TCS Research Scholar Program

About

Rapid technological and intellectual advancement has spurred the need for research talent in India. This calls for quality multidisciplinary research activities in areas ranging from computer engineering and science, information systems and technology, and software engineering and other disciplines which utilize computing.

To address these requirements, Tata Consultancy Services have devised the TCS Research Scholar Program to improve the research talent base in the country. This facilitates knowledge exchange between research scholars and qualified researchers from TCS during the scholarship tenure. The Research Scholar Program thus promotes development and innovation to contribute towards boosting the country’s technology landscape and Intellectual Capability.

Entitlements

• Period: A scholar who is selected for the scholarship will be given a stipend for a maximum of four years, or submission of thesis for PhD, whichever is earlier.
• Stipend: A stipend of Rs. 91,000 per month for the first and second year and Rs. 97,500 per month for third year and Rs. 1,26,750 per month for the fourth year.
• In the fourth year of the TCS Research Scholar Program, the Scholars are eligible to do 1 semester i.e., 6 months in a top university abroad with the help of Institute’s foreign relationships to which the Scholars will be paid Rupees One Lakh Seventeen Thousand (Rs. 1,17,000/-) in addition to their 6 months stipend.
• Multiple other incentives as indicated in this pdf file.

Application Details

Announcement from TCS Foundation

FAQs about this scheme

Last date for submission of application (including all upload documents): 16th January 2026
Winners of the fellowship will be informed via email directly by the TCS Team
Fellowship effective date – July 2026

Required Documents before you fill in the above linked form:

• Letter of application from the scholar. Download the template here.
• Research area write up – should include a short review, problem statement, proposed scope, and focus. Download the template here.
• Declaration Form: Publication and IP Mandates for TCS Research Scholars. Please note this needs the signatures of the students, research supervisor(s) and the dept. chair. Download the template here.
• CV of the scholar – education, grades obtained, honors, publication list, and work experience (if any)
• CV of the Research Supervisor(s)
• 3-minute video presentation by the scholar to be uploaded on YouTube and link to be shared in the form. Ensure that your video is well made and include relevant details about your research work; like the overall aim, current progress, challenges to the proposed research work and so on. Avoid simply converting any ppt presentations into a video.
• Note: Shortlisted students from IISc will be required to fill out and submit a letter of support from the institution. We will share this template with only the shortlisted students post internal selection committee meeting. 

Assessment of progress:

Each year the scholar is required to submit a research progress report along with other mandatory reports (from Institute). This report will be evaluated by senior TCS scientists to understand the progress made. The scholar and his guide could be invited to visit one of the TCS Innovation Lab to present the work.

TCS Innovation Laboratory could look for opportunities of collaborations with the TCS Research scholar / institute, even beyond the period of internship.

Termination of Fellowship:

IISc reserves the right to terminate a student’s fellowship in any of the following cases:

• The student is found to be ineligible to receive the fellowship, at any point of time during the entire duration of the fellowship.
• It is found that the student furnished false or misleading information in the application or during the reviews.
• Adverse report on the student is received from the institution.
• The student has indulged in misconduct, misbehaviour, or corrupt practices.
• The progress of student’s research work is found to be unsatisfactory.
• The student has violated any of the terms and conditions of the fellowship.
• The student has been found to have indulged in plagiarism or unethical practices.
• The scholarship can be terminated by TCS, with one month notice, based on performance review report and for any violation of any operational rules applicable to all the research scholars at the institute.

Termination or cancellation of a fellowship will be done only after giving the student a fair opportunity to present her case.

Queries on the fellowship and reports of difficulties encountered during the application process should be sent by email to development.odaa@iisc.ac.in.