The Indian Administrative Fellowship is an 18-month full-time program designed to connect experienced private sector leaders with senior government officials to drive innovation in public systems. The goal is to create lasting scalable impact in governance through a technology based approach, improving public services and citizens’ lives. 

What this is not:

-A sabbatical or a part time engagement.

-A volunteering opportunity. 

-Remote working

-Permanent position

The program is called the Indian Administrative Fellowship because it focusses on collaborating with India’s administrative machinery and not politics- specifically working closely with senior civil servants in government departments. 

The fellowship aims to strengthen the public administration by embedding experienced leaders into the system to drive innovation and strategic change through technology based approach, thereby aligning with broader goals of India’s administrative framework. 

If you are passionate about solving complex social challenges of India and have at least 15 years of experience in leading large-scale – transformations, this Fellowship will be a great fit for you.

You are eligible for the fellowship if you:

– Are willing to relocate to the state capital or New Delhi(depending on the cohort you apply to) for the entire duration of the fellowship.  

– Are an Indian resident (OCI cardholders who are regular taxpayers can also apply).  

– Have 15 years or more of experience in leading technology-driven transformative projects.  

– Are comfortable working 6* days a week and being open to travel and conduct field visits during the 18-month program.  

– Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, responsibility, social consciousness and high emotional quotient (EQ).

– Willing to work as an individual contributor wherever required.

– Know  the local language, which is an advantage, but not mandatory.

*some states/central ministries may have 5 days week

To get you started, you need to fill out an application that explains your interests and experience. Shortlisted candidates will be taken forward to a written case study round, and only selected candidates will be called for interviews with The/Nudge team.

As a fellow you will:‍

– Understand the departmental priorities and challenges through research and discussion. ‍

– Charter a project within government department with assured support from The/Nudge’s state team and in alignment with the MoU.

– Work towards achieving the set goals in coordination with the governmental stakeholders and demonstrate the effectiveness of your intervention. 

– Collaborate with various stakeholders both inside and outside of the government to meet your project objectives. 

– Ensure regular updates to The/Nudge team for needed documentation and reports on your progress mapping. 

– Participate in cohort interactions and capability building workshops. 

The fellowship offers :

– A platform to make large scale and sustainable impact by working closely with government leaders on important initiatives and developing a technology based solutions.  

– A ring side view of how policies are created and implemented. 

-Opportunities to showcase your work and receive formal recognition from senior government administrators and leaders. 

-Networking with peers, government officials and an extended group of like minded changemakers and problem solvers. 

-Leadership development bootcamps organised by top public policy institutions like NITI Aayog. 

– Mentorship from public policy experts, industry leaders and experienced mentors. 

-An honorarium of Rs 1.25 lakhs monthly during the fellowship.

As a Fellow, you will be known as an ‘Indian Administrative Fellow’ and formally engaged as a ‘Consultant’ with The/Nudge Institute. You will be based at the relevant government department office and work closely with senior officials from the relevant department like the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary on strategic projects. You will have to take ownership of your projects and work together with civil servants to ensure significant progress including a pilot/on-ground implementation of the project. Along the way, there will be numerous opportunities to seek mentorship from senior government officials, industry leaders and subject matter experts.

You will be based in the city where your Secretariat or Department office is located, but travel may be needed for field visits to better understand the project and engage with stakeholders. The amount of travel depends on the nature of your project.

You will stay with the project even if the civil servant is transferred, and will work with the new official in charge. Normally, the government priorities remain unaffected due to change of officers. If a project is stopped, you will be assigned a different project for the remaining duration of the Fellowship after consulting with the relevant civil servants. In the initial phase of fellowship, a detailed project charter is prepared by the fellow and signed off by all the stakeholders to ensure alignment on the projects and corresponding deliverables.

Please note that Fellows will need to give a 18-month commitment to the Fellowship. Hence, we would encourage you to do a full due-diligence about a Fellow’s role and ensure that you have had a clear communication with your loved ones about the 18-month commitment before signing up for the role.

However, if there are extenuating circumstances, and you need to leave before the 18-month term ends, you will be required to give 2 months’ notice or reimburse the honorarium in lieu of the notice period.

A total of 27 days leave can be availed during the 18 months of the Fellowship. The leave would accrue to a Fellow’s account at 1.5 days per month. Any leave beyond the accrued leave would become leave without pay. It can be waived off only with the approval of the concerned government department and The/Nudge team. The leaves can be availed only after sufficient notice is given to all the concerned stakeholders and necessary approvals obtained, as defined in the leave policy, which will be shared upon joining.

After the Fellowship, you will receive support to transition into leadership roles, policy roles, or government roles within the development sector. Additionally, during the Fellowship you’ll have opportunities for networking to help you connect with key professionals and organisations in the field. You can also learn more about how our alumni from the Karnataka ‘21 cohort and Punjab ‘22 transitioned after their Fellowship.

Government stakeholders collaborate with the IAF team to identify focus areas and corresponding projects that align with their department’s goals. These projects build on existing initiatives and help advance the department’s overall vision.

The cost of an IAF Fellowship is covered through support from philanthropic partners. This funding covers the entire process, including project design, executive search for the right candidate, the Fellow’s honorarium  and benefits, and their training, coaching, and support throughout the 18-month Fellowship.

Your journey in the Fellowship will involve an in-depth understanding of the government department’s challenges, designing strategic interventions, working closely with civil servants, and ensuring the successful implementation of your projects. You will participate in training bootcamps, receive mentorship, and collaborate with a cohort of like-minded professionals. Throughout the 18 months, you will be supported by The/Nudge team, ensuring your experience is impactful and fulfilling.

No, experience in a particular department is not required however the profile and nature of experience of the fellow should be relevant to work in a particular department/projects. The/Nudge team will map your placement based on your experience, expertise, and interest, ensuring a good match between your skills and the needs of the department.

Yes, you will need to be based in the city where your designated government office or department is located. This is a non-negotiable requirement and ensures close collaboration with the government officials and effective implementation of your projects.

No, the Indian Administrative Fellowship requires a full-time, 18-month commitment. It is not available as a sabbatical or part-time position. Fellows must be able to dedicate themselves fully to the program and its responsibilities.

IAF provides extensive support and training to Fellows to ensure they can make a significant impact during their 18-month engagement. This includes multi-day bootcamps at key stages of the Fellowship, along with workshops curated by top public policy institutions like NITI Aayog. Fellows also receive ongoing mentorship, guidance from industry experts, and support from The/Nudge team throughout their journey.

The/Nudge team will provide support throughout the Fellowship. This includes having a State Head and team members available as thought partners, assisting with documentation, and offering field support to ensure the successful execution of projects. The team will also facilitate networking opportunities, regular check-ins, and troubleshooting support as needed.

The IAF model is different from traditional consulting because we co-design projects with our government partners, conduct tailored executive searches to find the right talent, and embed our Fellows full-time within government departments. We also provide ongoing training, coaching, and resources to ensure the success of each project. This customised and focused approach helps advance strategic priorities, moving initiatives from concept to implementation. Additionally, our cohort model builds a sense of community among Fellows, allowing them to connect and learn from each other throughout their Fellowship journey.

The Indian Administrative Fellowship is needed to bridge the gap between the private sector’s expertise in technology, innovation, execution efficiency and the public sector’s need for strategic interventions to solve complex problems. By bringing in experienced leaders from the private sector, IAF helps accelerate the implementation of impactful projects in government, enhances the efficiency of public systems, and contributes to addressing India’s most pressing challenges in a sustainable manner.