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SBI youth fellowship open to OCIs
The 13-month program places young professionals in rural communities to work on grassroots development projects.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 12, Mar 2026
- 14:10 EDT
- 16
SBI Youth for India Fellowship / Handout
The State Bank of India (SBI) Foundation has opened applications for the 14th edition of the SBI Youth for India Fellowship, inviting Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) to participate in a 13-month rural development program across India.
The fellowship places selected participants in villages where they work with rural communities and partner non-governmental organizations on grassroots development initiatives.
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Open to graduates and young professionals aged 21 to 32, the program works with 15 partner NGOs operating in more than 250 villages across 22 states and union territories.
Swapan Dhar, managing director and chief executive officer of SBI Foundation, said the fellowship seeks to develop leaders who can address development challenges in rural India.
“Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship nurtures changemakers who bridge urban-rural divides through collaboration and empathy, not charity,” Dhar said. “Across 12 key thematic areas, including education, women’s empowerment, and rural livelihoods, Fellows drive meaningful grassroots impact while building inclusive leadership capabilities.”
Launched in 2011 and inspired by the U.S. Peace Corps model, the program focuses on 12 thematic areas including health, rural livelihood, food security, environmental protection, education, water management, technology, women’s empowerment, self-governance, social entrepreneurship, traditional crafts, and alternate energy.
According to the SBI Foundation, more than 700 fellows have participated in the program since its inception, with projects collectively impacting more than 200,000 people through grassroots interventions.
The current 13th batch includes 94 fellows working in villages across the country.
Some alumni initiatives have expanded beyond the fellowship period. Gautam Kumar, a fellow in 2018, started a micro-forest initiative in the Nivali cluster of Madhya Pradesh that has since expanded from four sites to more than 1,800 micro-forests across three states by 2025.
Another fellow, Shashank Singh, launched a rainwater harvesting project in Tilonia, Rajasthan, in 2016 that collected about 100 million liters of water in its first year and now provides year-round water access to more than 1,000 families across three villages.
The foundation said more than 70 percent of alumni have gone on to careers in the social sector, including rural development, public policy, governance, and academia.
Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are also eligible to apply, along with confirmed SBI officers in Scale I and II. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or be scheduled to complete one by October 2026. The selection process includes an online application and assessment followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates.
The fellowship provides financial and logistical support to participants, including a monthly living allowance, travel support, project funding, and a readjustment allowance upon completion. Applications can be submitted through the fellowship portal at apply.youthforindia.org.
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