If you are a college student working on an artificial intelligence project, there is a government cheque waiting with your name on it. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has opened applications for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026, a scheme that puts real money into the hands of students and researchers doing serious AI work. Undergraduate students can claim up to Rs 1 lakh, postgraduates up to Rs 2 lakh, and PhD scholars get a monthly stipend that climbs from Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 as they progress through their research.
The fellowship is one arm of the larger IndiaAI Mission, the government’s flagship push to build homegrown AI talent and research capacity. Applications are live on the official portal, fellowship.indiaai.gov.in, and the last date to apply is November 30, 2026. That gives interested students roughly five weeks to get their documents and project proposals in order.
How Much Money Is on the Table
The fellowship splits its support by academic level, and the numbers are not token amounts. According to MeitY’s announcement, eligible undergraduate and integrated dual degree students can receive up to Rs 1 lakh for AI-related projects. Postgraduate students can get up to Rs 2 lakh, with the exact amount depending on their academic stage.
Doctoral researchers get the steadiest support. PhD fellows receive Rs 70,000 a month in the first two years, Rs 75,000 a month in the third year, and Rs 80,000 a month in the fourth and fifth years. On top of the stipend, eligible research scholars can draw a research grant of up to Rs 2 lakh per year, with institutional overheads capped at 10 per cent.
There is also a sweetener for scholars who publish. Students whose AI research papers are accepted at eligible international conferences with an h5-index above 100 can get one-time financial support of up to Rs 1 lakh towards travel and accommodation.
Who Can Apply
The programme is open to full-time students in India enrolled in undergraduate, integrated dual degree, postgraduate and PhD programmes. The eligibility bar is tied to how far along you are in your course:
- 3-year UG programmes: students from the start of the 5th semester
- 4-year UG programmes: students from the start of the 7th semester
- 5-year integrated dual degree: students from the start of the 9th semester
- Postgraduate students: students in semesters 1, 2 and 3
Applicants must have completed at least three full-time AI-related courses, and the scheme spans a wide range of disciplines, from engineering and science to medicine, law, commerce, business and liberal arts, as long as the proposed work relates to AI. The ministry has asked candidates to read the detailed eligibility criteria, required documents and application instructions for their category on the portal before applying.
Why This Matters Right Now
The fellowship arrives at a moment when AI skills are among the most employable a student can hold, yet cutting-edge AI work, from training models to running large experiments, costs real money that most students do not have. By funding projects at the student level rather than only through institutions, the IndiaAI Mission is betting that the next breakthrough might come from a hostel room or a department lab rather than a corporate campus.
For PhD scholars in particular, the monthly support is competitive with several existing fellowships and is designed to grow with the research journey, which makes the long, uncertain years of doctoral work a little more viable financially.
How to Apply Before November 30
- Visit the official portal at fellowship.indiaai.gov.in and pick your academic category (UG, IDD, PG or PhD).
- Go through the eligibility criteria and the list of required documents for that category carefully.
- Keep academic records, bank details and endorsement letters ready before you start the form.
- Prepare a clear write-up of your AI-related project or research proposal; this is the core of the application.
- Submit before November 30, 2026, and keep a copy of the submitted application for your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026?
The last date to apply is November 30, 2026, as per the announcement made by MeitY.
How much money do UG students get under the fellowship?
Eligible undergraduate and integrated dual degree students can receive financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh for AI-related projects.
What stipend do PhD scholars receive?
PhD fellows get Rs 70,000 per month in years one and two, Rs 75,000 in year three, and Rs 80,000 in years four and five, plus a research grant of up to Rs 2 lakh per year.
Which degrees are eligible?
The scheme covers engineering, science, medicine, law, commerce, business and liberal arts, as long as the proposed work is related to AI.
Where do I apply?
Applications are submitted online through the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal at fellowship.indiaai.gov.in.
A government fellowship that pays students to do AI research is a rare combination of headline and opportunity. If you are eligible, five weeks is enough time to put together a strong application. Do not let the deadline pass quietly.
