Photo: NASA / Kennedy Space Center (Ben Smegelsky), Public domain
Many engineers in India do research that can move out of the laboratory and reach the market. The Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship is for exactly those engineers. It is a fellowship of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It is named after former President and scientist Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The fellowship is meant to encourage engineers to build technology that India can use and sell, rather than research that stays in journals. A selected engineer gets ₹25,000 a month over and above the regular income and a ₹15 lakh yearly research grant. At most 10 fellows are selected every year.
How much money is given
The Abdul Kalam Fellowship pays as follows.
- Fellowship: ₹25,000 a month — an extra amount over the regular income.
- Research grant: ₹15 lakh a year — for developing and testing the technology.
- Institutional overhead: ₹1 lakh a year — paid to the host institute.
- Duration: 3 years, extendable to 5 years after a review of the work.
- Number: at most 10 fellows are selected every year.
This fellowship is given to turn research into a real product or technology, not just a paper.
Who can apply
This fellowship is only for engineers doing translational research.
- Must be an Indian national.
- Working in a public-funded institution.
- At least 5 years of service left.
- The research must be translational — a technology that can be commercialised or deployed, that can be patented, or that can become a working prototype.
- Those doing only theoretical research are not eligible for this fellowship.
- The applicant should have an outstanding record in engineering.
How to apply
For this fellowship, applications come through nomination — there is no direct application. Nominations can be sent to INAE throughout the year. The nomination should show the technology, the prototype or the patent clearly. Nominations received up to 30 June are considered in that financial year. For 2026-27, the last date for nominations was 30 June 2026, which has now passed. Nominations are sent in the format given on the INAE website inae.in, or contact can be made at [email protected]. Never pay anyone for applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money is given under the Abdul Kalam Fellowship? A: ₹25,000 a month over regular income and a ₹15 lakh yearly research grant; the institute also gets ₹1 lakh a year as overhead. Q2: For how many years is the fellowship given? A: For 3 years, and it can be extended to 5 years after a review. Q3: Who can apply? A: Indian engineers working in public-funded institutions, with at least 5 years of service left and doing translational research. Q4: How do I apply? A: Through nomination, on the INAE website inae.in; nominations received up to 30 June are considered in that financial year.
Useful links
- INAE official website: https://www.inae.in/
- Abdul Kalam Fellowship on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/aktinf
- Also see the Visvesvaraya PhD Fellowship: https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/central-government-visvesvaraya-phd-fellowship-haryana/
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
- DST official website: https://dst.gov.in/
