NAS-Technology Track (NAST)

NAST builds high-quality scholarship at the intersection of technology and geopolitics, a domain central to national power yet under-studied in Indian policy research.

NAS FELLOWSHIP / NAST

NAS‑Technology Track

NAST seeks to build high-quality scholarship at the intersection of technology and geopolitics, an area increasingly central to questions of national power, economic strategy, and foreign policy, yet under-studied in Indian academia and policy research.

Proposal deadline Last date for submission of proposals — 7 September 2026

Research domains

Propose your own topic

This is a general call for research proposals. Fellows are not required to work on pre-assigned themes. You propose a topic within the broad domain of technology and geopolitics. The domains encompass, but are not limited to, the following areas.

T.01 Artificial Intelligence and National Security
T.02 Semiconductors and Supply Chain Resilience
T.03 Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure
T.04 Space Technologies and Geopolitics
T.05 Lethal Autonomous Weapons and Drones
T.06 Biotechnology and Biosecurity
T.07 Quantum Technologies
T.08 Nuclear Technologies
T.09 Geospatial Technologies
T.10 Technology, Geoeconomics, and National Power

As part of the fellowship, fellows can choose to enrol in any of the ECCs running in that period, and will have access to special GCPP sessions by guest lecturers on Technology Geopolitics.

Guidance

Subject-matter specialists

Rakesh Sood Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament at the UN in Geneva

Douglas Fuller Professor in Zhejiang University's School of Management

Cmde. A P Golaya (Retd.) Former Member, NSCS; Former in-charge, TDAC, Indian Navy

Narayan Ramachandran Co-Founder, The Takshashila Institution; Ex-Country Head of Morgan Stanley India

Manpreet Sethi Distinguished Fellow and head of the program on nuclear issues at the Centre for Air Power Studies, Delhi

Karthik Nachiappan Research Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

Anirudh Suri Managing Partner, India Internet Fund

Prateek Waghre Former Executive Director, Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF)

Shambhavi Naik Head, Advanced Biology Program at the Takshashila Institution

Gp Capt TH Anand Rao (Retd.) Director, Indian Space Association (ISpA); Visiting Senior Fellow, CAPS Delhi

Pranay Kotasthane Deputy Director, The Takshashila Institution; Chair, High-Tech Geopolitics Program at Takshashila

Y. Nithiyanandam Professor; Head, Geospatial Program at the Takshashila Institution

Rijesh Panicker Fellow, High Tech Geopolitics Programme at the Takshashila Institution

Application process

How to apply

Proposal & Statement of Purpose

Submit a research proposal of 1,000–1,500 words outlining the topic, the research questions, and the approach. Proposals should clearly identify the gap in existing scholarship and explain why the topic merits sustained attention. Also submit a 500–800-word Statement of Purpose explaining your reasons for pursuing a fellowship in this domain. Only one author per proposal will be accepted.

Interviews

Submitted proposals undergo internal review, and applicants whose proposals are shortlisted will be invited to a virtual interview.

Fellow announcements

Up to 6 selected candidates per track will be invited to join the 2026–2027 NAS fellowship cohort.

Apply to NAST

Submit your proposal and Statement of Purpose for the 2026–2027 cohort.

Last date for submission of proposals: 7 September 2026.

Apply now →