IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27 open: up to Rs 2 lakh for AI research, apply by Nov 30

By TUF News Desk · Published 23 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

November 30 is the deadline for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27, the national fellowship for college students doing artificial intelligence research. Undergraduates can get up to Rs 1 lakh, postgraduates up to Rs 2 lakh, and doctoral scholars get a monthly stipend that runs from Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000. Applications are open on the official fellowship portal.

The fellowship is run by IndiaAI, the body that manages the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It funds full-time students whose projects centre on artificial intelligence or related domains. The scheme is not limited to engineering: it covers science, medicine, law, commerce, business and liberal arts, as long as the proposed work relates to AI. IndiaAI announced the 2026-27 call on its official handle this month.

How much money is on the table

Undergraduate and integrated dual-degree students can receive up to Rs 1 lakh. Postgraduate students can get up to Rs 2 lakh. Students who get their AI research papers accepted at eligible international conferences with an h5-index above 100 can claim one-time support of up to Rs 1 lakh for travel and accommodation.

PhD scholars get the longest runway. Newly enrolled or first-year full-time doctoral students receive Rs 70,000 a month in the first two years, Rs 75,000 in the third year, and Rs 80,000 in the fourth and fifth years, including allowances such as HRA. They can also get research grants of up to Rs 2 lakh a year, with institutional overheads capped at 10 per cent, and total contingency support going up to Rs 10 lakh.

Who can apply

Applicants must be full-time students and Indian nationals. For 3-year UG programmes, students must have reached the start of the 5th semester; for 4-year UG programmes, the start of the 7th semester; for 5-year integrated dual-degree programmes, the start of the 9th semester. Postgraduates in their first, second or third semester can apply. UG, IDD and PG applicants must have completed at least three full-time AI courses, and PG applicants need a minimum CGPA of 7.0. First-year PhD scholars need at least 8.0 CGPA (or 80 per cent) in their undergraduate studies, or 7.5 CGPA (or 75 per cent) in their postgraduate studies.

How to apply

Applications close on November 30, 2026. Candidates should apply through the official IndiaAI fellowship portal and check the eligibility conditions, funding details and application instructions there before submitting. For a wider look at funding options, see our guide to scholarships for Indian university students.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026-27?

November 30, 2026. Applications are submitted online on the official portal, fellowship.indiaai.gov.in.

How much funding can UG and PG students get?

Undergraduates and integrated dual-degree students can receive up to Rs 1 lakh; postgraduates up to Rs 2 lakh.

What do PhD scholars get under the fellowship?

A monthly stipend of Rs 70,000 in years one and two, Rs 75,000 in year three and Rs 80,000 in years four and five, plus research grants of up to Rs 2 lakh a year and contingency support up to Rs 10 lakh.

Does the fellowship support conference travel?

Yes. Students whose AI papers are accepted at eligible international conferences with an h5-index above 100 can get one-time support of up to Rs 1 lakh for travel and accommodation.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Indian Express, Business Today, Edex Live, NDTV