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.”
EligibilityandScholarships:
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.
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.
TheRound1 applicationprocess isopenuntil January19,2026.Theprioritydeadlinewithin Round 1 is December 8, 2025. Applications received by the priority deadline will be processed sooner for the personal interview stage
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