Applications Open · 2026–2027 Cohort

Shape India.
Lead the Change

An 18-month fellowship designed to help young changemakers build skills, gain practical experience, and contribute to meaningful initiatives at KIIT & KISS, Bhubaneswar.

Apply for the Fellowship Explore the Programme
Purpose
Learning
Leadership
Impact
Service
Community
Equity
Change
Karmyogi wheel
18Month Fellowship
₹50K–₹60KMonthly Stipend
BhubaneswarOdisha · India
The spirit of Karmyogi

Where intellect and empathy travel the same road.

The Fellowship is an invitation to young Indians who want their work to count for more than themselves — and who are willing to understand change closely enough to help build it.

Dr. Samanta’s life has been shaped by one enduring belief: education can change everything. Through KIIT and KISS, that belief has grown into an ecosystem spanning higher education, tribal empowerment, healthcare, sport, rural development and social transformation.

Karmyogi places Fellows inside that living ecosystem — not as distant observers, but as learners and contributors working with real institutions, real communities and real questions.

A message from the Founder

A life of purpose, shared as an invitation.

Dr. Achyuta Samanta Founder, KIIT & KISS

The Karmyogi Fellowship is my invitation to a particular kind of young Indian — the one who refuses to accept that intellect and empathy must travel separate roads.

I have spent my life believing one idea above all others: that education can change everything, and at KIIT and KISS I have watched it happen with my own eyes, lifting tribal children into scholars and turning a single classroom into a movement that now reaches more than eighty thousand students directly and millions indirectly, alongside creating a university that is taking India forward.

Building something this large is demanding work, and it deserves the finest minds this country can offer. So this is my invitation to you. Come and see India as it truly is — walk through the villages of Odisha, and engage with the great questions of our time: of education and access, of tribal empowerment, of governance, healthcare and philanthropy — and then think, write, and reason about what genuine transformation truly demands, so that others may learn from what you find.

The Karmyogi is not someone who admires change from a safe distance but someone who studies it, questions it, documents it, and rolls up the sleeves to shape it. This Fellowship is a beginning, not an end — a launchpad for the scholars, policy thinkers and institutional leaders this country will need tomorrow.

If your heart and your head pull you in the same direction — towards a life that counts for more than yourself — then I welcome you wholeheartedly to become a Karmyogi, one who finds meaning not in words alone but in the quiet, demanding labour of service. Come, and let us build something that lasts.
About the Fellowship

Built within a uniquely transformative institution.

The Karmyogi Fellowship is housed within the KIIT–KISS ecosystem — a pioneering model of education-led social transformation founded by Dr. Achyuta Samanta, recognised for its work in tribal empowerment, healthcare, education and sustainable development.

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize UN SDG-aligned ecosystem Odisha-rooted · India-facing

Unlike conventional fellowships focused narrowly on academics or fieldwork, Karmyogi offers hands-on experience across diverse initiatives, giving Fellows practical exposure to strategy, leadership, impact management and problem-solving.

01

Learn by doing

Work on real institutional and social-impact challenges, not simulated assignments.

02

See systems at scale

Understand how education, health, community, sport and institution building connect in practice.

03

Build judgement

Combine field observation, evidence, writing and strategy to make thoughtful decisions.

Purposeful action.
Selfless service.
Lasting impact.
One connected ecosystem

The central “K” is held by concentric circles representing KIIT and KISS — a reminder that Karmyogi emerges from one connected ecosystem.

The Karmyogi Wheel

Odisha at the centre. Action in every direction.

Inspired by the Konark Chakra, the identity represents continuity, movement and forward momentum. The eight primary spokes reflect major areas of social contribution; the finer spokes represent the way those areas depend on one another.

What you gain

One fellowship. Many ways to grow.

Practical work, leadership access and cross-sector exposure — designed to build capability, perspective and professional confidence.

01

Build real solutions

Design and strategise for meaningful projects in education, healthcare, governance and other focus areas.

02

Learn from leaders

Collaborate with institutional leaders, professionals and practitioners through discussions, mentoring and field visits.

03

Cross-sector exposure

Explore education, governance, healthcare, social development and innovation to build a broader perspective.

04

Career growth

Gain practical experience, build a strong professional network, and prepare for careers across the development, public and educational sectors.

05

Future opportunities

Outstanding Fellows may be considered for long-term roles within KIIT & KISS, based on performance and organisational needs.

Core themes

Where you’ll create impact.

Fellows work across interdisciplinary themes at the intersection of ideas, institutions and communities.

01
Education
Helping improve learning, schools and access to quality education.
02
Social Innovation
Exploring initiatives and entrepreneurial ideas that create positive social impact.
03
Sports & Youth Development
Leveraging sport as a pathway for youth development, discipline and opportunity.
04
Community Engagement
Working on village development, livelihoods and local infrastructure.
05
Health & Wellbeing
Contributing to better healthcare access and community wellbeing.
06
Leadership & Institution Building
Hands-on learning in building institutions and leadership that create lasting impact.
Fellowship structure

18 months of structured growth.

A phased programme designed to build your capabilities progressively — from orientation and learning to projects, leadership and independent contribution.

Phase One

Orientation & Learning

Months 1–9 · Foundation mode
₹50,000 per month
  • Introduction to the KIIT & KISS ecosystem and Odisha context
  • Ground research & evidence synthesis
  • Strategy and planning
Phase Two

Projects & Leadership Experience

Months 10–18 · Impact mode
₹60,000 per month
  • Work on institutional and social-impact pilots
  • Impact assessment, reporting and documentation
  • Designing scaling and socialisation
01Orient & understand
02Observe & research
03Design & deliver
04Measure & scale
Who we’re looking for

Intellectually driven. Socially committed.

We are looking for people who can think with rigour, work with humility and take responsibility in real-world settings.

Eligibility criteria

✓
Educational Background

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a reputed institution, or equivalent professional expertise in media, design or development practice.

✓
Age Range

Between 22 and 32 years at the time of application.

✓
Full-time Commitment

Ability to relocate to and be based full-time in Bhubaneswar, Odisha for the 18-month duration.

✓
Analytical & Writing Skills

Strong research, analytical thinking and written communication skills demonstrated through previous work or writing samples.

✓
Interdisciplinary Aptitude

Demonstrated interest in social transformation, education, governance or development practice.

Ideal Fellow profile

★
Intellectual curiosity

A genuine love for ideas, change and understanding complex systems as a way of engaging with the world.

★
Social sensitivity

A sense of empathy for the cause of people, coupled with the commitment to understand their challenges and work towards solutions.

★
Institution builder’s mindset

A willingness to learn how large institutions and systems work, and the drive to take responsibility for building and running them.

Selection process

Rigorous by design. Human at every stage.

We look for Fellows who combine analytical depth, clear communication, initiative and genuine social commitment.

Application Screening

We review your application holistically — your experience, thinking, writing and motivation to join the Fellowship.

Assessment Round

A structured evaluation of analytical depth, communication clarity, aptitude and reasoning under constraint.

Personal Interview

A direct conversation with institutional leadership to assess alignment, values, judgement and readiness for the programme.

The ecosystem behind the Fellowship

Learn where purpose already works at scale.

Karmyogi is not built around a classroom alone. It is built around living institutions — where education, social action, health, sport and community development meet every day.

KIIT

Knowledge with scale.

A globally recognised university from Odisha, known for quality, scale and social commitment.

40,000+Students
70+Countries represented
4th in IndiaTHE Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026
6th in IndiaTHE Asia University Rankings 2026
27Olympians & Paralympians
Learn More
KISS

Education as empowerment.

A globally recognised model of indigenous education, providing free education, food, healthcare and residential support.

80,000+Tribal children impacted
100% freeEducation and residential support
1.6 lakh+Meals served daily
UNESCO 2022King Sejong Literacy Prize
Since 2015UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status
Learn More
Dr. Achyuta Samanta

A life built around service.

Founder of KIIT, KISS and Art of Giving; former two-term Member of Parliament, educator and social entrepreneur.

75+Honorary Doctorates
BahrainISA Award for Service to Humanity
PhilippinesGUSI Peace Prize International
GlobalArt of Giving movement
KIIT–KISSEducation-led social transformation
Learn More
Applications open · 2026–2027

Ready to become a Karmyogi?

Join a cohort of exceptional individuals committed to learning deeply, serving meaningfully and making some of India’s most ambitious social institutions even stronger.

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