Research Fellowships in India 2026: CSIR, UGC, DST, ICMR Complete List
Meet the Expert
Shruti Sharma
Academic Writing Coach & Research Communication Specialist
- Deep expertise in Indian research funding landscape and PhD fellowship schemes
- Helped 100+ scholars prepare fellowship applications, research proposals, and documentation
- Specialist in CSIR, UGC, SERB, and DST fellowship application writing and strategy
India has a diverse ecosystem of research fellowships for PhD students — from CSIR-UGC JRF (the most widely known) to SERB, DST INSPIRE, ICMR, ICAR, DBT, and institutional fellowships at IITs and IISc. These fellowships provide monthly stipends of INR 31,000–1,25,000 plus contingency grants, and are essential for financially supporting PhD research in India.
Overview: Research Fellowship Landscape in India
Research fellowships in India are funded by central government agencies — primarily the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), University Grants Commission (UGC), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Each agency covers specific research domains and has distinct eligibility criteria, application processes, and stipend structures.
Key Research Fellowships in India 2026
Science subjects; NET exam
Natural sciences; based on marks
Top institutions; competitive
Biomedical sciences; entrance exam
Biotechnology; BET exam
Post-PhD; all STEM fields
Complete Fellowship Comparison Table
| Fellowship | Agency | Stipend (JRF/SRF) | Eligibility | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSIR-UGC JRF | CSIR / UGC | ₹37,000 / ₹42,000/month | Master's in relevant science subject; below 28 years | CSIR-UGC NET (by NTA) |
| UGC-JRF (Humanities & Social Sci.) | UGC | ₹37,000 / ₹42,000/month | Master's in relevant subject; below 30 years | UGC-NET (by NTA) |
| DST INSPIRE Fellowship | DST | ₹31,000 / ₹35,000/month | Top 1% in 10+2 and UG, or pursuing MSc/BS-MS; natural sciences only | Performance-based; application to DST |
| PMRF (PM Research Fellowship) | MHRD/IITs/IISc | ₹70,000–80,000/month | B.Tech/Integrated M.Tech/M.Sc from CFTI; direct PhD | Institutional application + selection |
| ICMR JRF | ICMR | ₹37,000 / ₹42,000/month | Life sciences/medicine; below 28 years | ICMR JRF entrance exam |
| DBT JRF (BET) | DBT | ₹37,000 / ₹42,000/month | Biotechnology/life sciences; below 28 years | DBT-JRF BET exam |
| ICAR-JRF | ICAR | ₹35,000 / ₹40,000/month | Agriculture and allied sciences | ICAR-AIEEA-PhD exam |
CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship: Detailed Guide
The CSIR-UGC NET is the most widely recognised pathway to a research fellowship in India for science subjects. It is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) twice a year (typically June and December).
Subjects covered: Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences (including Earth Sciences), Mathematical Sciences, and Engineering Sciences.
Eligibility: Master's degree (or final year) in a relevant science subject with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD). Age limit: 28 years for JRF (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/female candidates).
Exam pattern: Two papers — Paper 1 (General Aptitude, 50 marks) and Paper 2 (Subject-specific, 200 marks). Top scorers qualify for JRF; the next tier qualifies for Lectureship only.
Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF)
PMRF is the highest-value research fellowship for PhD students in India, offering INR 70,000/month for the first two years, INR 75,000/month in year three, and INR 80,000/month in years four and five, plus INR 2 lakh/year research grant.
Eligibility is restricted to students who: graduated from IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs, or other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs); and are enrolling in a PhD programme at IITs, IISc, or IISERs. Selection is highly competitive — only around 3,000 fellowships exist nationally.
Apply for Multiple Fellowships Simultaneously
You can apply for multiple research fellowships simultaneously (as long as you only accept one if awarded). Applying for CSIR-NET, ICMR-JRF, DBT-JRF, and a PMRF application concurrently maximises your chances. If awarded, choose the one with the highest stipend and best alignment with your research area. Never put all your fellowship eggs in one basket.
Need help preparing your fellowship application, research proposal, or PhD documentation? Thesis Ace Writers provides expert support for all research fellowship application writing in India.
ICSSR Fellowships for Social Science Researchers
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) offers several fellowship programmes for PhD and postdoctoral researchers in social sciences and humanities:
- ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship: For PhD students in social sciences; INR 25,000–30,000/month
- ICSSR Post Doctoral Fellowship: For PhD holders; INR 40,000/month for 1–2 years
- ICSSR Research Projects: Grants for defined social science research projects at institutions
Applications are made through ICSSR's online portal; the selection is based on research proposal quality, supervisor credentials, and institutional affiliation.
Related Reading from Thesis Ace Writers
Need expert help writing your fellowship application or research proposal? Contact Thesis Ace Writers for specialist fellowship documentation support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
The CSIR-UGC Joint Research Fellowship (JRF) is one of India's most prestigious research fellowships, awarded through the CSIR-UGC NET examination conducted by NTA. It provides: JRF stipend of INR 37,000/month for the first 2 years, then upgradeable to SRF (INR 42,000/month) for years 3–5. It covers science subjects including Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Earth Sciences. Both CSIR and UGC award fellowships; CSIR for sciences, UGC for all NET subjects including humanities.
JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) is awarded for the first 2 years of a PhD. SRF (Senior Research Fellowship) is an upgrade given after 2 years, subject to a performance review and upgrade committee approval. SRF carries a higher stipend (INR 42,000/month vs INR 37,000/month for JRF). The upgrade from JRF to SRF requires demonstrating adequate research progress — typically a literature review, methodology, and preliminary results presentation.
DST INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) offers three components relevant to PhD researchers: INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) — for top performers in 10+2; INSPIRE Fellowship — for pursuing PhD in natural and basic sciences, with a stipend of INR 31,000/month (JRF level) to INR 35,000/month (SRF level) plus INR 20,000/year contingency; INSPIRE Faculty — a prestigious 5-year fellowship (post-PhD) with INR 1,25,000/month for early-career researchers.
For PhD in management and social sciences in India, the best fellowships are: UGC-JRF (via NET exam — covers Social Sciences, Commerce, Education, Humanities); ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) Doctoral Fellowship; ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations) fellowships for specific humanities areas; and institutional fellowships from IITs and IIMs for their own PhD students. CSIR fellowships are limited to natural sciences.
Yes. Options without NET: (1) SERB N-PDF (post-PhD, no NET needed); (2) DST INSPIRE Faculty (post-PhD); (3) Institutional fellowships at IITs, IISc, IIMs — these institutions have their own funded positions that don't require NET; (4) PRIME Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) — awarded through a separate selection process without NET; (5) ICMR, ICAR, DBT, and other agency fellowships have their own selection processes separate from NET.