Applications Open
Youth for
Tech Futures (YTF) Fellowship
A 4-month hands-on research fellowship program hosted by The Pranava Institute's YDCL, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, UK.
Applications close: December 15th, 2025.
Download the Complete Application Packet (pdf) ↓
Are you ready to conduct pioneering research that empowers young people to build India’s tech future?
1/ About
What is the
YTF
Fellowship?
The YTF Fellowship is inviting applications from youth across India to conduct research at the intersection of emerging technology, society, and futures through a 4-month structured program.
The fellowship will bring together a select cohort of ten research fellows (aged 18-25) to lead original, youth-driven research on how young Indians experience, navigate, and imagine their digital lives.
Selected fellows will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive curated two-month academic program led by global faculty experts and practitioners from the fields of technology, social sciences and design. Fellows will learn and work across all the thematic pillars of the YDCL, and explore questions including-
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What are the unique ways in which youth in India are navigating digital technologies?
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How do young people inhabit, explore, and circumvent digital spaces?
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What are youth imaginations of digital futures, and how are they different from our mainstream assumptions?
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Finally, what digital future do young people in India want, and how can we build these futures with them?
YTF is a fully paid program, with a generous fellowship stipend across the 4-month period of the fellowship. YTF fellows who complete the program will recieve INR 1 Lakh as a take-home stipend.
2/ Quick Look
Fellowship at a Glance
01
How long is the fellowship program?
4 months (January - April 2026)
02
What is the format of engagement?
Hybrid, in 2 distinct phases:
1. The Academy(In-person bootcamp + Online learning)
2. Community Capstone Project (On-ground community research)
03
Who can Apply?
Young people aged 18–25 from diverse academic, linguistic, and regional backgrounds across India. Currently open only to candidates residing in India.
04
What will be the fellowship cohort size?
We will select 10 participants in The Academy → 6 fellows selected for Capstone Project+ Research Output
05
What focus areas will the fellows conduct research on?
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Youth and Meaningful Digital Inclusion
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Youth and Non-Western Digital Futures
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Youth and Digital Wellbeing
3/ What will the fellows do?
Fellowship Phases and Structure
YTF runs for 4 months across three distinct phases, following a rigorous theory → action → practice approach.
Ten applicants will be selected to attend The Academy- an intensive hybrid learning program. The program is designed to build relevant domain knowledge and equip fellows to conduct original research across the three focus areas.
The hybrid learning program comprises of:
-
In-person Bootcamp (Bangalore) : January 2026
A 4-day mandatory, in-person bootcamp introducing foundational skills through Masterclasses, workshops and activities.
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Online Training & Mentorship : January to February 2026
A two-month academic program led by global faculty experts and practitioners from the fields of technology, social sciences and design. Fellows will also engage in weekly on-ground activities, share reflections, and present work-in-progress, and contribute to a growing repository of youth-led methods.
Participants who successfully complete The Academy requirements will receive an interim certificate by The Pranava Institute and the University of Leeds.
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Six candidates who excel in the learning program will be shortlisted to continue as YTF fellows and undertake a community capstone project. The Fellows will apply the futures and speculative methods, design tools, and policy analysis learned in the program to conduct on-ground community workshops.
During a two-week structured window (March 15-30, 2026), the six YTF fellows will conduct hands-on community workshops as part of the Community Capstone Project, and will work closely with the YDCL team.
The Six YTF fellows will bring together research evidence gathered from their respective Community Capstones and work with the YDCL lab to co-create a research output that will jointly be published by The Pranava Institute and the University of Leeds.
The research output marks the culmination of the Youth for Tech Futures Fellowship. Fellows that successfully complete the requirements for this phase will be awarded the final certificate of completion from The Pranava Institute and the University of Leeds.
Join the Academy and learn from Global and Regional Experts
Co-Author a final Research Output
Work on a hands-On Community Capstone Project
Join a network of researchers working on tech, society and youth
Earn a Certificate from The Pranava Institute and the University of Leeds
Fully Sponsored Fellowship + Fellow Stipend
4/ Eligibility
Who can Apply?
18-25 years of age
Experience in designing and/or conducting workshops at the grassroots
University Student or
Early Career Professional
Can share prior research work, done as part of university projects or workplace
Have worked with youth communities anywhere in India
5/ Selection
Selection and Timeline
Sign-up Form
The first step is to fill a basic form (Form 1) which requires you to provide basic information about yourself and your contact details.
Applications open: December 1, 2025
Complete Application
Complete the application form to apply for the program.
(Sign up forms alone will not count as a full application).
Last date to apply:
December 15, 2025
Final Interview
Shortlisted candidates are called for virtual interviews till December 27, 2025
Ten Finalists will be selected.
Fellows Announcement: December 30, 2025
First Shortlist
Shortlisted applicants are contacted for next steps.
December 15-25, 2025
Fellowship Starts
Fellowship kick off: January 3, 2026
In-person Bootcamp in Bangalore: January 8, 2026
January 3, 2026
6/ Mentors
Our Mentors
Assistant Professor,
Ethical Design at the Institute for Technology and Humanity,
University of Cambridge, UK
