KSHETRA
CONSULTING
Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Fellowship
About the Fellowship
India’s development journey cannot be complete without reaching the last person in the queue. At Kshetra, we believe real progress begins where the road ends—in our villages, in our marginalised communities, and in places often overlooked by mainstream development models. Inspired by the philosophy of Integral Humanism and the vision of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya, we are committed to grassroots transformation through inclusive governance, social justice, and economic empowerment.
The Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Fellowship is rooted in the values of Antyodaya—the upliftment of the most deprived—and aims to nurture a generation of professionals equipped to address India’s rural and social development challenges. This fellowship focuses on rural development, grassroots governance, social inclusion, and self-reliant economic empowerment, all while building a bottom-up model of nation-building.
At Kshetra, we collaborate with panchayati raj institutions, self-help groups, civil society organisations, and local government bodies to implement people-first policies and enable transformative interventions in underserved regions. Fellows will be engaged in designing and executing welfare programs, facilitating community participation, strengthening local institutions, and analysing the socio-economic impact of government schemes.
The fellowship is designed to build deep domain experience in areas like public service delivery, social equity, economic self-sufficiency, and participatory governance. Fellows will develop skills in field research, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, grassroots communication, and implementation of welfare projects. Through this fellowship, we offer young professionals a hands-on platform to work closely with communities and decision-makers alike. If you are driven by the ideals of service, sustainability, and inclusive growth, and you believe that real change must start at the grassroots, the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Fellowship is your path to purpose. We invite socially conscious, development-driven individuals to join us in building self-reliant and empowered communities—the cornerstone of a strong and just Bharat.
Eligibility Criteria
Selection Process
Step 1
Application
Students submit their project work, relevant past experience, and resume for evaluation. Shortlisted candidates then move on to the next round of assessments based on fit and alignment with our initiatives.
Step 2
Assignment
After the application submission stage, candidates are given an assignment to gauge their real-world experience, a crucial step in our selection process. This allows us to assess their practical skills and suitability for the role.
Step 3
Interview
Finally, candidates move to an online interview as part of our evaluation process at Kshetra. This interview allows us to assess their interpersonal communication skills and assess their fitness in consideration to our organizational values.
Roles And Responsibilities
As part of fellowship, candidates are supposed to perform following tasks:
01.
Identify and work with underserved communities to co-create sustainable development interventions aimed at uplifting the most marginalized individuals and groups.
03.
Facilitate community-led governance initiatives by engaging with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and civil society organizations.
05.
Support capacity building of local institutions and leadership, empowering community stakeholders to take charge of local development and decision-making processes.
07.
Strengthen grassroots communication channels through awareness campaigns and participatory outreach, enhancing public understanding of welfare rights and services.
09.
Champion inclusive development by ensuring representation of women, SC/ST, differently-abled individuals, and other marginalised voices in governance and planning processes.
02.
Design and implement grassroots welfare programs in partnership with local institutions, ensuring last-mile delivery of government schemes and entitlements.
04.
Conduct socio-economic assessments and impact studies to understand barriers to inclusion and develop actionable, evidence-based policy recommendations.
06.
Promote economic self-reliance through entrepreneurship models, skilling programs, and sustainable livelihood initiatives tailored to rural and semi-urban contexts.
08.
Bridge the gap between policy and practice by working closely with local administrators, development departments, and elected representatives.
10.
Document and scale best practices in social justice, rural innovation, and inclusive governance to inform broader development strategies and influence policy frameworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills will
I develop during the fellowship ?
Fellows will gain experience in rural development planning, policy analysis, field research, grassroots communication, stakeholder engagement, and implementation of welfare programs with a focus on inclusive governance and socio-economic equity.
Where will the fellowship be based, and how can I apply?
Fellows will be placed in rural and underserved regions across India in collaboration with local institutions. Applications can be submitted through our website and include a written assessment, interview, and evaluation of relevant field experience.
Is the fellowship
paid and what is its duration?
Yes, the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Fellowship is a paid, full-time program. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend to cover basic living and travel expenses during their fieldwork. The standard duration of the fellowship is two to three months, with a possibility of extension based on performance, project requirements, and mutual agreement.