Hyderabad: The All India Professionals’ Congress doubled the Manmohan Singh Fellows Program intake to 100 working professionals for its second batch. The inaugural cohort had 50 fellows from across the country.
AIPC announced the expansion on Saturday, coinciding with former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s 94th birth anniversary.
AIPC Chairman and former MP Madhu Yashki Goud announced the second batch at a press conference in New Delhi. Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Chakravarty and Hyderabad DCC President Syed Khalid Saifullah also attended.
The AIPC said the second cohort would build on its experience with the inaugural batch. Selected professionals would receive intensive training and work with different departments.
Manmohan Singh Fellows Program expands after first batch
The AIPC designed the fellowship as a structured route for working professionals interested in public service. It aimed to help participants understand political work and explore a transition into public life.
The organisation launched the programme in 2025 with the consent of Manmohan Singh’s family. It described the fellowship as a tribute to the former Prime Minister.
Singh had worked in academia, economics and public administration before entering active politics. He later served as Union Finance Minister and Prime Minister for two terms.
The AIPC said the programme sought to provide professionals with a formal platform to participate in political and public affairs.
The first batch included 50 professionals from diverse backgrounds across more than 16 States. Fellows worked with several departments within the Congress organisation. These included Communications, Training, Research, Data Analytics, Foreign Affairs and Organisation.
First batch drew over 1,300 applications
According to the AIPC, more than 1,300 people applied for the first batch. The organisation selected 50 professionals for the fellowship. The first cohort concluded its programme with an interaction chaired by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The AIPC said Gandhi interacted with the fellows and appreciated their participation. It said he also suggested expanding the initiative. Based on its experience with the first cohort, the AIPC increased the second batch to 100 participants.
The Manmohan Singh Fellows Program primarily targeted working professionals with an interest in public service. Prior experience in political organisations was not required.
The AIPC said professionals interested in public affairs often lacked a structured route into political work. The fellowship sought to address that gap through training and practical assignments.
Fellows to work across political functions
Selected fellows would work across different departments and functions. Training would cover political organisation, policy issues, research, communications and public engagement.
The AIPC said participants would also receive important practical assignments. The programme aimed to provide hands-on experience rather than only classroom-based political orientation.
The initiative sought to bring professionals from different sectors into political activities. It also aimed to create a pool of people with specialised knowledge for political organisation and policymaking. The increase from 50 to 100 fellows marked a two-fold expansion within a year of the programme’s launch.
AIPC originally launched the fellowship in April 2025 with 50 positions. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge later welcomed the inaugural cohort when the programme formally commenced.
AIPC announces second batch after leadership change
The announcement followed a recent leadership change in the AIPC. Madhu Yashki Goud became AIPC Chairman earlier this month. He succeeded Praveen Chakravarty after Chakravarty’s election to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu.
Syed Khalid Saifullah headed the Hyderabad District Congress Committee. He had also worked with the AIPC and Congress organisation on technology and data initiatives. His appointment as Hyderabad DCC President formed part of the Congress organisation’s district-level restructuring in Telangana.
The AIPC said the Manmohan Singh Fellows Program sought to connect professional expertise with political participation. It described the programme as being anchored in secular, constitutional and progressive politics.
The organisation invoked Singh’s observation that “politics is an instrument of purposeful social change” while announcing the second batch. Applications and further details were made available through the fellowship portal.