Application Deadline:
November 30, 2025
About Organisation
The Buddha Institute, hosted under Education for Employability Foundation and registered as a public charitable trust, supports grassroots for-profit businesses focused on social transformation. The organization helps these enterprises become profitable, sustainable, and ever-growing. Holding 12A and 80G certifications for tax-exempt donations, FCRA registration for international contributions, and registrations under the CSR Act and Niti Aayog’s Darpan portal, the Institute ensures transparency and regulatory compliance. Its mission focuses on stimulating economic growth in rural India by nurturing Development Entrepreneurs who treat rural areas as value addition centers, contributing to poverty alleviation through job creation and supply chain engagement.
About the Grant
The Buddha Fellowship Program provides comprehensive twenty-four-month support to early-stage, for-profit enterprises through mentoring, management skills development, and financial assistance. The program enables enterprises to scale from micro-level operations to achieving annual revenues exceeding ten crore Indian Rupees. Fellows receive individualized mentor and anchor support, business acumen building through workshops and peer learning, linkages to government and institutional networks, and access to impact capital. The three-pronged model pairs each fellow with an experienced industry mentor (30+ years experience) and a dedicated anchor team member. By 2030, the program aims to nurture 1,000 entrepreneurs creating 100,000 jobs and adding one billion dollars to the rural economy.
Who can Apply?
Early-stage, for-profit development enterprises operating in rural India across nine sectors qualify: Agriculture, Agritech and Soil Health, Non-Timber Forest Produce, Apiculture, Livestock Productivity, Handloom and Handcraft, Gig Economy, Recycling and Waste Management, Renewable Energy, and Rainwater Harvesting. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to treating rural India as value addition centers while contributing to poverty alleviation through employment creation and supply chain engagement. Enterprises should show potential for scaling to ten crore plus annual revenue and readiness to raise capital based on profitability and impact. The four-stage selection includes application screening, virtual interviews, in-person assessments, and due diligence field visits.
How to Apply?
Interested enterprises should apply through the Buddha Institute’s enrollment system. The selection process involves four stages: application submission and shortlisting based on pre-defined criteria; virtual interviews with Buddha Institute team members and previous fellows; in-person assessments with experienced jury members; and due diligence field visits to shortlisted enterprises. Complete application details are available through the Institute’s official enrollment platform during the outreach period.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Buddha Fellowship Program is November 30, 2025. Interested development enterprises must submit applications through the Institute’s enrollment system by this date for selection consideration.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
