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Diversity Scholarship

The IndiaFOSS Diversity Scholarship reduces financial barriers and enables wider participation in IndiaFOSS. This page explains the general application process over the years, what approved scholars get, and how reimbursements work. The details below are for IndiaFOSS 2026.

How to apply

  1. Apply. Submit your application through the website once it's announced.
  2. Evaluation. The scholarship committee evaluates applications based on your needs.
  3. Confirmation. Selected applicants receive an official scholarship confirmation email. The email states the support you have been awarded.
  4. Confirm your participation. Do this within the specified deadline.
  5. Book your travel. Book travel only after you receive the official confirmation.
  6. Attend the scholar meetings. The online and in-person meetings for Diversity Scholars, before and at IndiaFOSS 2026, are mandatory.
  7. Claim your reimbursement. After the conference, submit your claim. See Travel and reimbursement process.

Follow the guidelines on this page. If you miss a step or break a guideline, your reimbursement eligibility may be affected.

What approved scholars get

The scholarship is need-based, so the level of support differs between scholars. Depending on your application and the committee's decision, you may receive:

  • Travel assistance only
  • Accommodation only
  • Any combination of the above
  • Full scholarship covering all eligible components

Conference ticket and meals

The Diversity Scholarship covers the IndiaFOSS conference ticket. Breakfast and lunch on both conference days are included. Reach the venue by 8:00 AM so you can finish registration and head to breakfast.

Travel

  • Maximum reimbursement: stated in your confirmation email.
  • Train travel is reimbursable up to AC 3-Tier (3A) class.
  • You are expected to travel by bus or train, unless you get prior approval for another mode of travel.
  • Choose the most reasonable and economical mode of travel. Avoid non-refundable tickets unless necessary.
  • Travel beyond the approved limits, or in a higher class, may not be reimbursed unless the Diversity Scholarship team approves it in advance.

Accommodation

If accommodation is part of your scholarship, the IndiaFOSS team arranges it directly. You do not need to book it yourself. The accommodation is shared PG rooms.

  • Check-in: A day before the conference start date
  • Check-out: A day after the conference end date

If you have friends or family in Bengaluru and prefer to stay with them, tell the Diversity Scholarship team in advance. This lets the team offer accommodation to other scholars who need it.

If your accommodation includes meals, details are shared through the official Telegram channel or by email closer to the event.

Support before and during the conference

  • Point of Contact (POC). Each scholar is assigned a volunteer who can help with travel, accommodation, reimbursement and general queries, before and during the conference. Save their contact details.
  • Scholar Telegram channel. This is the primary communication channel for scholars. It is used for announcements, reminders, event information, accommodation updates and other scholarship information. Join the official IndiaFOSS 2026 Diversity Scholarship channel and check it regularly.
  • Scholar orientation session and in-person mentoring.

What the scholarship does not cover

  • Personal expenses and any costs outside the approved scope of the scholarship.
  • Local and internal travel within Bengaluru and your home location, for example between the airport, railway or bus station, accommodation and conference venue, by metro, bus, auto-rickshaw, taxi or other local transport. You pay for these yourself.
  • Any food other than conference breakfast and lunch, or meals provided with your accommodation.
  • Pre-conference events may require separate registration or tickets. Workshop tickets are not included unless your scholarship confirmation says so.
  • T-shirts. You can buy one at the merch booth at the venue.

Making the most of IndiaFOSS

IndiaFOSS is a chance to learn, contribute and build connections in the open source community. Ask questions and make the most of your time at the conference.

Before the conference

  • Review the conference schedule.
  • Read about Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and digital commons. The Beginner's Guide to IndiaFOSS is a good start.
  • Identify sessions you would like to attend.
  • Learn about the speakers and participating organisations. Visit community booths and get first-hand information about how projects and products work in real life.
  • Prepare questions for speakers and contributors.
  • Keep your GitHub, LinkedIn or personal profile up to date for networking.

At the conference

  • Complete conference registration when you arrive.
  • Take part in conference sessions and community activities.
  • Connect with speakers, contributors and fellow attendees.
  • Follow the IndiaFOSS Code of Conduct at all times.

Travel and reimbursement process

The Diversity Scholarship follows a reimbursement model and does not provide advance funding for travel. You book and pay for your approved travel. Eligible travel expenses are reimbursed after the conference, once the required documents are submitted and verified.

Documents required

Keep all of these, including the originals. Do not discard tickets, invoices, boarding passes or payment receipts.

  • Travel tickets
  • Boarding passes, where applicable
  • Original bills and receipts, with clear photographs or digital copies
  • PAN card copy
  • Bank account proof, such as the front page of your passbook or a cancelled cheque

Submitting your claim

  1. Create an account on account.fossunited.org.
  2. Open the reimbursement form.
  3. Select IndiaFOSS 2026 as the event and Diversity Scholar as the category.
  4. Enter documented eligible expenses, up to the approved amount, and complete the rest of the form.
  5. Upload your bills, receipts and other required documents in the attachment section.
  6. Add your bank details and supporting bank documents.
  7. Submit the claim for verification.

Reimbursements are generally processed within 2 to 3 weeks after all required documents have been verified.