AICTE Productization Fellowship (APF)
AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education)
Application deadline
Check the official page
Overview
The AICTE Productization Fellowship (APF) is a new fellowship from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). It helps students turn innovative product or service ideas into real, market-ready products. Your idea must already be at the "Proof of Concept" (PoC) stage — meaning you have built or tested something, not just a plain idea.
Who can apply? Full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral students in AICTE-approved institutions. Students who passed out within the last two years are also eligible. You can apply alone or in a team of up to 3 members (4 in special cases).
What do you get? A stipend of ₹37,000 per month per student for up to one year (Stage 1). If your prototype is completed successfully, the fellowship can be extended for another year (Stage 2) at the same rate. Each team also gets a contingency grant of ₹50,000 per year for tools and materials. Money is paid straight to your Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Note: you cannot take another salary, scholarship, or long internship (over 3 months) at the same time. You can apply anytime during the year on the AICTE portal (apf.aicte.gov.in); proposals are evaluated twice a year by an AICTE expert committee. Always check the official page for the current cycle.
At a glance
| Who can apply | UG, PG, PhD |
|---|---|
| Streams | — |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | — |
| Benefit / amount | ₹37,000 per month per student for up to 2 years (Stage 1 + Stage 2), plus a ₹50,000 per year per team contingency grant |
| Duration | 1 year, extendable to 2 years (Stage 2) |
| Renewable | Yes |
| Last date | See official page |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Bonafide certificate from your own college/university (required when team members are from different institutions)
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
How you're selected
Proposals are assessed on merit by an expert committee constituted by AICTE; evaluation happens twice a year. In Stage 1, 500 teams are selected; projects that successfully complete a prototype can move to Stage 2, where 150 teams are selected. The decision of the competent authority is final.
FAQs
Who can apply for the APF? Full-time UG, PG or PhD students in AICTE-approved institutions. Students who finished their course within the last two years can also apply. You can apply alone or in a team of up to 3 members (4 in exceptional cases). Your project must be at least at the Proof of Concept (PoC) stage — simple ideas with no development are not accepted.
How much money will I get? ₹37,000 per month per student for up to one year (Stage 1), plus a ₹50,000-per-year contingency grant per team. If your prototype is completed, it can continue for a second year (Stage 2) at ₹37,000/month. Funds come via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to your Aadhaar-linked bank account.
What is the last date to apply? There is no single deadline. The official FAQ says you can apply anytime during the year on the AICTE portal, and proposals are evaluated twice a year as per timelines notified from time to time. Check the official notification for the current evaluation cycle.
How do I apply? Register and apply online at https://apf.aicte.gov.in/. Once registered, log in, fill the form, and submit your application.
How long does the fellowship last? One year to start, extendable to a second year if your project shows good progress toward a market-ready product.
Can I hold another scholarship or job while on APF? No. You cannot receive another salary, scholarship, or internship longer than 3 months at the same time. If you take a job, the fellowship is stopped from your joining date and cannot be resumed.