Want to research AI? IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 opens applications for students and scholars

IndiaAI has opened applications for its 2026 fellowship program, offering financial assistance to undergraduate, Integrated Dual Degree (IDD), postgraduate and doctoral students working on artificial intelligence (AI) projects and research.

The fellowship, launched under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's (MeitY) IndiaAI Mission, supports students at different stages of their academic and research careers. Interested candidates can apply through the official portal, fellowship.indiaai.gov.in, by Nov 30.

The financial assistance varies by academic category, with eligible undergraduate and IDD students able to receive up to ₹1 lakh and postgraduate students eligible for up to ₹2 lakh, subject to the program's conditions.

Doctoral researchers will receive monthly fellowship support based on the duration of their PhD program. The amount is ₹70,000 per month during the first two years, ₹75,000 per month in the third year, and ₹80,000 per month in the fourth and fifth years.

Eligible PhD scholars can also receive a research grant of ₹2 lakh per year. Institutional overheads are capped at 10%, according to the program details.

Students whose AI research papers are accepted at eligible international conferences with an h5 rating above 100 may qualify for one-time financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh to cover travel and accommodation expenses.

Applicants must review the detailed eligibility criteria, funding conditions, document requirements and application instructions on the official portal before submitting their applications.

IndiaAI Fellowship 2026: Financial assistance by academic category

The amount of support available depends on the applicant's academic level and the applicable fellowship conditions.

For undergraduate, IDD and postgraduate students, funding may be released in installments, depending on academic stage, project progress and the prescribed conditions. Applicants should consult the official guidelines for details of the disbursement schedule.

Monthly fellowship for PhD scholars

Eligible doctoral researchers will receive financial support according to the following schedule:

The separate annual research grant of ₹2 lakh is intended to support research-related expenses. Institutional overheads included in the grant are capped at 10%.

Additional support for international AI conferences

Students whose AI research papers are accepted at eligible international conferences with an h5 rating above 100 may receive one-time assistance of up to ₹1 lakh for travel and accommodation.

Candidates should check the official guidelines to confirm the eligibility conditions and documentation required to claim this benefit.

IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 eligibility criteria

Eligibility requirements differ across undergraduate, IDD, postgraduate and PhD applicants. Candidates must meet the academic, enrollment and research-related conditions specified for their category.

• Undergraduate students: Applicants generally need to be in the final year of their undergraduate program, satisfy the prescribed academic criteria and have completed at least three full-time AI courses.
• Integrated Dual Degree students: Applicants must meet the specified academic requirements, course-completion conditions and eligibility requirements for their stage of study.
• Postgraduate students: Candidates must have confirmed admission to a postgraduate program and apply within the permitted semesters. Academic performance requirements also apply.
• PhD scholars: Applicants must satisfy the prescribed doctoral enrollment, research-area and academic requirements.

Candidates can consult the IndiaAI Fellowship eligibility PDFfor additional information. The official fellowship portal should be treated as the primary source for the latest eligibility rules and application requirements.

Documents required for IndiaAI Fellowship 2026

Applicants should prepare the documents specified for their academic category before beginning the application process. Depending on the applicable requirements, these may include:

• Academic marksheets or grade records.
• An endorsement letter from the project guide, signed and stamped on the prescribed institutional letterhead.
• An endorsement letter from the institute head, head of department (HoD) or registrar.
• A canceled bank check or the first page of the bank passbook showing the student's account details.
• A recent passport-size photograph in the accepted file format.
• Additional academic records or program-specific documents, where applicable.

Candidates should ensure that endorsement letters follow the prescribed format and that all uploaded documents meet the portal's submission requirements.

How to apply for IndiaAI Fellowship 2026

Eligible students can follow these steps to complete the application process:

1. Visit the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal.
2. Open the fellowship section relevant to the applicant's academic category.
3. Read the eligibility criteria, funding conditions and program guidelines carefully.
4. Prepare the required academic records, endorsement letters and supporting documents.
5. Follow the portal's instructions to complete the application or nomination process, as applicable.
6. Review the information entered and verify that all required documents have been submitted before finalizing the application.

The application deadline is Nov 30. Candidates should complete the process before the deadline and refer to the official portal for any updates to the guidelines or submission requirements.