IIT Delhi signs ₹9 crore Walmart deal for AI research and fellowships
By TUF News Desk · Published 9 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has signed a four-year partnership with Walmart Global Tech worth about ₹9 crore, to fund research, teaching and talent development in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science. The deal was announced on 6 November 2026 and runs through the institute’s Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence, with around ₹2.3 crore set aside for the current financial year.
The corporate partner is WM Global Technology Services India Private Limited, Walmart Global Tech’s India arm. IIT Delhi will lead the initiative over the four years and review its progress at regular intervals.
What the funding covers
Student researchers will get dedicated fellowships, and the programme will pay for faculty development and teacher training, some of it aimed beyond the IIT Delhi campus. The money also goes towards research infrastructure and towards building a pipeline of skilled AI professionals.
Learning opportunities under the initiative will also open to industry professionals and to learners from underrepresented communities, taking AI education to people who may never study on the campus itself.
The school running it
The Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence was set up in 2020 and is headed by Prof. Chetan Arora. It brings together faculty from different departments to work on AI and its uses in healthcare, robotics, materials science, Industry 4.0, climate and transportation.
Prof. Jayant Jain, the institute’s Dean of Corporate Relations, and Balu Chaturvedula, senior vice-president and country head at Walmart Global Tech, were part of the announcement. The school’s stated focus is on research with uses that matter to industry and to society, not only on publishing papers.
What students should know
No fellowship numbers, stipend amounts, eligibility criteria or application dates have been announced yet, so this is a programme announcement rather than a call for applications. Students interested in the fellowships should check the official IIT Delhi announcement for updates instead of assuming a form is already open.
The deal is the second large industry-backed AI commitment at an Indian institute in a week. On the same day, 6 November, NIT Tiruchirappalli opened its ₹10 crore Tata Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, also built around PhD fellowships and research infrastructure. For students weighing a research career, our guide to choosing a university in India explains how to weigh a department’s research record against its funding, and our scholarships guide covers the funding options usually open to Indian students.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the IIT Delhi-Walmart AI partnership worth?
About ₹9 crore over four years, with around ₹2.3 crore earmarked for the current financial year.
What will the partnership fund?
Research in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, dedicated fellowships for student researchers, faculty development and teacher training, and research infrastructure.
Which school at IIT Delhi is running the initiative?
The Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence, set up in 2020 and headed by Prof. Chetan Arora. It brings together faculty from different departments to work on AI applications.
How can students apply for the fellowships?
No fellowship numbers, stipend amounts, eligibility criteria or application dates have been announced yet. Students should watch IIT Delhi’s official announcement page for details.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the IIT Delhi-Walmart AI partnership worth?
About ₹9 crore over four years, with around ₹2.3 crore earmarked for the current financial year.
What will the partnership fund?
Research in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, dedicated fellowships for student researchers, faculty development and teacher training, and research infrastructure.
Which school at IIT Delhi is running the initiative?
The Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence, set up in 2020 and headed by Prof. Chetan Arora. It brings together faculty from different departments to work on AI applications.
How can students apply for the fellowships?
No fellowship numbers, stipend amounts, eligibility criteria or application dates have been announced yet. Students should watch IIT Delhi's official announcement page for details.
Sources: NDTV, The Tribune, Careers360