Call for Applications: Viksit Bharat Fellowship (India)

The Viksit Bharat Fellowship is designed as a flexible grant opportunity, allowing you to engage in this enriching experience while continuing with your current job or professional responsibilities. This means you can contribute to India’s growth narrative without having to pause your career, making it an ideal choice for those looking to balance their professional commitments with meaningful contributions to nation building. Thus, the fellowship does not require committed office hours with BlueKraft Digital Foundation.

Objectives 

• Applicants will write about the strides that India has made on its development journey across various sectors using their subject-matter expertise and insights that reflect the impactful initiatives and changes that characterize the country’s progress.
• Diverse Formats: Applicants are encouraged to choose from a variety of formats for their deliverables, including traditional and non-traditional writing, to capture the essence of India from different perspectives. This includes:
  • Standard Books: Non-fiction books that may encompass historical analyses, policy studies, biographies, economic evaluations, environmental research, anthologies showcasing diverse viewpoints, and cultural explorations.
  • Articles: Articles and papers including opinion pieces, research studies, comparative analyses, policy reviews, thematic discussions, impact assessments, and cultural commentaries that provide insights into contemporary issues.
  • Case Studies: To document successful initiatives and their impacts to illustrate effective practices and lessons learned.
  • Coffee table books: Visual narration of stories of change through coffee table books or graphic novels and capturing stories of progress through engaging illustrations and narratives.
  • Research Papers in Journals: To explore the impactful contributions of various initiatives, grassroot movements and innovative solutions that drive change and progress in society.
• Platform for All Applicants: Create an inclusive platform for new and emerging talents, experienced and exceptional professionals, academics and experts eager to explore new themes and formats.

Topics

• The following is a list of indicative topics for your reference, highlighting key areas of focus that are essential for fostering nation-building and development. Such topics also encompass various aspects of society, and we encourage meaningful deliverables, discussions and narratives aimed at contributing to the nation’s journey of becoming a Viksit Bharat.
• Governance in India:
  • Making Citizen Engagement and Participative Democracy the Norm for New India
  • The Gamechanger of Flagship Scheme: Direct Benefit Transfers
  • Engraining Transparency in Systems
• Defence and Foreign Policy:
  • Atmanirbharta in Defence: The Need, Progress and Future Trajectory
  • Fortifying Frontiers: The new way of engaging with the Western and Eastern Borders including infrastructure development
  • The New International/World Order: Growing Role of India
  • Reimagination of India: Emergence of India’s Grand Strategy
• Economic Progress:
  • Small Industries, Big Impact: Creating a New Success Story for MSME’s
  • Revival of India’s Manufacturing Leadership
  • The New Disruptor: India’s Role in Leading Supply Chain Management
  • Re-looking Banking Reforms in India
• Social Welfare:
  • Empowering the Marginalised: Saturation by Economic Reforms
  • Women at the Forefront: Towards Women led Development
  • The Indian Model of Public Health: Making Health Care Accessible for All
• Infrastructure: Digital and Physical:
  • India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Paradigm
  • Building the Future: The Impact of Physical Infrastructure Growth in India
• The North East:
  • From Isolation to Integration: The Comprehensive Development of North East India
• Climate Action and Renewable Energy:
  • Climate Action in India: India’s New Agenda
  • Powering Progress: The Impact of India’s Hot Pursuit of Renewable Energy
• Technology and Entrepreneurship:
  • Racing to the Future: Making India a Tech Hub
  • Empowering Dreams: Creating the largest Start Up Eco-system in the World
• Cultural Resurgence:
  • Global Stage, Local Roots: The Revival of India’s Cultural Identity
  • Traditional Roots, Modern Wings: Making Culture an Integral Part of Viksit Bharat
• Empowering the Youth:
  • The Future is Now: India’s Youth as Catalysts for Economic and Social Development

Fellowship Categories

• BlueKraft Associate Fellows: These positions are aimed at new talent, typically early-career applicants who are beginning to establish their expertise in a specific area.
• BlueKraft Senior Fellows: Senior fellows are emerging leaders in their fields, possessing an established level of experience and a proven track record of research or policy or contributions in their relevant field.
• BlueKraft Distinguished Fellows: Distinguished fellows are recognized experts, authors, leaders or specialists with extensive domain experience and a substantial body of work.
• Total Number of Fellows to be Awarded: 25

Benefits

• Learning and networking Opportunities: Fellows will enjoy exclusive opportunities to engage with leading decision-makers from diverse fields, policymakers, and subject matter experts. These invaluable interactions will enhance their writing and deepen their understanding of India’s socio-economic landscape, providing rich insights towards their deliverables.
• Mentorship: Central to the program are the Program Mentors from BlueKraft Digital Foundation, and other subject-matter experts, who will offer personalized one-on-one mentoring sessions, ensuring tailored support throughout the fellowship. The external experts will include seasoned subject matter experts, renowned professionals, and influential voices who will engage in immersive one-week mentoring sessions, providing applicants with valuable perspectives from various fields.
• Access to BlueKraft Digital Foundation’s Resources: BlueKraft, known for its array of in-depth research resources and background information, will provide access to its influential policy papers, white papers, books, comprehensive policy analyses, and specialized research. These materials will empower participants to engage deeply with the forefront of the nation’s discourse, equipping them with the knowledge and insights necessary to drive impactful change in their respective fields.
• Cross Collaboration: For the duration of the fellowship, participants will be organized into groups to facilitate cross-collaboration and enhance the overall learning experience.

Funding Information

• A monthly stipend will be provided, tailored to the experience level of the candidate and the specific output format required:
  • BlueKraft Associate Fellows: Rs 75,000 per month
  • BlueKraft Senior Fellows: Rs 1,25,000 per month
  • BlueKraft Distinguished Fellows: Rs 2,00,000 per month
• The fellowship spans one year, offering a blend of virtual engagement and up to one month of in-person experiences. These experiences may encompass orientation, mentorship, networking opportunities, workshops, and field activities. Additionally, the fellowship may be extendable at the discretion of the Foundation.

Eligibility Criteria

• To ensure a diverse and impactful cohort of fellows, the following eligibility criteria will apply:
  • Global Reach: Open to applicants from all over the world who are 18 years or older. Applicants must show a dedication to exploring meaningful stories relevant to India’s growth and development and a commitment to producing works of excellence.
  • Qualifications:
    • For BlueKraft Associate Fellow:
      • A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent degree in a relevant field from a prestigious institution and
      • Demonstrated interest in a relevant field with a prior robust portfolio, with a willingness to engage in research and analysis Or
      • Relevant internship or work experience in a relevant field, with a demonstrated record of contributing to projects
    • For BlueKraft Senior Fellow:
      • A Master’s Degree (or Bachelors in exceptional cases) or a higher degree in a relevant field and
      • A minimum of 5-15 years of relevant experience in academia, government, research or the private sector, with a demonstrated record of contribution, specialization, or leadership in the area of nation building and development, Or
      • At least 2 published books with major publishing houses on subjects in consonance with the indicative list of topics mentioned in the fellowship overview; Or
      • At least 5 published works in academic journals or equivalent industry standard publications.
    • For BlueKraft Distinguished Fellow:
      • A nationally or internationally renowned subject matter expert Or
      • A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in academia, government, research or the private sector, with a demonstrated record of contribution, specialization or leadership, in the area of nation building and development, Or
      • At least 5 published books with major publishing houses on subjects in consonance with the indicative list of topics mentioned in the fellowship overview; Or
      • At least 20 published works in academic journals or equivalent industry standard publications

Selection Criteria

• Applications will undergo a 2-step review process conducted by a panel of leaders, professionals and experts from relevant fields
• A selection committee will review applications based on the quality of the proposal, creativity, feasibility, clarity of vision, ability to tell India’s narrative and alignment with the Fellowship’s goals.
• Applicants will be shortlisted for interviews.

For more information, visit BlueKraft Digital Foundation.