The main PhD fellowships in India are the UGC and CSIR Junior Research Fellowships (won through NET), the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) at IITs, IISERs, IISc and other selected institutions, the DST INSPIRE Fellowship for top-ranked science graduates, and the ICSSR doctoral fellowships for social scientists. As of September 2026, UGC and CSIR pay a JRF ₹37,000 a month for two years and an SRF ₹42,000 a month after that, according to their own websites.
This guide sets out who can apply for each, how selection works, what the official sites currently say about amounts, and what to check before relying on any figure. Fellowship amounts are revised every few years, so we give the date we checked each one and the official page to recheck. Last reviewed September 2026.
What are the main PhD fellowships in India?
Most full-time PhD scholars in India who receive a fellowship get one of the five below, or an institutional fellowship from the university or institute itself.
| Fellowship | Who runs it | How you qualify | Amount (as published, checked September 2026) | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UGC JRF / SRF | UGC | Qualify for JRF in UGC-NET (humanities, social sciences and other UGC subjects), then register for a PhD | JRF ₹37,000 a month for 2 years; SRF ₹42,000 a month for the remaining period; annual contingency of ₹10,000 (JRF) or ₹20,500 (SRF) in humanities and social sciences, ₹12,000 or ₹25,000 in sciences | ugc.gov.in, Fellowships section |
| CSIR JRF / SRF | CSIR Human Resource Development Group | Qualify for JRF in the joint CSIR-UGC NET (sciences), or through CSIR’s GATE-based scheme | JRF ₹37,000 a month for 2 years; SRF ₹42,000 a month from year 3; contingency ₹20,000 a year | csirhrdg.res.in |
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | Ministry of Education | Selection by PMRF for PhD in science and engineering at IITs, IISERs, IISc and selected central universities and NITs; direct and lateral entry routes | ₹70,000 a month in years 1–2, ₹75,000 in year 3, ₹80,000 in years 4–5, plus a research grant of ₹2 lakh a year | pmrf.in (in September 2026 the site said all sanctioned seats were filled and further approval was awaited) |
| DST INSPIRE Fellowship | Department of Science and Technology | First rank at the university in the qualifying master’s (with at least 70%) or INSPIRE-SHE scholars with at least 70%; about 1,000 fellowships a year | Not stated on the DST scheme page; check the current call on the INSPIRE portal | online-inspire.gov.in |
| ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship | Indian Council of Social Science Research | Full-time PhD scholars in social sciences at recognised institutions; 55% in postgraduation; age limit 40 with relaxation for reserved categories | Full-term: ₹20,000 a month plus ₹20,000 a year contingency, for two years | icssr.org, Doctoral Fellowship page |
House rent allowance (HRA) is paid on top of the monthly amount for several of these schemes, at rates tied to your city and subject to hostel rules. It is administered by your institution, so ask the accounts or research section how it applies to you.
How does the UGC or CSIR NET JRF fellowship work?
The Junior Research Fellowship is the one most scholars think of first. You win it by qualifying in the JRF category in UGC-NET or the joint CSIR-UGC NET, both conducted by the National Testing Agency. Only the top-scoring candidates in each subject and category get JRF; others qualify for assistant professorship or PhD admission only. Our PhD admission guide explains how NET results are now used for admission.
Once you have the JRF award and have registered for a PhD:
- Joining. You join the fellowship through your university or institute within the validity period on your award letter, and the institution reports your joining to UGC or CSIR.
- Payment. Both UGC and CSIR now pay fellows monthly by Direct Benefit Transfer into your bank account. Contingency grants go through your institution.
- Upgrade to SRF. After two years, a committee (for CSIR, a three-member expert committee) assesses your work. If progress is satisfactory, you move to SRF. If not, CSIR’s rules let you continue as JRF for a third year and be assessed again.
- Tenure. Up to five years in total, or until you submit the thesis, whichever is earlier.
Payment delays are the most common complaint, usually caused by paperwork: a missing joining report, an unsigned progress report, or a bank account not seeded with Aadhaar. Keep copies of everything you submit and check your account each month.
Who can apply for PMRF and the INSPIRE Fellowship?
Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship
PMRF is the highest-paying national doctoral fellowship. It is for PhD scholars in science and engineering at participating institutions: all IITs, all IISERs, IISc Bangalore and selected central universities and NITs. There are two routes. Direct entry is for students applying within the first semester of a regular PhD programme; lateral entry is for scholars already in the first two years of a PhD at a participating institution. Selection is competitive, and fellows present their work at an annual review.
When we checked pmrf.in in September 2026, the site stated that all seats sanctioned by the ministry had been filled and that further approval for admissions was awaited. Check the site for the current position before planning around it.
DST INSPIRE Fellowship
The INSPIRE Fellowship, run by the Department of Science and Technology, supports about 1,000 new PhD scholars a year in the sciences, medicine, agriculture, pharmacy and veterinary sciences. It is for students who ranked first in their university in the qualifying master’s degree with at least 70% marks, and for INSPIRE-SHE scholars who scored at least 70% in their M.Sc. Applications are taken only against a call on online-inspire.gov.in, and the offer must be taken up at a recognised institution. The DST scheme page does not state the current monthly amount, and older figures circulate widely online, so read the current call on the INSPIRE portal for the rate.
What fellowships are there for social sciences and other fields?
ICSSR doctoral fellowships
The Indian Council of Social Science Research offers full-term doctoral fellowships (two years, currently ₹20,000 a month plus ₹20,000 a year contingency according to icssr.org) and short-term fellowships for scholars close to submission, plus a separate contingency grant scheme. Applicants must be registered full-time PhD scholars in social sciences at a UGC-recognised university, deemed university, institute of national importance, ICSSR institute or recognised college. ICSSR announces the call once a year, usually with its own deadlines and a limited number of awards by discipline.
Other national and state schemes
- Agency fellowships from ICMR, DBT, ICAR and other science agencies, each with its own selection test or route. Check the agency’s own site for the current scheme.
- Fellowships for SC, ST, OBC, minority and single-girl-child candidates, administered through UGC or the relevant ministry. Eligibility and selection rules have changed several times in recent years, so read the current notice on ugc.gov.in or the ministry’s site.
- State government fellowships, often for scholars domiciled in the state and registered at state universities.
- Institutional fellowships at IITs, NITs, IISERs, central universities and many private universities, usually for full-time scholars admitted through GATE, NET or the institute’s own test. These are offered with admission, so read the admission notice carefully.
- Project JRF and SRF posts, paid from a faculty member’s research grant rather than a national fellowship. How those grants are applied for is covered in our research grant proposal guide.
What should you check before accepting a fellowship?
- Read the current call or scheme guidelines on the official site, not a coaching or news site. Amounts, age limits and eligibility change, and old figures circulate for years.
- Check whether the fellowship is tenable at your university. UGC and CSIR fellowships can be taken to most recognised universities and institutes; PMRF only at participating institutions; some state fellowships only within the state.
- Check the joining deadline on your award letter. JRF awards must be taken up within a validity period, and the letter or e-certificate states it.
- Understand the full-time condition. Nearly all fellowships require full-time registration and restrict paid employment.
- Know that you cannot hold two fellowships at once. CSIR’s rules, for example, count time on fellowships from UGC, DST, DBT, ICMR and ICAR toward the same five-year limit.
- Keep your RAC reports current. The move from JRF to SRF depends on an assessment of your progress after two years.
If you do not have a fellowship, you are not alone, and it is not a verdict on your research. Many scholars, especially part-time ones, fund their PhD through employment. Our PhD timeline guide covers how part-time scholars plan the degree. A strong, clearly argued research proposal also helps with institutional fellowships and ICSSR applications, which judge the proposal as well as your record.
Sources
- UGC: Junior Research Fellowship in Science, Humanities and Social Science (checked September 2026)
- CSIR-HRDG: Junior Research Fellowships through CSIR-UGC NET, revised guidelines (checked September 2026)
- Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (checked September 2026)
- DST: INSPIRE scheme (checked September 2026)
- INSPIRE online portal
- ICSSR: Doctoral Fellowship (checked September 2026)
FAQ
Questions scholars ask
Can I hold a JRF and work part-time?
Generally no. UGC and CSIR fellowships require full-time registration and restrict other paid employment. Some institutions allow limited teaching or research assistantship within the rules. Check your award terms before taking any paid work.
Can I get a fellowship as a part-time PhD scholar?
The national fellowships on this page are for full-time scholars. Part-time scholars are usually employed and fund the PhD through their job, sometimes with employer support.
Is the JRF amount the same for UGC and CSIR?
Yes, as of September 2026 both official sites show ₹37,000 a month for JRF and ₹42,000 for SRF. The contingency grants differ between the two schemes.
My fellowship has not been paid for months. What should I do?
Ask your research section or accounts office which document is pending, since most delays are paperwork. Keep your joining report, progress reports and bank details up to date, and use the agency’s grievance route if your institution cannot resolve it.
Can I switch from one fellowship to another?
Usually yes, if you resign one before taking up the other. You cannot hold two at once, and some agencies count time on the previous fellowship toward the five-year limit.
