What if your college project could do more than earn you marks? What if it could also receive government funding to help you develop it further?
For students interested in artificial intelligence, that possibility is becoming real. The Government of India's IndiaAI Fellowship, part of the broader IndiaAI Mission, offers financial support to eligible students working on AI-related projects and research. The programme is designed to help students move beyond classroom learning and explore how artificial intelligence can solve problems in the real world.
The fellowship is particularly relevant at a time when AI skills are becoming valuable across industries, from healthcare and education to finance, agriculture and public services. But before assuming that anyone who builds an AI tool can receive funding, there are a few important things to understand about the programme, its eligibility requirements and the application process.
How Much Funding Can Students Receive?
The amount depends on the level of study. According to the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal, the funding for the 2026–27 academic year is structured as follows.
Undergraduate and integrated dual-degree students
Up to ₹1 lakh
Financial support during the eligible final year, generally released in two instalments of ₹50,000, subject to requirements.
Postgraduate students
Up to ₹2 lakh
The total available depends on the semester in which the student enters the fellowship and the applicable instalment conditions.
PhD scholars
₹70,000–₹80,000 per month
The monthly fellowship rises by year, with a separate research grant of ₹2 lakh per year, including institutional overheads capped at 10%.
There is also potential support of up to ₹1 lakh for eligible students whose AI research papers are accepted at qualifying international conferences, towards travel and accommodation. This is separate from the main fellowship and is subject to the programme's conditions.
These are funding amounts, not a salary for taking up a job. Students receive support for approved academic projects or research, and further instalments can depend on grades and project progress.
Who Can Apply for the IndiaAI Fellowship 2026?
The programme is not restricted to engineering students. The official portal lists students from fields including science, medicine, law, commerce, business and liberal arts, provided they meet the academic and project requirements.
For undergraduate applicants, the current eligibility criteria include being in the eligible stage of a full-time degree, completing at least three full-time AI-related courses and meeting the required academic threshold. The portal currently lists a minimum of 70% or equivalent CGPA for eligible undergraduate and integrated dual-degree applicants.
Postgraduate students must have confirmed admission and apply during the first, second or third semester. They must meet the academic requirements, have completed at least three full-time AI-related courses and be pursuing an AI-related project. Part-time students are not eligible, and applicants must be Indian nationals.
PhD applicants must be newly enrolled, full-time doctoral students researching AI or a related field. Different academic thresholds apply to undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Students should check the official criteria for their category, as requirements differ between undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral applicants.
How to Apply, and What Should Students Prepare?
Applications for the 2026–27 cycle are open, with November 30, 2026, listed as the deadline in the current announcement. Students can begin through the official IndiaAI Fellowship portal.
Applicants should prepare their latest marksheets, a bank document in their own name, a passport-size photograph and the required endorsement from their project guide or the relevant institute authority. They should also be ready to explain their AI project and show how it will progress. The institution's role matters: students need the necessary academic endorsement, and PhD applicants should verify that their institute is eligible under the scheme.
A project does not need to be a flashy chatbot or a complicated new AI model to be meaningful. It could explore how AI might help identify crop diseases, make learning materials more accessible, analyse public-health information or improve a local service. What matters is the project's relevance, research quality and feasibility—not simply adding AI to an idea because it is popular.
Students should read the latest guidelines carefully before applying, especially the requirements for their course stage, funding instalments and project reports.
Is It Worth Applying?
For students already interested in AI, the IndiaAI Fellowship offers more than financial assistance. It can provide room to develop a project, gain research experience and build work that goes beyond a classroom assignment. It may also help students test whether they enjoy the process of solving real problems with AI before deciding on a career in the field.
But the fellowship is competitive support, not guaranteed funding for every applicant. Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not automatically mean selection, and receiving an instalment may depend on continued academic performance and project progress.
For students with a clear idea and the commitment to see it through, the opportunity is worth exploring. The most valuable outcome may not be the money alone, but the chance to turn something learned in class into work that can make a difference outside it.
