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Frequently Asked Questions

For any additional queries on the program, please refer to the commonly asked questions.

You! That is, if you are:

A highly motivated graduate, either a young professional or fresh out of college (addition of Bachelors) having this parameters:
Aged between 21 and 32 as on the date of commencement of programme
Indian citizen, or Citizen of Nepal/Bhutan, or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
A team player with proactive approach and strong leadership skills
People-oriented as you will be interacting with rural communities on a constant basis
Willing to commit to a 13 month long rural Fellowship programme and adapt to life in challenging rural conditions.

SBI has always believed and worked towards the progress of the country. Through the SBI YFI Fellowship, we are investing in the future of the nation. On one hand, we are trying to create leaders of tomorrow and on the other hand, we are making a much-needed difference in rural India. To learn more, continue reading.

SBI Youth for India is a rural 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:

  • Providing educated urban youth with an opportunity to touch lives and create positive change at the grass root level in rural India.
  • Providing NGOs working on development projects in rural India with educated human resource whose skill sets can be used to catalyze rural development.
  • Promoting a forum for the Programme alumni to share ideas and contribute to rural development throughout their professional life.

Living in rural areas not only takes you closer to the complexity of the issues plaguing rural India but also to the rural community. It equips you with an ability to see the world from their point of view, which ensures that the solutions you come up with are practical, feasible and sustainable.

  • 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.
    • On successful completion, the Fellow receives a readjustment allowance of Rs. 110,000 and a certificate of completion from SBI Foundation
      • Stipend
      • 1. A monthly allowance of 16000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your living expenses.
      • 2. A monthly allowance of 2000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your transport expenses.
      • 3. A monthly allowance of 2000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your project-related expenses.
      • 4. A monthly allowance of 1000 INR for the duration of the programme for your professional learning & development.
      • 5. A dedicated provision for language support will be provided at the location.
      • 6. A readjustment allowance of 1,10,000 INR upon successful & satisfactory completion of the Fellowship.
      • 7. 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
      • 8. A health and personal accident insurance policy will also be provided.

  • Eligibility Criteria:

        • 1) The candidate must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before 1 October 2025.
        • 2)The candidate must be an Indian citizen, a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan, or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
        • 3) 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 5th October 1993 and not later than 6th October 2004.

No, applications can be submitted online only.

Shortlisted candidates are notified on an ongoing basis during the application period. We continuously engage with shortlisted applicants over an online forum to get to know them better as well as to clarify their doubts about the Fellowship. The earlier you apply, the more you will be able to interact with us and you really don’t want to miss that!

The applicant has to adhere to the timelines of the application process.

As part of the application process for the 2025-26 batch, the interviews for candidates who have been shortlisted for Stage 2 might be conducted through an in-person interview mode. In special circumstances, we might offer a virtual interview.

SBI Youth for India offers a fair and equal opportunity to candidates from diverse streams and disciplines. Apart from the eligibility criteria, we do not require you to have a specific degree or experience. Regardless of your specific professional/academic background, if you are passionate about making a difference at the grassroot level, you will most certainly be able to find an opportunity to contribute in your own capacity. Our Fellows have successfully facilitated projects on a wide range of domains despite hailing from diverse backgrounds.

In terms of work experience, Youth for India fellows have previously worked in a range of sectors including information technology, education, infrastructure, non-profit, healthcare, and others. Corporates such as the Tata Group, Capgemini, E&Y and MindTree have given their employees a sabbatical to join the fellowship. For more details, refer to the section on Fellow Profiles.

The candidate will have to fill the details of two recommenders – an Academic Recommendation (from your professor, Head of Department, etc.) and a professional Recommendation (from your former boss/ supervisor, colleague, mentor, advisor, business/ project partner, ex-SBI YFI Fellows etc).

  • In case of a fresher, we will accept a recommender from any organization you have previously interned or volunteered as your professional recommendation. We don’t accept recommendations from family members or friends.
  • Once the Online Assesment is submitted, a recommendation from link via email is triggered automatically to your recommenders. Kindly follow-up with your recommenders and ensure they send us the filled forms at the earliest.
  • Please ensure that your recommenders are in a position to promptly respond to communication over email or phone. Once submitted, you will not be able to change the contact details of any of your recommenders.

The Process for submitting the application is as follows:

  • Stage-1 (Registration & Online Assessment)
    Fill out the Registration Form and begin your Online Assesment. During the assesment, you will be asked to provide a detailed essay-based response in which you can share your story, perspectives, intention to join the Fellowship, and overall worldview.
  • Stage-2 (Personal Interview)
    The Personal Interview stage is where the esteemed panel evaluates the applicant’s personal characteristics and suitability for the role. This stage is designed to help the selection panel make informed decisions based on factors beyond academic qualifications and work experience and gain a deeper understanding of the person.

The Application Process for the SBI Youth for India 2025-2026 batch is open now exclusively for SBI Employees, Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, OCI, and NRI Candidates. The application for other Indian Citizens is now closed. Apply Now. Application Deadline: 10th September 2025 (11:59 PM IST).

As part of the application process for the 2025-2026 batch, the interviews for candidates who have been shortlisted for Stage 2 shall be conducted through an in-person interview mode. In special circumstances, we might offer a virtual interview. Citizens of Nepal/ Bhutan and OCI candidates can appear for the interviews virtually, however the orientation program will require every selected Fellow.

Post selection, you will have access to further material about the programmes of our partner NGOs. You will research, read and familiarize yourself with these to be able to decide on your preferred programme area and partner NGO. Any doubts, questions, suggestions can be clarified and discussed with the partner NGOs, other Fellows as well as our alumni. As the Fellowship is physically challenging, maintaining good health and high fitness levels are advised.

The programme begins with a carefully designed orientation and training programme which includes both classroom sessions and field visits. Thereafter, you will be sent to a rural location to work on a project. For the entire duration of the project, a mentor from the partner NGO will ensure that you can successfully address the challenges you may face. There will also be 2 periodic review workshops to provide you with the necessary guidance and support. During the course of the Fellowship, a dedicated team member from SBI YFI shall be available to Fellows to extend support and offer guidance.

Based on a combination of your interests, skill sets and the needs of the partner NGOs for their various projects.

The Fellowship provides Fellows with a platform to focus their efforts effectively. However, rural problems are complex and sustained effort and time are required to bring about visible change. Some projects can bring about tangible change in a year, others not so much. Few of our past Fellows, through small steps, have been able to sow the seeds of change. From past experience, we find that those who picked up and continued work on projects of previous Fellows have been able to achieve remarkable results. You can read about the ongoing projects in the Projects section. Similarly, it is observed that projects that were aligned with the community needs and vision of the NGO have been carried forward post the Fellows leaves the location. The thirteenth month also ensures an overlap with the forthcoming batch to facilitate smooth transition and handover of projects.

The Fellowship cannot be extended by SBI. However, interested Fellows can try to work out an arrangement with the partner NGO, to continue to work on mutually agreed terms beyond the Fellowship. A number of our alumni have done so.

The Fellowship will conclude with a valediction and award of a Certificate of completion. A readjustment allowance of 110000 INR upon successful & satisfactory completion of the fellowship.

 

Based on a combination of your interests, skill sets and the needs of the partner NGOs for their various projects.

Apart from the jobs or positions that you previously might have held, the Fellowship opens up a host of new avenues for you. You can choose to:

  • pursue leadership roles with NGOs or organisations in the sphere of public policy, implementation, research and advocacy.
  • become a social entrepreneur.
  • return to the corporate world and leverage the insights you have gained to influence perceptions and policy and develop products and services suited to rural markets.

Post Fellowship, SBI YFI continues to support fellows through mentorship, guidance, networking support and referrals.

Financial Support:

  • 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 projects will be located at Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Telangana and Jharkhand . To encourage our Fellows to explore Indian diversity and to also offer them the opportunity to work in a multicultural setting, we follow a strict “no home state” policy. The staff of our partner NGO present in the project locations shall facilitate the resolution of any potential concerns including the language and cultural barrier.

At least two Fellows will be located at one project location.

 

Yes. Our partners are reputed and well-established NGOs with over two decades of work at the grassroot level with rural communities, which have earned them their goodwill. The location of your stay is decided keeping in mind your safety and security. Our partner NGOs have local networks to help during medical or other emergencies. However, it is advised to be aware, alert, align with local customs and closely follow the advice of your local NGO facilitator.

 

Adapting to stay in rural India is an integral part of the learning experience. Erratic mobile connectivity, poor power supply and unreliable internet facilities might help you to reduce your dependency on the props of modern living. You might not have ready access to a lot of shops and markets, although basic provisions will be available. Challenges vary based on the project location, and you can know more about them from the experiences of our alumni.

 

Daily tasks differ from fellow to fellow and project to project. After the orientation programme, you will be defining your project in terms of achievable milestones. Based on the requirements of your project, you may have to spend long hours attending meetings, interacting with the rural community, being a part of community activities and having to deal with an unpredictable work schedule.

 

The programme is not restricted to any specific area and offers you a wide variety of projects to choose from as well as the flexibility to design a feasible project of your own liking within the focus areas of the partner NGO’s work. You can get more details in the Projects section. However, the projects in the Fellowship need to be necessarily in the form of an intervention attempting to bring about positive change and not simply administrative work, research work or surveys and assessments.

 

Post the successful completion of the Fellowship, the grassroots experience and the ecosystem support provided by SBI YFI enables our Alumni to pursue meaningful careers in the social sector.

Over 70% of our Alumni continue to contribute to the sector in various capacities across a wide range of organizations. Some of them include:

  • Leadership roles in the development sector – NGOs/CSRs/CBOs.
  • Closely working with Central/State Government/Panchayats etc.
  • Pursuing social entrepreneurship. (Over 30 Alumni have gone on to set up their own social enterprises/initiatives working on various domains.)
  • Pursuing Research/Higher Studies (Over 60 Alumni have pursued their higher studies/ doctoral research through premier institutions across the globe.)

A certain number of Fellows return to their previous job/sector with a renewed sense of purpose, empathy and leadership skills.

We aim to place at least 2-3 Fellows in the vicinity of each other, however, it’s not necessary that the Fellows end up staying in the same village/district. Depending on the nature of the project, and the need of the community, the final location will be determined.

 

Tasks differ from fellow to fellow and project to project. After the orientation programme, you will be defining your project in terms of achievable milestones. Based on the requirements of your project, you may have to spend additional hours attending meetings, interacting with the rural community, being a part of community activities and having to deal with an unpredictable and dynamic work schedule.

 

The Fellowship offers the scope to identify community needs and accordingly conceptualize projects based on any of the 12 thematic program areas which lie within the focus areas of the partner NGOs. These 12 thematic program areas fall under the ambit of holistic rural development. Furthermore, the projects need not necessarily be focused on introducing a new product/service/initiative, it could also mean adding value to an existing project through the process and system improvement, process re-engineering, scale-up, marketing, exploring alternative approaches etc.

 

The SBI YFI team and our partner NGOs place utmost importance and priority on ensuring the safety of our Fellows. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our partner NGOs have worked towards putting in place safety measures and adhering to the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

 

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