IFTS 2026 Fellowships
9 Rakesh Bharadwaj Foundation
KSFE
About Fellowships
The School of Drama and Fine Arts IFTS Fellowships, Supported by Rakesh Bhardwaj Foundation and Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd (KSFE), proposes as the Social Extension Programme of the festival. The fellowship will award 10,000/- rupees per month for one year and aims to establish positive and productive relationships between IFTS and various communities. Selection will be based on the applicant's merits and proposal. The chosen fellows will also be given the opportunity to engage in part-time collaborations with specific communities for the upcoming year.

The festival serves as a place of learning and exploration for student delegates not only for students but for everyone who comes together as part of the event. When considering the real purpose of learning, there should be some utility or practical purpose, a thought that leads us to propose an extension program for the festival, which should be beneficial for both the learner and the society to which they belong. The program aims to establish a fruitful relationship between IFTS and communities. IFTS aims to reduce the existing gap between academic institutions and society. In other words, the knowledge that exists within society and is generated within society should be recognized and made available to people from academic backgrounds, while individuals with academic backgrounds should contribute to the society, particularly in rural areas.
So, the IFTS extension fellowships are envisaged to provide opportunities to work with or for the society for a year after completing the post graduation of the fellows. 

Fellowship Titles and Sponsors

There are four fellowships awarded under two titles:

  • The Vinay and Rakesh Bharadwaj – IFTS Fellowship: 
    Supported by the Rakesh Bharadwaj Foundation
  • KSFE – IFTS Fellowship:
    Supported by Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd (KSFE)
Eligibility
  • This scholarship is awarded to post graduate students in their final year, and the application is open to individuals under the age 35.
Selection
  • A duly constituted selection committee will select the candidate from the received applications and proposals based on the merits of the candidate and proposal.
The deadline to apply for the IFTS Fellowship 2026 has been extended up to 25 March 2026
Aim
The fellowships aims to establish meaningful and productive relationships between IFTS and diverse communities through sustained artistic and pedagogical engagement.
Objectives of the Fellowships
  • To provide a platform for young individuals to contribute to community development with their knowledge and skills.
  • To spread the acquired knowledge from the IFTS to society and promote a culture of continuous learning
  • To promote sustainable and community-driven initiatives that address local challenges and contribute to long-term development.
  • To empower fellows with leadership and project management skills to initiate and implement positive changes within their communities.
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Guidelines 

• The project must align with the festival's central theme.

• Selection criteria are based on the performance and aptitude of the candidate and their presentation at the interview.

• This scholarship is open to individuals engaged in research, whether as part of a research community or through solo production. The project may be a research project with the potential for implementation or further study, or it may involve an action that the fellow could implement or work on with the community near the fellow.

• It will consist of field titles to collect the basic interests and capabilities of the candidate, as well as their working plan during the fellowship.

•Selection will be based on the merit of the submitted project proposal and an interview with the panel. An interview will be arranged for selected candidates to finalise the final list.

• Term evaluations will occur at the 6th, 9th, and 12th months from the project's commencement. The final fellowship amount will be disbursed upon project completion, with a 2-month buffer period at the end. The total amount for the final two months will be released only following the submission of the project.

• A body consisting of members from national and international pedagogues and any other dignitaries at the discretion of the festival's organising committee.

• Documentation is a requirement and will be reviewed during progress meetings. It is required that a written report of 60 pages be submitted, containing a minimum of 20,000 words and presented in single-spacing. The report should include relevant project-related documents, photographs, and videos.

• On-demand by the IFTS committee, the project's culmination should be showcased in the persuading IFTS. If it happens, expenditure will be borne by the IFTS.