CHANAKYA UG Fellowship 2026
By IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
An undergraduate fellowship program by IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation, IIT Indore, supporting students with breakthrough ideas in Cyber-Physical Systems for digital healthcare.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Provider
- IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Idea
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
About this grant
Comprehensive and Holistic Advancement of National Knowledge Yield and Analytics (CHANAKYA) UG fellowships aim to identify and support breakthrough ideas in the area of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) by undergraduate students. Ideas having the potential to solve pressing and compelling problems faced by industries, PSUs, Government organisations, healthcare organisations, and society, using concepts of CPS are sought under digital healthcare. Ideas with high potential for patenting, licensing, and Commercialisation are especially encouraged. Specific application verticals and focus areas include: Cyber Physical Systems in Digital Healthcare & HealthTech, Medical Devices (Wearable devices, test beds, hardware in loop systems, Point of Care Devices), AI/ML implementation in Digital Healthcare, Early-Stage Diagnostics, Healthcare Analytics, or related deep-tech healthcare applications. The program encourages and supports innovative ideas with the potential to be patented and provides avenues for students to take their ideas forward as a startup through IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation's support programs. Selected teams benefit from expert guidance and the potential for extended project timelines based on performance.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation is a Section 8 not-for-profit hosted at IIT Indore in Simrol, near Indore, Madhya Pradesh. It was set up as a Technology Innovation Hub under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), a Department of Science and…
Learn moreIITI ACE Foundation is the incubation centre of the Indian Institute of Technology Indore, on the institute's campus at Simrol on Khandwa Road, about 25 km south of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. It describes itself as an incubation center at IIT Indore that supports startups with…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Monthly stipend
- ₹5,000/month
- Fund type
- Fellowship
What You Get
- Students will earn a fellowship amount of ₹5,000 per student per month for a maximum of 6 months, with potential for extension based on requirements and outcomes. This provides crucial financial support for developing their ideas.
- A development grant of up to ₹1 lakh (per selected project) is provided to the host institute/university to facilitate project execution.
- Comprehensive IPR filing support and technology development assistance are offered, with the Foundation retaining IP ownership but acknowledging inventors and potentially facilitating joint filing with host institutes or industry partners.
- Ideas with high potential may be considered further for startup and incubation through IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation's support programs, helping students transition their projects into viable ventures.
- Selected student teams, mentors, and host institutes receive certificates of recognition, acknowledging their achievements.
- Host institutes gain the opportunity to become a spoke of IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation, which includes enhanced research opportunities, skilling initiatives, and industry connections.
- Disbursement
- Monthly Stipend
- Duration
- 6 months
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
All entries will be evaluated based on originality, technical and practical feasibility of proposed solutions, and the use of cyber-physical systems. The selection criteria include potential for patenting, end-user application, clarity, technical depth, feasibility, relevance to CPS, and cost of solution. Ideas that show potential for conclusion by the end of the fellowship tenure will be given higher preference. Applications are competitive and will be evaluated by various experts. Successful entries will be subject to bi-monthly interactions with academic, healthcare, and industry personnel to monitor progress, and the fellowship can be terminated if performance is unsatisfactory. The decision of the IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation is final.
Application Process
- 1
Submit Application
Submit concept note and proposal online with host institute endorsement and faculty mentor details.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for submission of the concept note?
Applications are open till 15 November 2026 (Subject to further extension). Applications will be reviewed regularly, even before the end date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
What will be the total duration of the project?
The project timeline is normally expected to be 6 months. (The duration and extension of the timeline of the project are as per the NMICPS timeline and review of work progress under the Technology Development Program of the IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation).
Can the students and faculty mentors be from different institutes?
Students and Faculty should be from the same host institute.
How many students can be in a team participating for the CHANAKYA UG Fellowship?
Each student team is normally expected to have 3 students.
What is the amount of fellowship per student per month under this scheme?
Each student of a team will be supported with a fellowship of INR 5000/- per month through the duration of the project.
Can a student apply directly for CHANAKYA UG fellowship?
Yes, but submissions must be accompanied with an endorsement letter from the host institute in which the student is enrolled.
What if a student leaves the project mid-way during the execution?
In case such a situation arises, the balance funds should be returned to IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation.
What are the selection criteria and process?
IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation’s CHANAKYA UG Fellowships are competitive in nature. We look for innovative ideas having potential for application in the field. Possibility of filing a patent, end user application, Clarity and technical depth, feasibility, relevance to CPS and cost of solution are some of the criteria for the evaluation. Ideas which reach a conclusion level by the end of the tenure of the fellowship will be given a higher preference. All the ideas will be evaluated by various experts. Decision of the IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation will be final and no further query will be entertained about the decision.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
