Network for Advanced Study Fellowship
Network for Advanced Study Fellowship
2026–2027 Cohort. The Network for Advanced Study Fellowship, offered by the Takshashila Institution, is designed for those who want to develop serious, sustained work in their field. Fellows work on a research topic of their choice, with structured mentorship from Takshashila scholars and a network of domestic and international subject-matter specialists.
Overview
| DURATION | October 2026 - September 2027 |
| FORMAT | Hybrid · mostly online, with two in-person workshops |
| TIME COMMITMENT | About 8 hours / week |
| FELLOWS | Up to 6 per track |
| PROGRAMME FEE | INR 45,000 |
| CASH AWARD | INR 1,00,000 per track (top performer) |
Three distinct tracks
NAS‑Technology Track
High-quality scholarship at the intersection of technology and geopolitics, from AI and semiconductors to space, cyber, and quantum.
Explore NAST →NAS‑China Track
Rigorous, original scholarship on China, its political system, economy, foreign policy, military modernisation, and India–China relations.
Explore NASC →NAS‑Pakistan Track
Dedicated, sustained scholarship on Pakistan, its military and strategic culture, political economy, federalism, and domestic politics.
Explore NASP →Mentorship, network, and range
What fellows produce
The fellowship runs from October 2026 to September 2027. Fellows commit about 8 hours per week on average, for research, attending meetings and seminars, and producing deliverables.
One substantive output
At least one substantive output during the programme year. Accepted outputs include journal papers, monographs, book chapters, and policy papers.
Regular public output
A public output every few weeks in the chosen domain, publishing op-eds, blogs, appearing on podcasts, and the like.
Innovative supplementary work
Fellows are encouraged to work on other innovative outputs to supplement their substantive output, quantitative models, simulations, and trackers or dashboards.
Fellowship award
Awarded to the top performer in each track at the conclusion of the fellowship. The fellowship is open to anyone who would like to publish original and independent work, we look for intellectual seriousness and a genuine commitment to producing sustained scholarship.
Indian national, residing in India
An undergraduate degree in any field
Able to attend virtually — and in person
Able to attend seminars and meetings virtually, and to attend the two in-person workshops.
Programme fee
For the upcoming cohort, we have redesigned the fellowship to nurture a smaller group of researchers committed to producing rigorous, high-quality scholarship over the course of a year. The fee asserts the programme's emphasis on long-term commitment, regular engagement, and the successful completion of an original research project.
Fellows sign a formal commitment document on joining. All public outputs produced during the fellowship are subject to organisational review before publication.
This is primarily an online fellowship with no requirement for frequent travel. The two in-person workshops will require fellows to travel to either Delhi or Bengaluru; fellows are expected to self-fund their travel and accommodation.
October 2026 - September 2027
All dates are tentative and subject to revision.
Choose your track and apply
Applications are submitted per track. Explore each track for its domains, specialists, and application details.
Last date for submission of proposals: 7 September 2026.