IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 opens: up to Rs 2 lakh for students, apply by November 30

Applications are open for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27, the student funding programme run by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IndiaAI Mission, with a deadline of November 30, 2026. The opening was reported on October 16 and 17, 2026. Undergraduate and integrated dual-degree students working on artificial intelligence projects can receive up to Rs 1 lakh, postgraduate students up to Rs 2 lakh, and an extra Rs 1 lakh is available to help selected students present their work at international conferences. A separate PhD track offers monthly fellowships and research grants for newly enrolled full-time scholars. Applications are made through the official portal, fellowship.indiaai.gov.in.

India wants to build its own capacity in artificial intelligence, from computing infrastructure to models and applications, and the IndiaAI Mission is the government's main vehicle for that. Hardware and data centres get most of the headlines, but none of it works without people who understand the technology deeply. Student fellowships are one of the cheaper and more direct ways to grow that talent pool, by paying students to do real AI projects and research rather than only coursework.

For students, the money matters. Up to Rs 2 lakh for a postgraduate project can cover computing costs, data, travel and living expenses that would otherwise push a student toward a quick job offer instead of serious research. The extra Rs 1 lakh for international conferences is significant too: presenting at a major conference is often the step that puts a young researcher on the radar of top universities, labs and employers.

The PhD stipend levels are also notable. A monthly fellowship rising from Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 over five years, if confirmed on the portal, would make AI doctoral research a more realistic choice for strong students who might otherwise go straight into industry. Keeping some of the best minds in research is important if India wants to produce original AI work and not only apply tools built elsewhere.

Applicants should read the rules carefully. News reports this week give slightly different minimum marks for some categories, and the portal's own criteria are the ones that count. Students will also need a clear project idea and, in most cases, the backing of a faculty supervisor.

IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 at a glance Category | Support Undergraduate and integrated dual degree | Up to Rs 1 lakh Postgraduate | Up to Rs 2 lakh International conference presentation | Additional Rs 1 lakh PhD (reported) | Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 a month, plus up to Rs 10 lakh contingency Deadline | November 30, 2026

Short-term: Eligible students have about six weeks to prepare and submit applications. Those with an AI project idea and faculty support are best placed to apply.

Long-term: A steady flow of funded student researchers can strengthen India's AI research base, feed start-ups and industry labs with skilled people, and help more Indian work reach international conferences.

Who is affected: Undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students in AI and related fields, their faculty supervisors, universities and colleges, and employers looking for research-trained AI talent.

Questions and Answers