IndiaAI Mission: MeitY invites top institutes to nominate AI scholars for fellowships

The IndiaAI mission was approved the Union Cabinet in March 2024

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has kicked off the Rs 10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission by inviting nominations from 50 institutes, including IITs, NITs etc, for students who are taking undertaking projects in artificial intelligence.

Selected students who are pursuing B. Tech or M. Tech programs from the top 50 National Institutional Ranking Framework-ranked engineering colleges will be offered fellowships to undertake projects in AI.

For B.Tech students who are accepted, the ministry will offer Rs 1 lakh across three tranches, said an official communique of the IT ministry addressed to engineering institutes. For M.Tech students, the ministry will provide Rs 2 lakh funding in four tranches of Rs 50,000 each.

Moneycontrol was the first to report that the selection of scholars under the IndiaAI FutureSkills program will feature in the 100-day agenda of the IT ministry. The FutureSkills program is one of the seven pillars of the IndiaAI Mission, and it aims promote entry into AI courses in undergraduate, masters, and PhD programmes.

The ministry has requested institutes to nominate 10 students in each category from each institute who are undertaking AI projects, according to a letter addressed to 50 engineering institutes by IndiaAI Mission CEO Abhishek Singh.

"This fellowship support will supplement existing fellowships and cover the duration of their project: one year for B. Tech students, and two years for M. Tech students," said the letter.

Also read: Decoding IndiaAI: Inside India's Rs 10,372-crore plan to boost AI infrastructure

"This support is instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, thereby ensuring a workforce proficient in the essential skills needed to progress in the field of AI," it added.

Eligibility criteria

For institutes nominating B.Tech students, the ministry said that they must have attained an overall 80 percent marks or equivalent grade in the last semester. For those nominated with less marks, the ministry has sought justification from the institution.

For M.Tech students, MeitY has said that such students should be pursuing postgraduate studies in AI-related courses and should be undertaking thesis on AI and related subjects.

How the funds will be distributed

For B.Tech students, where the fellowship amount is capped at Rs 1 lakh, the first tranch of Rs 50,000 will be transferred to the students when their nomination is accepted by IndiaAI.

The second tranche of Rs 25,000 will be transferred after the completion of the student's seventh semester, with the condition that the he/she must has secured 80 per cent marks. The third tranche of Rs 25,000 will be transferred after the submission of the project.

For selected M. Tech students who will be eligible for Rs 2 lakh in fellowship, the ministry will transfer Rs 50,000, in the first tranche, after their nomination is accepted.

Another Rs 50,000 will be transferred after the end of the first semester and the student has to achieve a minimum of 80 per cent marks or equivalent grade. The third tranche will be transferred after the end of the second semester. Similar conditions will be applicable then too.

The fourth and final tranche of Rs 50,000 will be transferred after the submission of the project. The student has to maintain the 80 per cent cut off mark throughout.