The YIF cohort is rich in demographic diversity. Fellows come from different geographies, varied education disciplines, and socio-economic backgrounds. Many of them excel in extracurricular activities and avocations and have won accolades in their areas of expertise. A substantial percentage of the cohort also has work experience. With excellent academic support, infrastructure, and resources, the Fellowship becomes a platform for the Fellows to share knowledge.
At the YIF, an engineer, a filmmaker, a history major, a Kathak dancer, a chartered accountant, a social entrepreneur, a dentist, and a journalist, all attend lectures together. This creates an unparalleled peer learning environment rich with multiple perspectives.
Every aspect of the YIF, whether academic, experiential, cultural, or informal, allows you to engage with your diverse set of peers in multiple ways and build a close-knit community. Every year, fellows come together to organize the Friends of YIF Day – an opportunity for you and your peers to showcase your talent to members of the Ashoka community. Fellows also self-organize to learn from each other – from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and becoming a pro at Excel, to learning arts like sculpting and body flow movement.
YIF Class of 2026
Senior Analyst, Forensics at Ernst and Young
BCom, Accounting and Finance, Jai Hind College, Mumbai
YIF Class of 2026
Founder/ Lead, BRIGHT Social Organisation
MA, Development Studies, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Tamil Nadu
BSW, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati
YIF Class of 2026
Independent Filmmaker and Journalist
MA, Mass Communication, AJK MCRC Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
BA (Honours), English, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
YIF Class of 2026
Founder, Mirable Collective
MA, English Literature, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai
BA English Literature, V G Vaze College, Mumbai
YIF Class of 2026
Assistant Project Manager at Foundation for Ecological Security
MA, Public Policy and Governance, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
BA, Political Science, Fergusson College, Pune
YIF Class of 2026
Visiting Artist, Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research
BA (Honours), History, Ambedkar University, New Delhi
YIF Class of 2026
Research Intern, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
BA, Economics, Media Studies, Political Science, Christ University, Bengaluru
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Political Science, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur
MA, Political Science, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur
YIF Class of 2025
MA (Integrated), English Studies, Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, Chennai
YIF Class of 2025
BA (Honours), Psychology, Ambedkar University, New Delhi
MA, Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Pacific Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Psychology, St Xavier's College, Mumbai
Post Graduate Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Political Science. Fergusson College, Pune
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Political Science, Ramjas College
YIF Class of 2025
BTech, Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
YIF Class of 2025
English, St Edmund's College, Shillong
YIF Class of 2025
BCom, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru
YIF Class of 2025
BSc (Honours), Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar
YIF Class of 2025
BCom, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, New Delhi
MA, Public Administration, Indira Gandhi National Open University
YIF Class of 2025
BA (Honours) History, Hindu College, New Delhi
YIF Class of 2025
BCom (Honours), Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi
YIF Class of 2025
Bachelor of Social Work, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bengaluru
YIF Class of 2025
BA, English Literature, Stella Maris College, Chennai
MA, Women's Studies, University of Madras, Chennai
YIF Class of 2025
BA, Political Science, Fergusson College, Pune
YIF Class of 2025
BTech, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, New Delhi