
Network for Advanced Study of Pakistan (NASP) Fellowship
Applications to the 2025-26 NASP Fellowship have closed. Please indicate your interest using the form below for next year’s Fellowship.
Programme Overview
The Network for Advanced Study of Pakistan (NASP) Fellowship aims to create high quality scholarship and knowledge of Pakistan by nurturing new generations of analysts in academia, think tanks, media and industry. The fellowship will create a cross-disciplinary community of scholars and a body-of-knowledge that will inform policy, strategy, economics, security, and society.
The NASP Fellowship
The NASP Fellowship offers opportunities for analysts and scholars to work under the co-guidance of foremost experts and work towards a publication in the leading journals in the field. This includes a three-day conference in Bengaluru. In addition, cash prizes up to Rs 1 lakh each will be awarded to a select number of papers determined by the jury. The duration of the fellowship is 10 months.
Focus Areas
NASP fellows will undertake research in one or more of the following areas: Local Politics & Political Systems; Military Influence and Civil-Military Relations; Economy; Technology, Education, and Social Media; Security; and Foreign Policy. Fellows will have the opportunity to work with mentors who are among the leading experts in Pakistan studies. Through this mentorship opportunity, NASP Fellows will gain invaluable skills in research, critical thinking, analysis, communication, etc.
We at NASP believe that specific aspects of Pakistan studies remain severely understudied. Proposals addressing these questions (link below) are therefore more likely to make a meaningful impact. Research proposals must fall within one of the domains mentioned below. Sample questions have been provided for these domains. Please note that priority will be given to proposals that align closely with the identified themes and questions in each domain.
More details about the specific domains and scope of research can be found here: NASP Research Questions
Who Should Apply?
NASP invites applications from researchers from any background, including from universities, research institutes, media, government services and industry, who are enthusiastic about undertaking fresh research on Pakistan.
For this year’s Fellowship, we encourage research proposals on Pakistan studies in these domains: Local Politics & Political Systems; Military Influence and Civil-Military Relations; Economy; Technology, Education, and Social Media; Security; and Foreign Policy.
Prospective fellows must be Indian citizens, have at least an undergraduate degree and be proficient in English.
NASP Fellowship Process
Prospective fellows must submit a brief research proposal demonstrating their interest and capability to complete the project. The proposal (800 words maximum) should clearly state the current gaps in research and how the author(s) would approach the issue. Along with the research proposal submission, author(s) must also send a past writing sample, either published or unpublished, on any topic that is not more than 1000 words.
Up to two authors can submit a joint proposal. Multidisciplinary approaches and collaborations are encouraged.
Selected applicants will be invited to join the fellowship, assigned mentors and projects. The best research output will be rewarded with cash prizes and commendations.
Timeline
The application window for the third cohort of NASP Fellowship is now open.
June 5 - Call for Indication of Interest
June 20 – Research proposal submission deadline
June 29 - July 5 - Interview (Round 1 screening)
July 7 - Notification of selected research proposals
July 9 – Start of NASP-3 fellowship
October 15 - Submission deadline for Interim draft paper
October 30 - Round 2 screening
November 21-23 - 3-day Academic Conference
February 15, 2026 - Submission deadline for Second draft
March 31, 2026 - Submission of final draft paper for Journal Submission
May 15, 2026 - Selection & award of best papers by an independent academic panel
Mentors
Prof. Sumit Ganguly
Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution and Director, Huntington Program on Strengthening US-India Relations
Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa
Senior Research Fellow, Department of War Studies, Kings College London
Dr. T.C.A Raghavan
Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan
Lt General (Dr) Prakash Menon
Director, Strategic Studies Programme, Takshashila Institution
Dr. Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
Founder & Director, Mantraya Institute of Strategic Studies
Dr Y. Nithiyanandam
Professor and the Head of the Geospatial Programme, Takshashila Institution
Dr. Atul Mishra
Head, Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, Shiv Nadar University
Pranay Kotasthane
Deputy Director, Takshashila Institution
Dr. Aparna Pande
Research Fellow, Hudson Institute
Anand Arni
Distinguished Fellow, Takshashila Institution
Prof. D Suba Chandran
Dean of the School of Conflict and Security Studies,
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Manoj Kewalramani
Fellow-China Studies and the Chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme, Takshashila Institution
Meet the 2024-25 Cohort of the NASP Fellowship
Meet the Pioneer Cohort of the NASP Fellowship