Following in the spirit of Emergent Ventures, the 1991 Fellowship identifies and supports exceptional early-career professionals advancing classical liberal economic reform across India's states. Through funding, mentorship, and network-building, we're cultivating the policy thinkers who will shape India's next wave of liberalization and prosperity.
Applications open January 15, 2026.
India's greatest policy challenges aren't abstract. They're on-the-ground problems playing out in state legislatures, district offices, and local courts:
In 1991, India began dismantling the License Raj and opened its economy to the world. That transformation lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, but the work remains unfinished. Continuing India's liberalization requires people who can generate the ideas for reform, understand the mechanics of implementation, and have the tenacity to see the effort through.
Following the spirit of Emergent Ventures, the 1991 Fellowship identifies these high-agency individuals at an early stage in their careers and backs their ambitious work to expand human flourishing across India. Over three years, fellows will develop signature policy projects with real potential for traction. They'll receive up to $25,000 in first-year funding, structured programming in public policy 101, mentorship from leading policy thinkers, and facilitated introductions to the bureaucrats, journalists, and think tanks that can amplify their work.
The liberalizers of 1991 showed what was possible. This fellowship empowers those who will carry that legacy forward, especially at the state level.
We're looking for people with high agency and a demonstrated commitment to classical liberal economic policy.
This fellowship is for early-career professionals — policy analysts, lawyers, economists, researchers — working on state-level reform in India. We value demonstrated initiative and impact over formal credentials. College dropouts, self-taught policy professionals, or those with policy experience are welcome to apply.
The application will include your three policy problems you propose to address, a detailed reform proposal, a writing sample in English or any major Indian language (if it is not in English we will pay for translations), and a one-minute video explaining the problem you want to solve.
Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? Email [email protected].
State-level policy reforms with concrete potential for implementation. We're interested in projects that advance real reforms, whether that's simplifying labor laws, streamlining property rights, land use, building bylaws, environmental policy, local taxes, reducing licensing barriers, or improving urban planning. The more specific the proposal, the better.
You will receive an email upon receipt of your application. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to video interviews with the Mercatus team. There may be more than one round of interviews.
We define it broadly. You might be finishing a degree, a few years into your first policy role, or shifting focus mid-career. What matters is a full-time commitment to liberal economic reform, the capacity to execute ambitious work, and a longer-term commitment to state-level policy work.
Yes. The fellowship is designed for people working on India's policy challenges from within India. Ideally, fellows will be based in the state they are working on.
We'll assess intellectual rigor, project impact, and sustained commitment to the work. Not all fellows will continue to Year 2, but those who do will receive more intensive support.
Most fellows continue working in policy—either within institutions or as independent experts. You'll join a network of reformers and maintain connections with Mercatus and other fellows. Mercatus does not offer job placement, and fellows chart their own paths forward.
In Year 1, fellows receive up to $25,000, with adjustments for those working in difficult states or regions or with family obligations. All programming and travel related to fellows’ policy work are also covered. In Year 2, continuing fellows receive up to $30,000, and in Year 3, up to $35,000.