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SPARC-AI · current phase
SPARC-AI Fellowship: Frequently Asked Questions
About the fellowship
What is this fellowship about?
SPARC-AI places Fellows with Members of Parliament, in their constituencies, to make sure AI reaches the last mile. For 12 months you will work with women in Self-Help Groups, helping them use simple AI tools to run their businesses better and earn more. You will learn AI skills yourself, use them on the ground, and document what works.
Who can apply?
Early-career professionals, ideally aged 23–30, with a bachelor's and master's degree, demonstrable field experience with communities, fluency in the local language of the constituency, and clear writing in English and the local language. See the call for applications for the full criteria. We strongly encourage applications from women and from candidates from the region they would serve.
Pay and location
How much will I be paid?
Fellows receive a flat stipend of ₹40,000 per month for 12 months.
Where will I be based?
In the parliamentary constituency you are placed in, usually in one or two focus blocks within it.
What does "based" mean?
You are expected to live in the constituency full time for the 12 months of the fellowship. Your work is focused on villages, SHG meetings and district offices, so living locally is essential.
The work and support
What am I expected to do?
Your work follows a monthly deliverable schedule, shared with you on placement:
- Months 1–3: Meet district officials and SHG federations, survey about 150 SHG women, hold in-depth interviews, and write a report on how women earn and where AI can help.
- Months 4–7: Build simple AI task cards, film short phone videos, and train local women as AI Saathis who teach their own SHGs.
- Months 8–12: Visit women at home to check whether they are using AI, fix what is not working, hand the work over to the community, and report results.
Will I be trained in AI?
Yes. Fellows receive AI training at the start and throughout the year. You do not need technical skills, but you do need to be open to new technology and willing to learn.
I will need to travel in the field. Who covers those costs?
Each placement has an agreed field visit requirement, which you will be told about on placement. The MP's office covers local travel up to a pre-agreed amount.
If I face issues in my community work, who do I go to?
You will have a named point of contact at Swaniti Initiative, and a named point of contact in the MP's office. Both are there to support you.
Learning and timelines
What will I learn from this experience?
Two things employers increasingly look for: practical skill with AI tools, and real experience implementing a program on the ground, from field research to training to measuring results. You will also work closely with an MP and the district administration, and publish your findings.
How are Fellows selected?
Through three rounds: an application review (CV, one-page note and a 1-minute video), a second-round interview, and a final-round interview. The applicant guide lists the scoring criteria and the interview questions so you can prepare.
What are the application deadlines and timelines?
- Applications open: 19 October – 30 November 2026
- Applications close: 30 November 2026, midnight IST
- Review and reach out to all applicants: 1 – 31 December 2026
- Second-round interviews: 1 – 15 January 2027
- Final-round interview: 15 January 2027
SPARC 2015–2020 · earlier phase
SPARC Associate program
The FAQs are applicable only for India. Terms and conditions might be different for other countries.
What is the tenure of a SPARC?
Tenure of the program is one year
Who are the SPARC MPs?
SPARC MPs are onboarded basis their interest in engaging with the program, and their willingness to work with young professionals in issue-based constituency development projects.
What shall be the stipend?
The stipend shall be INR 40,000 per month, without tax deductions (applicable only for India).
Is the SPARC Program open to foreign nationals?
Only Indian nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are allowed to apply for the program.
Can I reapply if I was not selected last year?
Yes, candidates who applied last year, and were not selected, are free to apply again.
What are SPARC's priorities in terms of placing associates?
There are multiple factors that we look at when matching associates with a given constituency, including language ability, professional skills, sector expertise etc.
Where will the SPARC be based?
SPARCs will be expected to travel, with the majority of the time being spent in the constituency with their respective Parliamentarian.
May I choose the constituency I will be attached to?
The constituency for the Associates would be chosen after mapping their skill sets to the requirements of the constituency and the MP.
Is there a review component built into the program?
Yes, the SPARC associates will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, and appropriate hand-holding will be provided to the associates at every stage of the program.
Do SPARCs get any leave time?
Yes. Associates are entitled to leaves as per the Swaniti Leave Policy