New Delhi, 13 February 2026: SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India Group, has announced the commencement of registrations for the 14th edition of its flagship SBI Youth for India Fellowship, a 13-month experiential rural development programme for young changemakers.
The Fellowship is open to graduates and young professionals aged 21–32 years, including citizens of India, Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, and eligible SBI employees (confirmed officers in Scale I/II). Interested candidates can apply through the official portal.
Designed to bridge urban-rural divides, the programme places Fellows in villages across India, where they collaborate with 15 partner NGOs to work on grassroots development initiatives. The Fellowship spans 12 thematic areas, including Health, Rural Livelihoods, Food Security, Environmental Protection, Education, Water, Technology, Women’s Empowerment, Self-Governance, Social Entrepreneurship, Traditional Craft, and Alternate Energy.
Over the past 14 years, the initiative has built a network of over 700 alumni across 12 completed batches. Fellows have worked in more than 250 villages across 22 States and Union Territories, impacting over two lakh lives through community-based interventions. The current 13th batch (YFI 2025–26) has 94 Fellows working on projects across rural India.
Highlighting the programme’s role in leadership development, Mr. Swapan Dhar, MD & CEO, SBI Foundation, said, “Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship nurtures changemakers who bridge urban-rural divides through collaboration and empathy, not charity. Across 12 key thematic areas, including education, women’s empowerment, and rural livelihoods, Fellows drive meaningful grassroots impact while building inclusive leadership capabilities. With over 70 per cent of alumni moving into social sector leadership, 50-plus social ventures launched, and partnerships with institutions such as NITI Aayog, UN Women, ILO, and J-PAL, the Fellowship continues to convert individual potential into India’s collective progress.”
Alumni of the programme have demonstrated scalable rural solutions. For instance, a Fellow who initiated four micro-forests in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 expanded the effort to over 1,800 micro-forests across three states by 2025. Another Fellow launched a rainwater harvesting initiative in Rajasthan that has since enabled year-round water access for over 1,000 families.
Beyond community impact, the Fellowship offers structured mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on project management experience. According to SBI Foundation, nearly 70% of alumni have pursued careers in rural development, public policy, academia, and social entrepreneurship after completing the programme.
With registrations now open for the 14th batch, SBI Foundation aims to attract youth committed to inclusive development and long-term grassroots impact.
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