To apply for the 13th Batch of SBI Youth for India Fellowship
News Desk
AGARTALA, April 07, 2025: SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India Group, has announced the registrations for the 13th batch of its flagship programme, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship, inviting applications from young, dynamic individuals eager to contribute to rural development.
The 13-month-long program offers a structured opportunity for educated urban youth – graduates and young professionals - between the ages of 21–32 years, to collaborate with rural communities and 13 reputed Partner NGOs across India to drive meaningful change in society. Aspirants can apply through http://apply.youthforindia.org
Applicants for the SBI YFI Fellowship program must be Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), or citizens of Bhutan or Nepal who are passionate about advancing sustainable development objectives in rural areas.
Emphasizing the significance of the Fellowship in empowering youth to contribute to India's progress, Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director & CEO, SBI Foundation, said, “The SBI Youth for India Fellowship aligns with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by empowering the youth to drive transformative change in rural India.” By working on 12 crucial thematic areas, such as education, women’s empowerment, and rural livelihoods, and more, the Fellows not only contribute to community development but also build their own leadership and problem-solving skills. "We invite passionate young minds to join us in shaping the future of our nation and creating lasting impact.”
Over the past 12 years, 640 fellows have significantly contributed to community development across these key areas. The programme has positively impacted more than 1,50,000 lives through various grassroots interventions and community engagement initiatives in over 250 villages spanning 20 States across India.
One of the notable SBI Youth for India alumnus is Ruchinilo Kemp from Nagaland (YFI 2015-16 Batch), Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Kenono Foundation. His efforts have positively impacted more than 1600 families of Chumukedima Nagaland, including tribal communities, through community conservation and conservation enterprises. Ruchinilo is also collaborating with local coffee farmers to promote sustainable cash crops while actively engaging in green initiatives.
The SBI YFI Fellowship focuses on 12 thematic areas, including Health, Rural Livelihood, Food Security, Environmental Protection, Education, Water, Technology, Women’s Empowerment, Self-Governance, Social Entrepreneurship, Traditional Craft, and Alternate Energy. Fellows work on one of these themes based on their interests during the 13-month program. Post-completion of the Fellowship, 70% of our Fellows have pursued meaningful careers in the social sector by working in Rural Development, Public Policy/Governance, Academia, etc., thereby enabling positive change.
In addition to an experiential learning opportunity, the SBI YFI Fellowship offers hands-on experience in grassroots development, equipping the youth with leadership, problem-solving and project management skills. After completing the 13-month program, Fellows are equipped and inspired to build impactful careers in the social entrepreneurship and development sectors.
The project also supports youths in their future academic pursuits. Over 100 Fellowship alumni pursued Higher Studies in development domains after the successful completion of their SBI YFI Fellowship experience.
Among them is Naman Bansal (YFI 2015-16 Batch), who went on to pursue a Master of Education (MEd.) from Harvard University, USA and Dadi Jaswanth (YFI 2016-17 Batch), who pursued a Master of Science (M.Sc.) from the University of Oxford.
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