FAST-SF 2026 applications open for summer research fellowships; register by January 31

The Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS) Bengaluru, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) New Delhi, and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Prayagraj have jointly launched the Focus Area Science Technology-Summer Fellowship (FAST-SF 2026) programme.

The initiative aims to promote scientific research and technological advancement among students and teachers in specific areas of the country. The programme will offer 200 fellowships for short-term research projects for around two months, preferably during summer. Selected candidates will work under the guidance of scientists associated with the three academies across the country.

The fellowship will cover students and faculty from the northeastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Tripura. It will also include participants from Bihar, Andaman, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and Uttarakhand.

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FAST-SF 2026 Application Form: Apply by January 31

Applications for FAST-SF 2026 have been invited from students and teachers from universities and colleges in designated states and territories, including institutions affiliated to UGC , AICTE, MCI, or accredited private universities.

Applicants must submit the prescribed application form, a scanned copy of their Class 10 marksheet, and a brief note of around 150-200 words outlining their learning goals under the fellowship.

Students are required to provide the email ID of a teacher who is familiar with their academic work.

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The last date to submit the FAST-SF application form is January 31. Candidates can submit their application on the official websites, ias.ac.in, insaindia.res.in, or nasi.org.in

FAST-SF 2026 Fellowship Programme: Eligibility

To apply for the fellowship programme, students must have completed one of the following approved courses.

Eligibility criteria for students

Candidates should have a minimum average score of 65% or above in core subjects from Class 10 to the latest completed degree.

Eligibility criteria for teachers

Only teachers working in the northeastern states of India – Andaman, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and Uttarakhand are eligible to apply. Those pursuing PhD are not eligible for the fellowship.

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The selection list, along with the mentor confirmation, will be announced by March-April 2026. The selected fellows will be provided with round-trip train fares and a monthly stipend to support their stay during the fellowship period.