IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 Opens with Rs 2 Lakh Aid

IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 opened applications with financial assistance up to Rs 2 lakh for postgraduate students and Rs 1 lakh for undergraduates, with a deadline of November 30, 2026.

By Career Ahead AI — AI-assisted, fact-verified against cited sources. Readers should verify key facts.

Who Runs the Fellowship

The fellowship is run by IndiaAI under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It targets students at different academic levels, offering financial support tailored to each stage of study.^¹²

Undergraduate students can receive up to Rs 1 lakh in financial assistance. Postgraduate students can receive up to Rs 2 lakh. The amounts are designed to reduce the cost of pursuing AI research.^¹²

It targets students at different academic levels, offering financial support tailored to each stage of study.¹²

PhD Support and Research Grants

PhD scholars receive monthly financial support ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000, depending on the year of their research programme. In the third year, they receive Rs 75,000 per month. In the fourth and fifth years, the monthly support rises to Rs 80,000.^¹²

Research scholars are also eligible for a research grant of Rs 2 lakh per year. This grant supports ongoing research expenses beyond the monthly stipend.^¹²

Conference Travel Support

Students whose AI research papers are accepted at international conferences can receive up to Rs 1 lakh for travel and accommodation. This one-time support helps scholars present their work at global venues.^¹²

The application deadline for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026 programme is November 30, 2026. Interested students must submit their applications before this date to be considered.^¹

Weigh AI research funding before you commit

If you are deciding between a master's and a PhD in AI, the numbers now give you a concrete baseline. A postgraduate student can get up to Rs 2 lakh in one-time assistance, while a PhD scholar receives Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per month depending on the year. That monthly support rises to Rs 80,000 in the fourth and fifth years, so factor in the long-term commitment before choosing a shorter course.^¹²

Interested students must submit their applications before this date to be considered.¹

For research-focused students, the extra funding changes what you can plan for. A Rs 2 lakh annual research grant covers ongoing expenses, and up to Rs 1 lakh is available for travel if your paper is accepted at an international conference. If you are weighing a role in industry versus academia, these figures show a government-backed path that funds both living costs and conference exposure, which matters for building a visible research profile.^²