IndiaAI Fellowship Offers Rs 2 Lakh for PG Students

IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 offers up to ₹1 lakh for eligible UG and IDD students and ₹2 lakh for PG students, with additional support for PhD scholars and international AI conference participation. Applications close November 30.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through its IndiaAI Mission, has opened applications for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 to support students pursuing artificial intelligence (AI)-related research and projects. The programme provides financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh to eligible undergraduate (UG) and Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) students, while postgraduate (PG) students can receive up to ₹2 lakh, subject to the applicable eligibility conditions.

Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal. The last date to apply is November 30, 2026. Applicants must review the programme guidelines and requirements for their respective academic categories before applying.

Also read: ISRO Recruitment 2026 Opens for 97 Posts, Apply by Nov 9

The fellowship supports eligible students at different stages of higher education. Undergraduate applicants must be in the final year of their degree and have completed at least three full-time AI-related courses. They must also meet the prescribed academic requirements, including a minimum CGPA of 8.0 or 80% marks, as applicable.

Postgraduate students can receive financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh for the duration of their programme. Applicants must have confirmed admission to a postgraduate course and apply during the first, second or third semester. They generally need at least 80% marks in their undergraduate degree, with additional academic requirements applying to those applying in later semesters. Students from disciplines including engineering, science, medicine, law, commerce, business and liberal arts may be eligible if their projects relate to AI.

The programme also provides financial support to eligible doctoral researchers. PhD scholars can receive ₹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 research scholars can also receive a research grant of ₹2 lakh per year, subject to programme conditions.

Additionally, students whose AI research papers are accepted at eligible international conferences with an h-index rating above 100 may qualify for one-time financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh towards travel and accommodation expenses.

Also read: What Do Indian Students Need to Know Before Studying in Germany?

Candidates should visit the official fellowship portal, select the relevant academic category and check its eligibility criteria, required documents and application instructions. Applicants may need academic records, endorsement letters from their project guide and institution, bank account details and a recent photograph. Only Indian nationals are eligible, and part-time students are not eligible under the stated criteria.

Through the fellowship, the IndiaAI Mission aims to encourage AI research, strengthen academic innovation and develop talent for India's growing artificial intelligence ecosystem.