The IndiaAI Fellowship is a student-focused initiative under the IndiaAI Mission. It supports students working on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and allied fields while helping bridge the gap between academic learning and practical AI applications.
The fellowship aims to develop a skilled, research-oriented and future-ready AI workforce in India.
About the IndiaAI Fellowship
The IndiaAI FutureSkills Fellowship is designed for students pursuing relevant doctoral programmes.
Through financial support and research opportunities, the programme encourages students to work on AI-related projects, research studies and practical applications.
Students from different academic disciplines may be eligible, provided they meet the programme-specific requirements.
IndiaAI Fellowship Benefits
PhD Fellowship
PhD scholars can receive:
- ₹70,000 per month during the first two years
- ₹75,000 per month during the third year
- ₹80,000 per month during the fourth and fifth years
- ₹2 lakh per year research grant
In addition, eligible students whose AI research paper is accepted at an international conference meeting the specified h5 criterion may receive one-time support of up to ₹1 lakh towards travel or accommodation.
Last Date to Apply
For the PhD programme, the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal states that the application window closed on November 30, 2026.
Who Can Apply?
PhD Scholars
PhD applicants must:
- Need to have a confirmed admission to a PhD Course.
- Research Domain must be based on AI and/or any other related field.
- Can apply only during the enrolment into the PhD program.
- Must have a CGPA of atleast 8.0 or 80% during UnderGraduate or a CGPA of atleast 7.5 or 75% during PostGraduate.
- Only newly enrolled PhD students (first year) are eligible to apply.
- Part time students are not eligible to apply.
- Only Indian Nationals may apply.
Fellowship Duration
For PhD scholars, the fellowship structure can extend up to five years, with different monthly fellowship amounts across the programme years.
Documents Required
Applicants need to prepare the documents applicable to their category.
Commonly required documents include:
- Latest academic marksheets
- Endorsement letter from the project guide
- Endorsement letter from the institute head/HoD/Registrar
- Cancelled bank cheque or bank passbook cover
- Passport-size photograph
PhD applicants must also provide consolidated undergraduate and postgraduate marksheets. PG applicants may need to provide a GATE scorecard where applicable.
How to Apply for IndiaAI Fellowship?
Eligible students should follow the official IndiaAI Fellowship application process.
Step 1: Check Eligibility
First, identify your student category and review the academic and project requirements.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Next, collect your marksheets, institutional endorsements, bank details, photograph and other applicable documents.
Step 3: Complete the Nomination/Application
Submit the required information through the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal according to the applicable application process.
Step 4: Obtain Institutional Endorsements
Your project guide and the authorised institutional authority must provide the required endorsements.
Step 5: Submit the Application
Finally, submit the completed nomination with all mandatory documents before the applicable deadline or institutional submission window.
Selection Procedure
The fellowship follows an institution-based nomination and evaluation process.
First, eligible students are nominated through the prescribed process. The nomination must include endorsements from the project guide and the head of the department/institution or registrar.
The programme also limits consideration to the top 10 nominations per category from a single institute, according to the official FAQ.
Students should therefore ensure that their academic record, AI-related coursework, project and supporting documents meet the prescribed criteria.
Application Link
Official Website
https://fellowship.indiaai.gov.in/login
Contact Details
For queries related to the IndiaAI Fellowship, applicants can contact the official IndiaAI support team:
Email: support@indiaai.gov.in
Applicants should use the official portal and published guidelines for the latest information before submitting their application.
