Saiteja
The Government of India has opened applications for the IndiaAI Fellowship Programme 2026–27, offering financial support to students and research scholars working on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning projects.
The fellowship is offered under the IndiaAI Mission, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Depending on the academic level, eligible candidates can receive:
- Up to ₹1 lakh for Undergraduate / Integrated Dual Degree students
- Up to ₹2 lakh for Postgraduate students
- ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per month for eligible PhD scholars
- Additional research and international conference support for eligible candidates
The last date to submit applications for the current cycle is November 30, 2026.
Here are the complete details about the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 including eligibility, funding, academic requirements, documents and step-by-step application process.
IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | IndiaAI Fellowship Programme 2026–27 |
| Organisation | IndiaAI |
| Ministry | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| Government | Government of India |
| Programme | IndiaAI Mission – FutureSkills |
| UG Funding | Up to ₹1 Lakh |
| PG Funding | Up to ₹2 Lakh |
| PhD Fellowship | ₹70,000–₹80,000 per month |
| PhD Research Grant | Up to ₹2 Lakh per year |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date | November 30, 2026 |
| Official Portal | fellowship.indiaai.gov.in |
What Is the IndiaAI Fellowship?
The IndiaAI Fellowship is designed to support students and researchers working on Artificial Intelligence-related projects and research.
The programme comes under the IndiaAI FutureSkills initiative, which is part of the wider IndiaAI Mission.
Its purpose is to support AI education and research across higher education institutions in India.
Students do not necessarily have to belong only to Computer Science or Engineering.
Candidates from multiple academic streams can potentially apply as long as their project or research is focused on Artificial Intelligence or an allied area.
How Much Money Can Students Get?
The amount depends on the candidate’s academic level.
Undergraduate Students
Eligible final-year undergraduate students can receive:
Up to ₹1,00,000
for an approved AI-related project.
Integrated Dual Degree Students
Eligible final-year Integrated Dual Degree students can also receive:
Up to ₹1,00,000
depending on the programme and academic stage.
Postgraduate Students
Eligible PG students can receive:
Up to ₹2,00,000
for their AI-related project.
This is the ₹2 lakh support commonly being discussed in connection with the IndiaAI Fellowship.
Is ₹2 Lakh Available to Every Student?
No.
The maximum ₹2 lakh amount is specifically relevant to eligible postgraduate students.
It is not a flat ₹2 lakh payment to every applicant.
The actual support depends on:
- Academic level
- Semester
- Eligibility
- Approved project
- Progress requirements
For PG students, funding can be released in instalments rather than all at once.
PG Fellowship Funding Structure
The maximum support depends on when the PG student enters the fellowship.
First Semester
Eligible students may receive up to:
₹2,00,000
which can be released as four instalments of ₹50,000 each.
Second Semester
Eligible students may receive up to:
₹1,50,000
Third Semester
Eligible students may receive up to:
₹1,00,000
Further instalments can depend on academic progress and project progress requirements.
Who Can Apply for the UG Fellowship?
Undergraduate candidates should generally be in their final year.
Eligibility includes students in programmes such as:
3-Year UG Programme
Candidates can apply after completing the required earlier semesters and entering the final stage of the programme.
4-Year UG Programme
Candidates should generally be in their final year.
Integrated Dual Degree
Students should be in the appropriate final-year stage of their integrated programme.
Candidates must also satisfy academic and AI-course requirements.
Academic Marks Required for UG Students
Eligible UG and Integrated Dual Degree applicants generally need:
Minimum 70% marks or 7.0 CGPA
in the relevant completed academic period.
They should also have completed at least:
Three full-time AI-related courses
before applying.
Who Can Apply for the PG Fellowship?
Eligible postgraduate students should generally be studying in:
- 1st Semester
- 2nd Semester
- 3rd Semester
Applicants should have secured at least:
70% marks or 7.0 CGPA
in their undergraduate degree.
Candidates in later eligible PG semesters must also maintain the required academic performance in completed PG semesters.
AI Course Requirement
Applicants are generally required to have completed at least:
Three full-time AI-related courses
These may include subjects related to:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Deep Learning
- Data Science
- Natural Language Processing
- Computer Vision
- AI Applications
Candidates should follow the current official guidelines for acceptable courses.
Can Students From Non-Engineering Streams Apply?
Yes.
The fellowship is not limited only to engineering students.
Students from disciplines such as:
- Engineering
- Science
- Medicine
- Law
- Commerce
- Business
- Liberal Arts
- Humanities
may be considered if their project is related to AI.
The key requirement is that the project or research should have a genuine Artificial Intelligence focus.
IndiaAI Research Fellowship for PhD Scholars
The IndiaAI programme also offers a separate Research Fellowship for PhD scholars working in Artificial Intelligence.
This is significantly different from the ₹1 lakh or ₹2 lakh student project funding.
Eligible full-time PhD scholars can receive monthly fellowship support.
PhD Fellowship Amount
Year 1 and Year 2
₹70,000 per month
Year 3
₹75,000 per month
Year 4 and Year 5
₹80,000 per month
The fellowship can continue subject to the applicable programme conditions and performance requirements.
PhD Research Grant
In addition to the monthly fellowship, eligible PhD scholars may receive:
Up to ₹2 lakh per year as a research grant
This can support eligible research-related expenses.
The programme can provide multi-year research support, subject to official conditions.
Additional Contingency Support
Eligible PhD researchers may also receive significant contingency support for approved research requirements.
Current reporting based on programme guidelines indicates total contingency support can reach:
Up to ₹10 lakh
over the fellowship period, subject to conditions.
International Conference Support
IndiaAI Fellowship recipients whose research paper is accepted at a qualifying prestigious international AI conference may receive additional financial support.
Eligible candidates may receive:
Up to ₹1 lakh
toward expenses such as:
- Travel
- Accommodation
The conference must satisfy the criteria specified in the official fellowship guidelines.
Who Can Apply for the PhD Fellowship?
The PhD fellowship is intended for:
- Newly admitted PhD scholars
- First-year PhD scholars
- Full-time researchers
- Scholars working on AI-related research
Candidates beyond the permitted academic stage may not be eligible.
PhD Academic Requirements
Candidates entering a PhD after graduation generally need a strong academic record.
Official guidelines indicate requirements such as:
Candidates With Graduation Degree
Minimum:
8.0 CGPA/CPI or equivalent
Candidates With Master’s Degree
Minimum:
7.5 CGPA/CPI or equivalent
Separate conditions may apply for certain academic backgrounds.
Candidates should verify their exact eligibility from the official guidelines.
Can a PhD Scholar Receive Another Scholarship?
Generally, a candidate receiving the IndiaAI Research Fellowship should not simultaneously receive another scholarship or salary from another organisation for the same PhD.
Applicants should disclose existing fellowship or financial-support arrangements and follow the official rules.
Is This Only for Full-Time Students?
Yes.
The programme is intended for eligible full-time students and scholars.
Part-time or distance-learning candidates should not assume they are eligible.
The current programme conditions specifically focus on full-time academic enrolment.
Is This a Scholarship or Fellowship?
It is better to call it the:
IndiaAI Fellowship
rather than simply a ₹2 lakh scholarship.
The ₹2 lakh amount is project funding available to eligible PG students.
PhD scholars receive a separate monthly research fellowship.
Is This a Government Programme?
Yes.
The fellowship is offered under the IndiaAI Mission, which operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.
IndiaAI is implemented through Digital India Corporation.
Application Last Date
The current application deadline is:
November 30, 2026
Candidates should avoid waiting until the final day.
How to Apply for IndiaAI Fellowship 2026
The application process is online.
Follow these steps.
Step 1: Visit the Official IndiaAI Fellowship Portal
Open:
https://fellowship.indiaai.gov.in
Step 2: Select Your Fellowship Category
Choose the appropriate category:
- Undergraduate
- Integrated Dual Degree
- Postgraduate
- PhD Research Fellowship
Step 3: Read the Eligibility Guidelines
Before applying, carefully check:
- Academic stage
- Required CGPA
- AI-course requirements
- Full-time study status
- Project requirements
Step 4: Prepare Your AI Project Details
Your project should clearly explain:
- AI problem being addressed
- Project objective
- Proposed methodology
- Expected output
- Research relevance
- Project timeline
The project must genuinely involve AI or a related area.
Step 5: Get Project Guide Approval
The project details generally need to be certified or endorsed by the student’s:
- Project Guide
- Head of Department
- Head of Institution
Applicants should obtain the required signed and stamped endorsement on official institutional letterhead.
Step 6: Prepare Academic Documents
Keep your marksheets and relevant academic records ready.
Make sure the marks or CGPA entered in the application match your official records.
Step 7: Upload Required Documents
Depending on the category, you may need documents such as:
- Marksheets
- Passport-size photograph
- Project details
- Endorsement letter
- Bank proof
- AI-course proof
- GATE scorecard, if applicable
- Other academic certificates
Step 8: Enter Bank Details
Applicants may need to submit valid bank account information in their own name.
A cancelled cheque or bank passbook page may be required.
Step 9: Submit the Application
Review all details before final submission.
Ensure that:
- Name is correct
- Academic details are correct
- Bank details are correct
- Project details are complete
- Required endorsement documents are uploaded
Step 10: Save the Application Details
After submitting, save:
- Application acknowledgement
- Registration details
- Submitted form
for future reference.
Documents Required
Candidates should keep the following ready:
- Aadhaar or other valid ID, if required
- Passport-size photo
- UG/PG academic marksheets
- Current semester details
- AI-course certificates, where applicable
- Project proposal
- Project guide endorsement
- HoD or institution endorsement
- Bank passbook or cancelled cheque
- GATE scorecard, if applicable
- Other documents requested on the portal
Is There an Application Fee?
Applicants should use only the official fellowship portal.
The IndiaAI Fellowship application is not presented as a paid commercial application programme.
Candidates should be extremely cautious if any third-party agent demands money promising guaranteed approval.
Is Selection Guaranteed?
No.
Submitting an application does not guarantee fellowship funding.
Applications are evaluated based on factors such as:
- Eligibility
- Academic performance
- Project quality
- AI relevance
- Institutional endorsement
- Programme guidelines
- Available fellowship slots
Important Point About Project Guide
This fellowship is not simply a form where students enter basic details and automatically receive money.
Your project and academic institution play an important role.
Applicants need to prepare a legitimate project and obtain the required certification or endorsement.
How Is the Money Used?
The fellowship support is intended to help eligible candidates carry out AI-related academic projects and research.
It should not be treated as unrestricted personal income.
Students must follow the spending, project-progress and reporting rules applicable to their fellowship category.
Important Warning About Fake Fellowship Websites
Students should apply only through:
https://fellowship.indiaai.gov.in
Be cautious of social media posts or websites promising:
- Guaranteed ₹2 lakh payment
- Instant scholarship approval
- Fellowship without a project
- Guaranteed selection
- Paid registration through an agent
Never share:
- OTP
- UPI PIN
- Banking password
- ATM PIN
with anyone claiming to process your fellowship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Government giving ₹2 lakh to students?
Eligible postgraduate students can receive up to ₹2 lakh under the IndiaAI Fellowship for approved AI-related project work.
It is not a universal ₹2 lakh payment to all students.
How much can UG students get?
Eligible undergraduate and Integrated Dual Degree students can receive:
Up to ₹1 lakh
How much can PG students get?
Eligible PG students can receive:
Up to ₹2 lakh
depending on their semester and programme conditions.
How much do PhD scholars get?
Eligible PhD scholars can receive:
- ₹70,000/month in Years 1–2
- ₹75,000/month in Year 3
- ₹80,000/month in Years 4–5
Do PhD scholars also get research funding?
Yes.
Eligible PhD scholars can receive an additional research grant of up to:
₹2 lakh per year
subject to programme conditions.
Can non-engineering students apply?
Yes.
Students from multiple academic disciplines can apply if their project is related to Artificial Intelligence.
Can part-time students apply?
The programme is intended for eligible full-time students and scholars.
What marks are required?
For UG/PG applicants, a minimum of around:
70% or 7.0 CGPA
is generally required under the current fellowship conditions.
Different requirements apply to PhD scholars.
Do I need AI courses?
UG and PG candidates generally need to have completed at least three full-time AI-related courses.
What is the last date?
The current last date is:
November 30, 2026
Where can I apply?
Apply through:
https://fellowship.indiaai.gov.in
Conclusion
The IndiaAI Fellowship 2026–27 is an important Government of India opportunity for students and researchers working on Artificial Intelligence.
Eligible candidates can receive substantial financial support depending on their academic level.
The major benefits include:
UG / Integrated Degree Students – Up to ₹1 Lakh
PG Students – Up to ₹2 Lakh
PhD Scholars – ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per month
plus additional research funding for eligible doctoral researchers.
The current application deadline is November 30, 2026.
Interested students should prepare their academic documents, AI project details and institutional endorsement and apply through the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal before the deadline.
