• IndiaAI Fellowship and Research Fellowship Scheme Guidelines
• India AI Fellowship Scheme Details
• IndiaAI Fellowship Portal
• IndiaAI Mission Official Website

Contact Information

• IndiaAI Fellowship Scheme Contact Details