Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28 at KIIT & KISS: 18-Month Leadership and Social Impact Opportunity
Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28 at KIIT & KISS
The Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28 is an 18-month leadership and social impact opportunity offered through the KIIT and KISS ecosystem in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The fellowship is designed for recent graduates and young professionals who want to move beyond conventional career paths and gain practical experience in education, healthcare, governance, sports, rural development, social innovation and institution building.
The fellowship provides an opportunity to work on meaningful projects, learn from experienced mentors and contribute to initiatives connected with KIIT and KISS. According to the current fellowship listing, selected fellows will be based full-time in Bhubaneswar and will receive a monthly stipend of ₹50,000 for the first nine months and ₹60,000 for the next nine months. (LinkedIn)
The current application deadline is 23 September 2026. KIIT has publicly promoted the fellowship as an 18-month journey for young graduates and professionals interested in purpose-driven leadership, institutional development and social impact.
Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28 Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Name | Karmyogi Fellowship |
| Batch | 2026–28 |
| Organization | KIIT & KISS |
| Duration | 18 Months |
| Location | Bhubaneswar, Odisha |
| Mode | Full-Time, On-Site |
| First 9 Months Stipend | ₹50,000 per month |
| Next 9 Months Stipend | ₹60,000 per month |
| Application Deadline | 23 September 2026 |
| Target Candidates | Recent graduates and young professionals |
| Age Range | 22–32 years |
| Main Areas | Education, healthcare, governance, sports, social innovation, community development and institution building |
| Experience | Practical project and institutional exposure |
| Application | Online |
The fellowship listing states that candidates should be prepared to relocate to Bhubaneswar and participate full-time for the entire 18-month period. (LinkedIn)
What Is the Karmyogi Fellowship?
The Karmyogi Fellowship is a structured leadership and social impact programme created for people who want to combine professional development with meaningful work.
Rather than being limited to classroom learning, the fellowship focuses on hands-on experience. Fellows work with experienced teams and contribute to real initiatives across the KIIT and KISS ecosystem.
The current programme information describes opportunities involving education, healthcare, governance, sports, rural development and institution building. Fellows can gain practical exposure to project planning, research, communication, documentation, teamwork and programme implementation. (LinkedIn)
KIIT’s official Keystone platform lists the Karmyogi Fellowship under its student development initiatives and describes it as a leadership and social impact programme for long-term institutional contributors. (KIIT Keystone)
Who Can Apply for Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28?
The fellowship is aimed at recent graduates and young professionals who are interested in creating social impact and developing leadership capabilities.
According to the current fellowship listing, applicants should preferably have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a reputed institution, or equivalent professional expertise in areas such as media, design or development practice. (LinkedIn)
The listed eligibility requirements include:
- Age between 22 and 32 years at the time of application
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or equivalent relevant professional expertise
- Strong research and analytical thinking skills
- Good written communication abilities
- Demonstrated interest in social transformation, education, governance or development
- Ability and willingness to relocate to Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Ability to work full-time for the complete 18-month fellowship
- Interest in understanding complex systems and institutions
- Empathy for communities and their challenges
- Willingness to learn and take responsibility
Candidates from backgrounds such as media, design and development practice may also be considered where they demonstrate suitable professional expertise. (LinkedIn)
Karmyogi Fellowship Stipend
One of the major attractions of the Karmyogi Fellowship is its structured monthly stipend.
Selected fellows will receive:
First 9 months: ₹50,000 per month
Next 9 months: ₹60,000 per month
This means the stipend increases during the second half of the fellowship as participants move further into the programme and take on deeper responsibilities. (LinkedIn)
Over the full 18-month period, the listed monthly stipend amounts represent a total of ₹9.90 lakh, assuming continuous participation for all 18 months at the stated monthly rates.
Candidates should still carefully read the official fellowship terms and application information before making decisions based on the stipend.
Where Will the Fellowship Take Place?
The Karmyogi Fellowship is based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The current listing describes the fellowship as a full-time, on-site opportunity, so applicants should be comfortable relocating to Bhubaneswar and working there throughout the programme. (LinkedIn)
Bhubaneswar is home to both KIIT and KISS and serves as an important center for education, social development, research and institutional initiatives.
What Will Karmyogi Fellows Work On?
The fellowship provides interdisciplinary exposure. Fellows may work on projects connected with several important areas.
Education
Fellows may contribute to educational programmes, institutional initiatives, research and projects designed to improve learning and access to education.
Social Innovation
Participants can explore new approaches to social challenges and contribute to initiatives that aim to create measurable and meaningful impact.
Sports and Youth Development
Sports and youth development are among the listed focus areas. Fellows may receive exposure to programmes involving young people, athletics, community engagement and institutional initiatives.
Community Engagement
The programme offers opportunities to understand communities, interact with stakeholders and contribute to initiatives designed to address real-world needs.
Health and Wellbeing
Healthcare and wellbeing are also included among the fellowship’s core areas. This can provide exposure to programmes that connect institutional capacity with community needs.
Leadership and Institution Building
A central feature of the programme is learning how large organisations and institutional systems function. Fellows are expected to develop an understanding of strategy, planning, execution, documentation and collaboration. (LinkedIn)
Key Responsibilities of Karmyogi Fellows
The fellowship listing outlines several responsibilities that selected fellows may undertake.
These include:
- Developing strategic plans for existing or new projects
- Designing pilots and programmes
- Visiting programmes and interacting with teams and stakeholders
- Collecting and organizing project information
- Maintaining project documentation
- Contributing ideas to improve programmes and processes
- Preparing reports and presentations
- Supporting documentation activities
- Working with mentors
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams
- Participating in institutional and social impact projects
This practical structure makes the fellowship particularly relevant for candidates who want experience in project management, development work, social impact, strategy and institutional leadership. (LinkedIn)
Karmyogi Fellowship Programme Structure
The current fellowship information describes two broad stages of the programme.
Foundation Mode
The foundation stage includes exposure to the KIIT and KISS ecosystem and the wider Odisha context.
Participants can work on:
- Ground research
- Evidence synthesis
- Understanding institutional systems
- Strategy development
- Planning
- Learning about the organization and its initiatives
This stage helps fellows understand the environment in which they will work before taking on deeper project responsibilities. (LinkedIn)
Impact Mode
The impact stage focuses more strongly on practical implementation.
Fellows may contribute to:
- Institutional pilots
- Social impact projects
- Impact assessment
- Reporting
- Documentation
- Scaling initiatives
- Socialization of successful programmes
This progression allows participants to move from learning and research into practical project execution.
Benefits of Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28
The fellowship can provide several valuable benefits for young professionals.
1. Monthly Stipend
Selected fellows receive a monthly stipend of ₹50,000 during the first nine months and ₹60,000 during the next nine months. (LinkedIn)
2. Practical Experience
Instead of focusing only on theory, fellows work on actual institutional and social impact initiatives.
3. Mentorship
Participants get opportunities to work with experienced teams and mentors.
4. Leadership Development
The fellowship is designed to help participants develop responsibility, decision-making, communication and strategic thinking skills.
5. Cross-Sector Exposure
Fellows can gain exposure to areas including education, health, sports, community development, governance and social innovation.
6. Professional Network
Participants can build relationships with professionals and teams working within a large education and social development ecosystem.
7. Potential Long-Term Opportunities
The current fellowship listing states that outstanding fellows may be considered for long-term opportunities within KIIT and KISS. (LinkedIn)
Why KIIT and KISS Make This Opportunity Different
The Karmyogi Fellowship is connected with two major institutions: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).
KIIT is a multidisciplinary university based in Bhubaneswar, with programmes spanning education, research, innovation, healthcare, sports and other areas. Its official website describes a large academic ecosystem with students and researchers from India and other countries. (KIIT Deemed to be University)
KISS has a strong focus on education and social inclusion. Its official materials describe its work in providing education, accommodation, healthcare, vocational training, athletics and artistic training for indigenous students. (KISS Deemed to be University)
This combination provides fellows with an opportunity to observe how education, social development and institutional initiatives can operate together.
Important Date for Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28
The most important date for applicants is:
Application Deadline: 23 September 2026
KIIT’s current public announcement confirms the 23 September 2026 deadline.
Candidates should complete their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
How to Apply for Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28
Interested candidates should use the official application route associated with the Karmyogi Fellowship.
Official KIIT Keystone: Keystone KIIT
Karmyogi Fellowship application: The fellowship announcement directs applicants to the Karmyogi application page at keystone.kiit.ac.in/karmayogi. The current Keystone platform also identifies Karmyogi Fellowship as one of its institutional initiatives. (KIIT Keystone)
Before submitting an application, candidates should:
- Review the eligibility requirements.
- Check whether they can relocate to Bhubaneswar.
- Prepare an updated CV or resume.
- Highlight relevant academic, professional or project experience.
- Clearly explain their interest in social impact and leadership.
- Prepare examples of research, writing, project or community work where relevant.
- Submit the application before 23 September 2026.
Documents and Preparation Tips
Applicants should prepare their professional information before starting the application.
A strong application can clearly demonstrate:
- Academic background
- Work or internship experience
- Research experience
- Leadership activities
- Volunteer work
- Social impact projects
- Writing and communication skills
- Community engagement
- Problem-solving ability
- Interest in education, governance or development
- Examples of taking responsibility for a project
Candidates should avoid using generic statements. Instead, explain what problem they worked on, what action they took and what result they achieved.
Who Should Consider This Fellowship?
The Karmyogi Fellowship may be especially suitable for:
- Recent graduates
- Young professionals
- Development-sector aspirants
- Social-impact enthusiasts
- Future programme managers
- Aspiring institutional leaders
- Candidates interested in education
- People interested in governance and public development
- Social entrepreneurs
- Researchers and strong analytical thinkers
- Candidates interested in community development
- Professionals from media, design or development backgrounds
The strongest applicants are likely to be those who can combine intellectual curiosity with empathy, responsibility and a genuine interest in creating positive change.
Final Words
The Karmyogi Fellowship 2026–28 offers young graduates and professionals an opportunity to combine career development with meaningful social impact. The 18-month, full-time programme is based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and provides exposure to education, healthcare, governance, sports, social innovation, community engagement and institution building.
The fellowship also offers a substantial monthly stipend of ₹50,000 for the first nine months and ₹60,000 for the following nine months. More importantly, participants can gain practical project experience, mentorship, cross-sector exposure and an understanding of how large institutions and social initiatives operate. (LinkedIn)
The application deadline is 23 September 2026, so eligible candidates should review the official information and apply before the closing date. The official KIIT Keystone platform confirms that Karmyogi Fellowship is part of its broader student development and leadership ecosystem. (KIIT Keystone)