The New India Foundation (NIF) has announced the NIF Translation Fellowship 2025, a prestigious opportunity aimed at supporting outstanding translators and scholars engaged in translating significant non-fiction works from Indian languages into English. This fellowship plays a vital role in making India’s intellectual, social, historical, and cultural knowledge accessible to a global audience.
Under this programme, selected fellows will receive a total fellowship grant of ₹6,00,000, distributed over a six-month period, enabling them to focus exclusively on producing high-quality translations.
About NIF Translation Fellowship 2025
The NIF Translation Fellowship is designed for individuals committed to excellence in translation and scholarship. It encourages rigorous, accurate, and stylistically strong translations that preserve the intellectual depth of original Indian-language non-fiction works while making them readable for English-speaking audiences worldwide.
NIF Translation Fellowship 2025 – Important Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 December 2025
- Fellowship Duration: 6 months
- Fellowship Amount: ₹6,00,000
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the NIF Translation Fellowship 2025, applicants must:
- Be an Indian citizen or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO)
- Demonstrate fluency in English and the chosen Indian language
- Propose a translation of a significant non-fiction work originally written in an Indian language
- Show evidence of prior translation work, academic research, or a relevant professional background
Both independent translators and scholars affiliated with academic or research institutions may apply.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected candidates will receive:
- ₹6,00,000 fellowship grant, paid evenly over six months
- Academic recognition from the New India Foundation
- Opportunity to contribute to preserving and disseminating Indian intellectual traditions
- Professional visibility in scholarly and literary translation circles
Documents Required
Applicants must submit the following documents as part of their application:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Detailed proposal outlining the translation project
- Sample translation of 5–10 pages from the proposed work
All documents should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s competence, commitment, and suitability for the fellowship.
Selection Process
The selection of fellows will follow a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process:
- Applications will be invited through select advertising by NIF in leading journals and online platforms
- NIF Trustees will review all proposals and prepare a shortlist of eligible candidates
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an in-depth interview
- The interview jury will consist of NIF Trustees and eminent personalities from the fields of scholarship, business, and social service
Final selection will be based on academic merit, quality of proposal, translation ability, and the significance of the chosen work.
Quick Reference Summary
| Aspect | Details |
| Fellowship Name | NIF Translation Fellowship 2025 |
| Offered By | New India Foundation |
| Fellowship Amount | ₹6,00,000 |
| Duration | 6 Months |
| Eligible Applicants | Indian citizens / PIOs |
| Focus Area | Translation of Indian non-fiction into English |
| Application Deadline | 31 December 2025 |
Why Apply for NIF Translation Fellowship?
This fellowship is ideal for translators and scholars who wish to:
- Bring important Indian non-fiction works to global readership
- Receive financial independence while working on a major translation project
- Gain recognition from a reputed national foundation
- Strengthen their academic and professional profile in translation studies
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| What is the NIF Translation Fellowship 2025? |
| It is a fellowship supporting translators working on Indian-language non-fiction translations into English. |
| What is the fellowship amount? |
| ₹6,00,000 distributed over six months. |
| Who can apply for the fellowship? |
| Indian citizens or Persons of Indian Origin with translation expertise. |
| What type of work is eligible? |
| Significant non-fiction works originally written in an Indian language. |
| What documents are required? |
| CV, translation proposal, and a 5–10 page sample translation. |
| What is the last date to apply? |
| 31 December 2025. |
| How are candidates selected? |
| Through proposal evaluation and interviews by NIF Trustees and experts. |
| Where are applications advertised? |
| Through select advertisements in journals and online platforms by NIF. |
The NIF Translation Fellowship 2025 offers a rare and prestigious opportunity for translators and scholars to contribute meaningfully to India’s intellectual heritage while receiving substantial financial support. Eligible candidates are strongly encouraged to prepare a compelling proposal and apply before 31 December 2025. For official updates and announcements, visit the New India Foundation’s official website and bookmark this page for future reference, for more details and apply CLICK HERE
