IndiaAI Fellowship 2026: Eligibility, Benefits, Last Date

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through its IndiaAI initiative, has announced the IndiaAI Fellowship for the 2026–27 academic cycle, offering financial assistance to students pursuing artificial intelligence (AI)-related research and projects. The programme aims to encourage AI research and strengthen the country's pool of skilled professionals in emerging technologies.

Applications are open to eligible undergraduate (UG), Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) and postgraduate (PG) students. The reported application deadline is November 30, 2026. Students can check the eligibility requirements and application instructions on the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal.

How Much Financial Assistance Can Students Receive?

Under the fellowship programme, eligible undergraduate and Integrated Dual Degree students can receive financial support of up to ₹1 lakh, while postgraduate students can receive up to ₹2 lakh for their AI-related projects.

The amount available to postgraduate students depends on when they enter the programme. According to the official fellowship guidelines, students joining at the beginning of their first postgraduate semester may receive up to ₹2 lakh in four instalments of ₹50,000 each. Those entering in the second semester may receive up to ₹1.5 lakh, while students entering in the third semester may receive up to ₹1 lakh.

The funding is conditional rather than an unconditional cash award. Subsequent instalments depend on the submission of academic results and project progress reports endorsed by the student's project guide.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The fellowship is not restricted to engineering students. According to the official portal, students from disciplines including science, medicine, commerce, law, business and liberal arts may also qualify, provided their projects focus on AI or an allied field and they meet the programme's academic requirements.

Undergraduate students: Applicants must meet the programme's semester and academic requirements, have completed at least three full-time AI-related courses, and have secured at least 80% marks or an equivalent CGPA in the last completed semester. Eligibility depends on the duration of the degree programme.

Postgraduate students: Applicants must have confirmed admission to a postgraduate course and be enrolled in the first, second or third semester. The general academic requirements include at least 80% marks or an equivalent grade in the undergraduate degree. Students applying in their second or third postgraduate semester must also meet the prescribed postgraduate performance requirements.

The programme is intended for eligible Indian nationals pursuing full-time studies. Applicants should consult the official guidelines for the complete criteria applicable to their category.

PhD Scholars Can Receive Up to ₹80,000 Per Month

The fellowship programme also outlines financial support for eligible doctoral researchers working in AI and related fields.

According to the official India AI Fellowship portal, PhD scholars can receive:

First and second years: ₹70,000 per month.
Third year: ₹75,000 per month.
Fourth and fifth years: ₹80,000 per month.

Eligible doctoral researchers can additionally receive a research grant of ₹2 lakh per year. The official programme information also provides for one-time financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh for eligible students whose AI research papers are accepted at qualifying international conferences with an h5-index rating above 100. This assistance is intended to cover eligible travel and accommodation expenses.

However, the PhD application schedule should be checked separately. The official portal currently displays a notice stating that the PhD application window closed on February 28, 2026. The November 30 deadline reported for the 2026–27 cycle should not automatically be assumed to apply to doctoral applicants.

How Will the Fellowship Benefit Students?

The fellowship could help students pursue AI research without bearing the entire financial burden themselves. Research projects may involve data collection, computing resources, software tools and other academic expenses. Financial assistance can help eligible students develop their projects, strengthen their research experience and prepare for further academic or professional opportunities.

The initiative also has implications for India's broader AI ambitions. By supporting research at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, the programme seeks to connect academic learning with practical applications of artificial intelligence.

However, the actual benefit will depend on students meeting the eligibility criteria, maintaining the required academic performance and submitting satisfactory project reports. The fellowship should therefore be understood as conditional research funding, not a guaranteed grant for every applicant.

How to Apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026?

Eligible candidates should visit the official IndiaAI Fellowship website and review the guidelines for their academic category before applying.

Applicants should prepare the required academic records, project-guide endorsement and institutional endorsement, along with the other documents specified in the official instructions. Students should also verify the application deadline and ensure that their project meets the fellowship's AI-related research requirements.