The IndiaAI Mission, under the Government of India, has opened applications for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 under the IndiaAI FutureSkills initiative. The announcement was made on 16 October 2026 on the official fellowship portal. Fresh applications have been invited from UG, PG, Integrated Dual Degree (IDD), and PhD students working on AI or AI-related projects. Students from any discipline, including engineering, science, medicine, law, commerce, business, and liberal arts, can apply.
The fellowship offers significant funding support: UG and IDD students can get up to Rs. 1 lakh, PG students up to Rs. 2 lakh, and PhD scholars a monthly fellowship of Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 80,000 plus a research grant of Rs. 2 lakh per year. Candidates interested in applying should check the eligibility criteria, category-wise benefits, required documents, and application process before submitting their forms.
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IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27
The IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 is open to Indian nationals pursuing UG, PG, IDD, or PhD programs. Part-time students are not eligible. The key details are provided below.
IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27: Overview
| Organisation | IndiaAI Mission, Government of India |
|---|---|
| Scheme | IndiaAI Fellowship |
| Initiative | IndiaAI FutureSkills |
| Academic Year | 2026-27 |
| Announcement Date | 16 October 2026 |
| Categories | UG, PG, Integrated Dual Degree (IDD), PhD |
| Nationality | Indian nationals only |
| Part-time Students | Not eligible |
| Application Mode | Online (through the institute’s nodal officer/guide) |
| Official Portal | fellowship.indiaai.gov.in |
IndiaAI Fellowship Benefits 2026
The fellowship amount depends on the course. PhD scholars get a monthly fellowship for up to 5 years, while UG, PG, and IDD students get project funding.
| Category | Benefit |
|---|---|
| UG (final year) | Funding support of up to Rs. 1 lakh |
| Integrated Dual Degree (final year) | Funding support of up to Rs. 1 lakh |
| PG | Funding support of up to Rs. 2 lakh for the entire duration of the programme |
| PhD | Rs. 70,000/month (Years 1–2), Rs. 75,000/month (Year 3), Rs. 80,000/month (Years 4–5), plus a research grant of Rs. 2 lakh per year |
| All categories | One-time support of up to Rs. 1 lakh for travel/stay if a paper is selected for an international AI conference with an h5 rating above 100 |
IndiaAI Fellowship Notification 2026 Out
The IndiaAI Fellowship portal has released the official announcement for the 2026-27 academic year. The fellowship aims to build an AI-skilled workforce by supporting students who undertake AI projects and research at recognized institutes. The guidelines, eligibility criteria, and application process are detailed on the portal.
IndiaAI Fellowship Detailed Notification PDF – Click to Download
IndiaAI Fellowship Eligibility Criteria 2026
For UG Students
- Must be in the final year of the undergraduate course.
- 3-year UG: can apply after the 4th semester or after 2nd-year results. 4-year UG: after the 6th semester or after 3rd-year results.
- Must undertake a project based on AI or AI-related domains.
- Must have completed at least 3 full-time courses in AI.
- Minimum CGPA 7.0 or 70% in the last completed semester.
- Any discipline is eligible; part-time students are not.
For PG Students
- Must have confirmed admission to a postgraduate course; can apply only in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd semester.
- 1st semester applicants: overall CGPA 7.0 / 70% (or equivalent) in graduation.
- 2nd and 3rd semester applicants: CGPA 7.0 / 70% in graduation and at least CGPA 7.0 / 70% till the last completed PG semester.
- Must undertake a project based on AI or AI-related domains and have completed at least 3 full-time courses in AI.
- Any discipline is eligible; part-time students are not.
For PhD Scholars
- Must have confirmed admission to a PhD; only newly enrolled (first-year) scholars can apply during enrolment.
- Research domain must be based on AI or a related field.
- Minimum CGPA 8.0 / 80% in UG, or CGPA 7.5 / 75% in PG.
- Part-time scholars are not eligible.
For Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) Students
- Must be in the final year; can apply after the 8th semester or after 4th-year results.
- Minimum CGPA 7.0 or overall 70% till the last completed semester.
- Must undertake an AI project and have completed at least 3 full-time courses in AI.
- Any discipline is eligible; part-time students are not.
Documents Required
All applicants need a signed and stamped endorsement letter on the institute’s letterhead, a cancelled cheque or passbook cover page (account in the student’s name), and a passport-size photo. The other category-wise documents are:
| Category | Endorsement By | Other Documents |
|---|---|---|
| UG | Guide / Head of Department / Head of Institution | Original mark sheets till the last semester of UG |
| PG | Guide / Head of Department / Head of Institution | Proof of CGPA 7.0 / 70%; GATE scorecard (optional) |
| PhD | Institute Head / HoD / Registrar | Consolidated original mark sheets of all UG and PG semesters |
| Integrated Dual Degree | Guide / Head of Department / Head of Institution | Original mark sheets till the last semester of the IDD programme |
Students Selected So Far
As per the statistics on the IndiaAI Fellowship portal, the number of students and institutes selected so far is:
| Category | Students | Institutes |
|---|---|---|
| UG | 288 | 54 |
| PG | 145 | 42 |
| PhD | 228 | 50 |
| Total | 680 | 109 |
How to Apply for IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27?
Candidates can follow the steps below to complete the application process:
- Check that your institute is listed on the portal. If not, ask your institute’s nodal officer to register on the portal.
- Visit fellowship.indiaai.gov.in and click “Apply Now” / Student Login.
- Choose your category (UG, PG, IDD, or PhD) and fill in the details.
- Download the endorsement letter format, get it signed and stamped by the guide / HoD / institute head, and upload it.
- Upload the bank proof, mark sheets, and photo, and submit.
Note: The last date for applications is not given on the portal pages shared; check the announcements section of the portal for the deadline.
IndiaAI Fellowship FAQs
Q1. Are IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 applications open?
Yes. The portal announced “Fresh Applications Open for AY 2026-27” on 16 October 2026.
Q2. Who can apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship?
Indian UG (final year), PG (1st–3rd semester), Integrated Dual Degree (final year), and first-year PhD students doing AI-related projects or research, from any discipline.
Q3. How much is the IndiaAI PhD fellowship?
Rs. 70,000 per month for the first 2 years, Rs. 75,000 in the 3rd year, and Rs. 80,000 in the 4th and 5th years, plus Rs. 2 lakh research grant per year.
Q4. How much do UG and PG students get?
Up to Rs. 1 lakh for UG and IDD, and up to Rs. 2 lakh for PG students.
Q5. Can students from West Bengal apply?
Yes, Indian students from any state can apply if their institute is registered on the portal and they meet the eligibility.
Q6. Is there conference support?
Yes. Students whose paper is selected at an international AI conference with an h5 rating above 100 can get up to Rs. 1 lakh one-time support.
Q7. Are part-time students eligible?
No, part-time students are not eligible for the IndiaAI Fellowship.
Q8. What is the minimum CGPA requirement for UG students?
A minimum CGPA of 7.0 or 70% in the last completed semester is required.
