148000 + Lives Transformed So Far

199500+ Lives Transformed So Far

Enable Change, Empower Lives.

Applications for the SBI Youth for India Fellowship 2025–26 are now officially closed. You can still submit your email address through the form below to stay informed about the next application window and receive important updates related to the Fellowship.

Lead the change that shapes tomorrow.

SBI Youth for India is a 13 month Fellowship programme initiated by the State Bank of India, funded and managed by the SBI Foundation in partnership with reputed NGOs. It seeks to address rural India's most pressing problems by:

• Enabling educated youth to create meaningful grassroots impact.
• Providing NGOs with skilled talent to drive rural development.
• Building a network of alumni committed to long-term social change.

• The candidate must have completed a Bachelor's degree on or before 4th October 2026.
• The candidate must be an Indian citizen, a citizen of Nepal/Bhutan, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or NRI.
• The candidate must be between 21 and 32 years of age on the day of commencement of the program, i.e., the candidate must have been born not earlier than 4th August 1994 and not later than 5th October 2005.
• If you are an SBI Employee, you should be a Confirmed Officer in Scale I/II (Circular No.: CDO/P&HRD-CM/22/2025-26 Dated: Thursday, 21st Aug 2025)

• The programme is about addressing and challenging rural problems which will train you to think innovatively, act proactively, exhibit leadership qualities and acquire management skills.
• You will gain hands-on experience of rural markets, their linkages and an insight into the mind of the rural consumer and what comprises the "bottom of the pyramid".
• This combination of knowledge and skills will be highly valued by several organizations in India and will be of relevance in any career that you choose to pursue thereafter.

The Fellowship will conclude with a valediction and award of a Certificate of completion.

• A monthly allowance of 16000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your living expenses.

• A monthly allowance of 2000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your transport expenses.

• A monthly allowance of 2000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your project-related expenses.

• A monthly allowance of 1000 INR for the duration of the programme for your professional learning & development.

• ⁠A dedicated provision for language support will be provided at the location.

• ⁠⁠⁠A readjustment allowance of 1,10,000 INR upon successful & satisfactory completion of the Fellowship.

• ⁠⁠⁠The cost of the return 3AC train fare from your residence to the project site location, as well as expenses incurred on traveling for training programmes, shall be covered. Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan, and OCI will be eligible for air travel reimbursement as per the pre-approved limit.

• ⁠⁠⁠A health and personal accident insurance policy will also be provided.

The application process has 2 stages:

• Stage 1: Registration & Online Assessment
  Fill out the registration form and complete an online assessment, which includes essay-based responses on your story, perspectives, and motivation for joining the Fellowship.
• Stage 2: Personal Interview
  A panel evaluates your suitability based on personal attributes, beyond academic and professional credentials, to gain a deeper understanding of you.

The project sites are spread across Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. To foster exposure to India's diversity, we maintain a strict "no home state" policy. Our partner NGO staff at each site will assist in overcoming any language or cultural barriers.

Post the successful completion of the Fellowship, the grassroots exposure and ecosystem support provided by SBI YFI enable Fellows to pursue meaningful careers aligned with social impact. Nearly 70% of Alumni transition into the Development Sector, contributing across a wide range of organisations and roles. Their post-Fellowship pathways include:

• Leadership and programmatic roles in the development sector across NGOs, CSRs, and CBOs.
• Close engagement with public systems, including Central and State Governments, Panchayats, and policy institutions.
• Social entrepreneurship, with over 50 Alumni having established their own social enterprises or initiatives across diverse thematic areas.
• Research and higher education, with Alumni pursuing advanced studies and doctoral research at premier institutions globally, including Harvard, Oxford, LSE, IDS, and Stanford, and contributing to leading organisations such as J-PAL, the ILO, and NITI Aayog.

Across all these pathways, SBI YFI Alumni are widely recognised for their deep grassroots experience, problem-solving mindset, humility, and sustained commitment to creating impact.