ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AI-RTF)

What is the ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AI-RTF)?

The ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AI-RTF) is a scientist-mobility programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. According to the AISTIC portal, AI-RTF was created to promote the mobility of scientists and researchers from the ASEAN member states to India and to give them exposure to research facilities and expertise in Indian institutions.

The fellowship is funded from the ASEAN-India Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation framework. Programme management is coordinated by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on behalf of DST. Research undertaken under AI-RTF is expected to be ASEAN-centric and aligned with the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025.

AI-RTF is not a citizen benefit for Indians. It is an inbound fellowship: a young researcher from an ASEAN country travels to India, works in an Indian host institution for a few months, and returns home. Indian institutions participate by hosting the visiting fellow.

How much does AI-RTF pay?

According to the AISTIC portal, an AI-RTF fellow receives:

• Rs 60,000 per month as the fellowship amount.
• Round-trip international airfare by the shortest route in the lowest economy class.
• Rs 40,000 as a one-time research contingency grant.
• Rs 2,500 per month as institutional overhead paid to the Indian host institution.

The fellowship is tenable for two to six months. Requests to extend or reduce the sanctioned duration after the award are not permitted.

Who is eligible for AI-RTF?

You can apply if:

• You are a citizen of an ASEAN member state, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam.
• You are up to 45 years old at the time of application.
• You hold at least a master's degree in natural sciences, technology, engineering, medicine or an allied discipline.
• You are affiliated with an R&D or academic institution in your home country.
• You are fluent in English.

You cannot apply if:

• You are an Indian national — AI-RTF is only for researchers from ASEAN countries visiting India.
• You have received a Government of India fellowship in the previous three years.
• You are older than 45 at the time of application, or do not hold a qualifying degree.

Because AI-RTF is an inbound mobility fellowship, ordinary Indian citizens are not the applicants. Indian scientists take part only as hosts, by agreeing to supervise a visiting ASEAN fellow at their institution.

What documents are required for AI-RTF?

All documents must be combined into a single PDF of not more than 10 MB for online submission.

How to apply for AI-RTF

1. Visit the AISTIC portal at aistic.gov.in and register as a new applicant.
2. Complete your profile with biographical and academic details.
3. Identify an Indian host institution and obtain an acceptance letter from the proposed Indian supervisor.
4. Prepare your research proposal so that it is ASEAN-centric and aligned with APASTI 2016-2025.
5. Combine your CV, passport, proposal, host acceptance letter and home-institution endorsement into one PDF (maximum 10 MB).
6. Submit the application online before the notified deadline. Only online submissions are accepted.

Applications are invited through periodic calls; for the 2025 cycle the AISTIC portal listed a submission deadline of 31 May 2025 (5:00 PM IST). Check the portal for the current call and deadline before applying.

How are AI-RTF applications selected?

DST makes the final selection based on the quality of the research proposal, the academic merit of the applicant, the relevance of the work to ASEAN-India STI priorities, and the number of fellowship slots available. Selection is competitive and there is no guarantee of an award for every eligible applicant.

Help and contact

• Portal: aistic.gov.in (ASEAN section, AI-RTF)
• Programme cell: FICCI, at airtfscholars@ficci.com
• Nodal department: Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology

Applicants should rely on the AISTIC portal and the FICCI programme cell for the current call, deadlines and formats, because the fellowship operates through periodic advertisements rather than a rolling window.