New Delhi, November, 2025.
Ashoka University, India’s
premier institution for interdisciplinary higher education and research, has
opened applications for the 16th cohort
of the Young India Fellowship (YIF), Class of 2026–27. This is a milestone
year as it marks fifteen years of the
flagshipprogrammethatlaidthefoundationfortheUniversity’sestablishmentin2014.Reaffirmingits
commitment to making the Fellowship more accessible
for bright and deserving individuals, AshokaUniversitywillprovidescholarshipstoallselectedFellowsintheClassof2026–27,made
possible through the generous support of
HDFC Bank.
In a world of constant change, the Young India Fellowship remains one of India’s most distinguished programmes, bringing together a select few bright and driven students across different backgrounds.The programme equips Fellows with the intellectual breadth, critical perspectives, and the leadershiptoolsneededto navigateandaddress the mostpertinent problemstocreateabetter world. The Fellowship nurtures individuals to become impactful thinkers, problem-solvers, and catalysts for change, building strong interdisciplinary foundations and developing transferable skills that enable them to lead across diverse domains and sectors.
Reflecting on the
Fellowship’s legacy, Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder & Chairperson, Board of
Trustee, Ashoka University, said, “Ashoka
started with the Young India Fellowship, so it has a very special place in the
University. It's a microcosm of what all of Ashoka has to offer and the best of
what Ashoka has to offer.”
Institutedin2011,theYIFoffersayear-longresidentialpostgraduatediplomafocusedoninterdisciplinary and multidimensional learning.The YIF curriculum is anchored around four key pillars which include - Core and Elective Coursework, Critical Inquiry and Expression, Immersive Experiential Learning, and HolisticLearningandEngagement.Fellowsstudyaround 18coursesacrossvariousdisciplinesand themes, work on a real-world project and learn how to think and express effectively, all while being mentored and guided by stalwarts and senior alumni across fields. Almost 2400 alumni, across the past 14 years, continue to make an impact across government, civil society, development, academia, research, sports, performing arts, multilateral organizations, the corporate sector, and as entrepreneurs.
Commenting on
the fellowship’s impact, Somak
Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University said, “The Young India Fellowship at the University has become very, very
successful in creating leaders and our alumni are all across the world making a
name for themselves. Many of them are at the top of their field.”
The Class of
2026-27 will comprise around 100 Fellows. Candidates of all age groups and
nationalities, across diverse academic, professional, geographical and
socioeconomic backgrounds, who have a recognised undergraduate degree in any
discipline by July 2026 or earlier (can be a final-year student at the time of
application) are eligible to apply for the YIF. There is no age limit to apply.
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exceptionalcandidateswillbeawardedtheChancellor’sScholarship,coveringtheentire
tuition and residence fee.
Notably,amongallFellowsinthe15thcohort,YIFClassof2025–26,59%receivedfulltuitionwaivers or more, 32% were fully funded (including tuition, residence, and meals), 24% who were fully funded received additional financial support to pursue the fellowship and 17 Fellows were recognised as Chancellor’sScholars.35%oftheClassof2026Fellowsidentifyasfirst-generationcollegegoers,and59% as female.
Allinterestedcandidatesarerequiredtocompleteafree-of-costonlineapplication.Applicationsare
holistically evaluated and shortlisted candidates are invited for an online
personal interview.
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