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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched July 2022Verified: 2026-10-12

Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program

Monetary incentives and research fellowships for speech, translation, and NLP AI model development in 22 Indian languages.

Audited by Eligo Public Policy Research Desk•Official Gazette & Nodal Portal Verification•Read Verification Standards →
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Official Nodal Portal:bhashini.gov.in

Quick Eligibility Snapshot

👤 Age 18–60 yrs💰 No income ceiling⚖ All genders🏛 All categories📍 All India
Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology
Beneficiary Sector
Applicable Jurisdiction

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Monthly fellowship of ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 for AI/NLP researchers, tokenized rewards for speech data contributors (Bhasha Daan), and compute credits to build open-source translation, speech-to-text, and conversational AI in Indian languages.

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

₹500 Crore National Language Translation Mission

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

Over 10 Lakh language data contributors and 300+ AI researchers

As of: 2026-01-20PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:18 to 60 years
Annual Family Income Ceiling:No gross income ceiling specified
Target Occupations:ai researcher, linguist, translator, student contributor
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:all
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

Indian citizens fluent in at least one scheduled Indian language or researchers working in computational linguistics.

📄

Required Documents Checklist

Verify readiness before applying for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program. Check off your papers or print this list before visiting your local CSC / Cyber Cafe.

Mandatory Documents(3)

Check off as ready
💡

Keep self-attested photocopies and clear digital scans (100 KB – 200 KB, PDF/JPG format) ready to avoid portal upload timeouts.

🛡️Civic Research Desk • Rejection Prevention

Worried About Application Rejection for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program?

Over 30% of applications on official portals get delayed or rejected due to minor certificate authority mismatches or unseeded bank accounts. Our civic research desk compiles a verified 1-page Scheme Blueprint tailored to your state and profile.

  • ✓Valid issuing authority rules (Tehsildar/SDM)
  • ✓Aadhaar-DBT bank seeding verification
  • ✓Direct official portal guide (no middlemen)
  • ✓Email delivery in 1–2 hrs during desk hours
Civic Research Fee:₹49One-time
Get Scheme Blueprint (₹49)→

🔒 Secure Razorpay Checkout • 100% Independent

Application Effort & Process Friction

Readiness assessment derived from official prerequisites, mandatory documentation, and submission channels.

Moderate Process (2/10)
•100% digital online application process
•3 mandatory supporting documents required

Effort scores reflect portal accessibility, mandatory document burden, and physical verification requirements.

How to Apply

🌐 Online Portal Route
🛡️
Government Application Safety Advisory:Application for this welfare program is processed exclusively on official government infrastructure (bhashini.gov.in). Never pay registration charges or advance processing fees to unauthorized third-party agents. Central and State welfare scheme applications do not require paying private intermediaries.
  1. 1

    Sign up on the Bhashini portal (bhashini.gov.in) or mobile application.

  2. 2

    Contribute speech, text translation, or audio validation under Bhasha Daan or submit AI research proposals.

  3. 3

    Fellows selected based on natural language processing expertise and language task milestones.

✅Before You Begin — Pre-Application Checklist

✓Ensure Aadhaar is linked with active mobile number
✓Bank account is NPCI-mapped (Aadhaar-seeded) for DBT
✓Check if you already receive a similar Central scheme benefit
✓Keep documents ready: income/caste/domicile certificates as applicable

⚠️Common Rejection Reasons — Avoid These

Non-Indian languages or failure to adhere to open data licensing standards.

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: bhashini.gov.in

Apply on official government website
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Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

Can ordinary citizens contribute voice recordings to Bhashini?

Yes, any citizen can contribute voice samples, type transcripts, or validate translations via the Bhasha Daan app and earn recognition.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Who is eligible to apply for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program?

Eligible applicants must satisfy official government criteria for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program. Age: min 18 max 60 years. Conditions: Indian citizens fluent in at least one scheduled Indian language or researchers working in computational linguistics..

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

What are the key benefits provided under Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program?

Under official guidelines for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program, beneficiaries are entitled to: Monthly fellowship of ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 for AI/NLP researchers, tokenized rewards for speech data contributors (Bhasha Daan), and compute credits to build open-source translation, speech-to-text, and conversational AI in Indian languages.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

How do I apply for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program? What is the official process?

To apply for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program, applicants should follow the official procedure: 1. Sign up on the Bhashini portal (bhashini.gov.in) or mobile application. 2. Contribute speech, text translation, or audio validation under Bhasha Daan or submit AI research proposals. 3. Fellows selected based on natural language processing expertise and language task milestones.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Can I track my Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program application status?

Application status for Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program can typically be tracked through the official portal at bhashini.gov.in using your Aadhaar number, application reference number, or registered mobile number. Alternatively, contact the scheme helpline or visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).

What should I do if my Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program payment is delayed or rejected?

First, verify your Aadhaar-bank account seeding status on the NPCI mapper (npci.org.in). If seeding is confirmed and payment is still pending, register a complaint on the Central Public Grievance Redressal System at pgportal.gov.in. You may also file an RTI application at rtionline.gov.in to obtain official rejection reasons within 30 days.

Is there an income tax implication for receiving Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program benefits?

Agricultural income and certain welfare subsidies may be exempt from income tax under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tax treatment varies by scheme type and beneficiary income level. Consult a certified tax practitioner or visit incometax.gov.in for scheme-specific tax guidance.

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Non-Indian languages or failure to adhere to open data licensing standards.

Editorial Verification & Change Log

Scheme verification and change history
DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-10-18scheme_typecsOfficial Source ↗
2026-09-26initial_verificationBaseline verification of Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contributor Program guidelines, benefits, and portal integration.Official Source ↗

⚖Compare with Similar Schemes

Side-by-side eligibility, benefit, and effort comparison:

Application Window & Deadlines

Continuous crowdsourcing and periodic fellowship calls on bhashini.gov.in

Scheme Intelligence

How is this calculated? ↗
Data ConfidenceFully Verified (100%)

Verified 7d ago from .gov.in source

Access FrictionModerate Process

Requires documentation or office visit

How to Apply🖥Apply Online
Scale & Impact
👥Over 10 Lakh language data contributors and 300+ AI researchers (as of 2026-01-20)
₹₹500 Crore National Language Translation Mission budget allocation
📅Running since 2022
🔄2 verified updates — actively maintained

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📅Scheme Milestone Timeline

2026-10-18scheme_type

cs

Official Source ↗
2026-09-26initial_verification

Baseline verification of Digital India Bhashini Fellowship and Open Data Contrib...

Official Source ↗
⚡

Schemes You Can Stack With This

Complementary programs with non-conflicting eligibility that you can claim concurrently:

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)₹6,000 (annual)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U / Housing for All)₹2,50,000 (one-time)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G)₹1,20,000 (one-time)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)₹5,00,000 (annual)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match

Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

Digital India Bhashini Division, MeitY

Electronics Niketan, CGO Complex, New Delhi 110003

Helpline: 011-24301888

Jurisdiction: Central (All India)

Notice a Discrepancy?

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-10-12 against official government documentation.

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