What is the newly launched UN India-supported paid fellowship for youth?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Support for Tribal Youth: The Adi Yuva Fellowship aims to empower tribal youth through mentorship and structured learning.
- Paid Fellowship: Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend during the 12-month program.
- Health Benefits: Fellows will have access to comprehensive health and life insurance.
- Link to National Schemes: The program connects participants with various national skilling and employment initiatives.
- Grassroots Engagement: The initiative aims to enhance service delivery in tribal regions through the Adi Karmayogi Volunteers Programme.
New Delhi, Sep 22 (NationPress) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has inaugurated the Adi Yuva Fellowship, backed by UN India, aimed at empowering tribal youth through organized learning, mentorship, and enhanced career opportunities, as stated by an official.
This pioneering fellowship will facilitate the selection of a cohort of 16 Fellows through a competitive process and their assignment with UN agencies at various levels including national, state, and district, according to the official statement.
The chosen tribal youth will participate in a 12-month paid Fellowship, featuring a customized learning curriculum that integrates knowledge acquisition, practical experience, and reflective practice.
Participants will receive monthly stipends, extensive health and life insurance, and access to premier UN and commercial learning resources.
The program will connect Fellows with national skill enhancement and employment initiatives such as PMKVY 4.0, NAPS, and PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, ensuring pathways to sustainable careers.
They will also gain from structured mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, and exposure to both national and international platforms.
Additionally, the statement revealed the launch of an Adi Karmayogi Volunteers Programme as part of the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2025, during Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh (2024–2025).
This initiative, supported by UNFPA, aims to prepare tribal youth as agents of grassroots transformation and improve service delivery in tribal regions.
A total of 82 UN Community Volunteers have been appointed as Adi Karmayogi Volunteers across 82 blocks in 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for an intensive two-month grassroots engagement.
The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan aspires to engage 11 crore citizens across one lakh tribal-dominated villages in 550 districts across 30 States and Union Territories, as per the statement.
Grounded in the principles of responsive, accountable, and citizen-centered governance, the Abhiyan aims to transform governance into a people’s movement, laying the groundwork for Viksit Bharat 2047.
As part of this initiative, the Adi SewaParv (September 17 – October 2, 2025) is currently in progress, during which tribal communities alongside government officials will collaboratively devise Tribal Village Vision 2030 Action Plans to outline local development strategies for inclusive growth.