IndiaAI Fellowship 2026: You have a good AI project idea for your final year or your PG course. But data, cloud computing and research tools cost money, and most colleges give very little for student projects. This fellowship from the government’s IndiaAI Mission puts that money straight into your bank account. And you don’t have to be an engineering student to get it.
Still, many students lose this chance because of small rules. Your semester decides if you can apply at all. One semester early or late, and you are out. The money also doesn’t come in one go. Each tranche (part payment) comes only if your marks stay up and your guide approves your progress. PhD scholars have one more catch. They can’t take another fellowship or salary for the same PhD.
Below you will find the amount for each level, the CGPA and semester rules, the papers you must upload, how selection works and the six steps to apply. Every fact here comes from IndiaAI Mission guidelines and official notices, checked in October 2026.
IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 Overview
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Name | IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 |
| Given By | IndiaAI Mission, MeitY |
| Beneficiary | UG, IDD, PG and PhD students |
| Benefit Amount | Up to ₹2 lakh; PhD ₹80,000/month |
| Apply Start Date | 16 October 2026 |
| Last Date | 30 November 2026 |
| Official Website | fellowship.indiaai.gov.in |
| Official Notification | Guidelines PDF |
Applications are open for the IndiaAI Research Fellowship for PhD scholars pursuing AI research.
Key Points
- UG and IDD students can get up to ₹1 lakh, PG up to ₹2 lakh, and PhD scholars a monthly fellowship.
- Your semester and a 7.0 CGPA decide if you can apply, so check both first.
- Get your guide's and institute's signed letters early, before the 30 November deadline.
Monthly Fellowship:
₹70,000 for Years 1–2, ₹75,000 for Year 3, and ₹80,000 for Years 4–5.Research Grants: Up to ₹10 lakh in contingency funding plus ₹1 lakh for international conference support.
Eligibility: Freshly admitted or first-year, full-time PhD scholars.Apply by November 30, 2026, at https://t.co/uLbDZirRqm
#IndiaAI #ResearchFellowship #AIResearch #PhDFellowship #DigitalIndia
@AshwiniVaishnaw @JitinPrasada @SecretaryMEITY @sudeep_tweets @GoI_MeitY @_DigitalIndia @mygovindia
— IndiaAI (@OfficialINDIAai) October 16, 2026
What is the IndiaAI Fellowship?
It is a fellowship under the FutureSkills part of the IndiaAI Mission. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) runs it. It pays students who do an AI project or AI research in an Indian college or university.
Early rounds were mostly for B.Tech and M.Tech students. Now students of science, medicine, law, commerce, business and liberal arts can apply too, if their project is about AI.
IndiaAI Fellowship Amount and Benefits
How much you get depends on your level of study. We have put every amount in the table below, so you can find yours quickly:
| Level | Amount |
|---|---|
| UG and IDD | Up to ₹1 lakh (2 × ₹50,000) |
| PG | Up to ₹2 lakh (4 × ₹50,000) |
| PhD, Years 1 and 2 | ₹70,000 per month |
| PhD, Year 3 | ₹75,000 per month |
| PhD, Years 4 and 5 | ₹80,000 per month |
| PhD Research Grant | ₹2 lakh per year |
| International Conference | Up to ₹1 lakh, one time |
A PG student who joins in the 2nd or 3rd semester gets fewer tranches, so ₹1.5 lakh or ₹1 lakh.
IndiaAI Fellowship Eligibility
If you want this fellowship, you must meet all the conditions below:
- Indian Nationality
- Full-time Course
- AI-based Project or Research
- 3 AI Courses Done (UG, IDD, PG)
- 7.0 CGPA or 70% (UG, IDD, PG)
- 8.0 CGPA in UG or 7.5 in PG (PhD)
Your semester also matters. We have put the apply window for each course here:
| Course | When You Can Apply |
|---|---|
| 3-year UG | After 4th semester |
| 4-year UG | After 6th semester |
| 5-year IDD | After 8th semester |
| PG | 1st, 2nd or 3rd semester |
| PhD | First year only |
Documents Required for IndiaAI Fellowship
You will upload the papers below on the portal. Get both endorsement letters signed and stamped first, as this takes the longest:
- Marksheets up to Last Semester
- Project Guide Endorsement Letter
- Institution Endorsement Letter
- Cancelled Cheque or Passbook Front Page
- Passport-size Photo (JPG, JPEG or PNG)
- GATE Scorecard (PG, optional)
The bank account must be in your own name, not a parent’s.
IndiaAI Fellowship Selection Process and Result
Your institute is the first filter. Your guide and your head of institution must back your project in writing, and only then does IndiaAI review it. For PhD scholars, the institute sends names through its nodal officer (the staff member in charge).
The guidelines don’t give a result date or a date for the first tranche, so keep checking the portal. My advice: ask your guide for the letter this week, as signatures take time.
How to Apply for IndiaAI Fellowship Online?
If you want to apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship, please read all the steps below carefully. The form is fully online, so you can fill it from home. We have explained every step, so just follow them one by one:
- First, you have to go to the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal, fellowship.indiaai.gov.in.
- On the home page, open the student login and sign in.
- After that, choose your category: UG, IDD, PG or PhD. Fill in your personal, college and bank details carefully.
- Now add your project title, a short summary of the project and your guide’s details.
- Then upload your marksheets, both endorsement letters, bank proof and photo.
- Finally, check every field once more and submit the form. Save your application number and keep checking your status.
PhD scholars can apply only after their institute is registered on the portal.
IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 FAQs
Is there any fee to apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship?
No. The official guidelines don’t ask for any fee.
Is the conference money part of the fellowship amount?
No. It is a separate, one-time payment, given only if your AI paper is accepted at an international conference.
Can I apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship after 30 November 2026?
No. Late forms are not taken for 2026-27, so submit early.
Sources: IndiaAI Fellowship Guidelines and Portal FAQ (fellowship.indiaai.gov.in), IndiaAI Mission FutureSkills notices and IndiaAI Research Fellowship page (indiaai.gov.in), IndiaAI announcement of 16 October 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Check the official website before you apply.
