Which languages can an applicant submit in?

The Book Fellowship programme is currently only open to English-language applications. For Indian-language based programmes, please consider applying to our Translation Fellowships.

What is the frequency of the Fellowships?

The application cycles for the Book and Translation Fellowships rotate every year, thus the 2022 Book Fellowships will be followed by the Translation Fellowships in 2023.

What is the duration of the Fellowships?

The Book Fellowship runs for the course of a full year, and the Translation Fellowship period is 6 months.

Are there any eligibility requirements for the Book Fellowship?

The only consideration is that the candidate must be an Indian Citizen. Please note that OCI card-holders are not eligible to apply.

Can a work already accepted by a publisher be considered?

Yes, as long as a considerable portion of the research and writing is pending [to justify the duration of the Fellowship].

Are there any specific publishers that the NIF assigns to books?

Although inputs and advice are offered by the NIF Trustees, the final choice of publisher is left completely up to each Fellow.

Does the writing sample have to be linked to the proposal?

Yes, the writing sample should be derived from / indicative of the larger proposal so that a clear picture of the final book can emerge.

How many Fellows are chosen per round?

Around 10 Fellows are chosen per round of the Book Fellowships, and 3 are selected for the Translation Fellowships.

Can a two-person team apply for the Fellowship?

Yes, co-authored proposals are eligible for both the Book and Translation Fellowships.