Scholarship
ICMR-Junior Research Fellowship(ICMR-JRF)
Eligibility
The candidate should have a Post Graduate degree (M.Sc./MA) in basic science or a Post-Graduate degree (M.Sc./MA) in a professional course with 55% marks for General/Other Backward Class (OBC) and 50% for SC/ST/Physically Handicapped (PH)/Visually Handicapped (VH).
Region
All India
Award
Cash
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk
Overview
About ICMR-JRF
The ICMR-Junior Research Fellowship is awarded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body for biomedical research in India. ICMR traces its origins to 1911, when the Indian Research Fund Association was set up; it took its present name in 1949. It functions under the Department of Health Research in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and runs a national entrance examination once a year to decide who is eligible for the fellowship, which is the first step toward admission into a PhD or research programme with the Council's support.
The fellowship funds doctoral research in medical and allied fields, with cash support paid to the fellow. Of the 150 fellowships on offer, 120 go to work in biomedical and life sciences, in areas such as microbiology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and biotechnology, and 30 go to social sciences such as psychology, sociology, statistics, anthropology, social work and health economics. Separate merit lists are drawn for the two streams.
It is open to Indian nationals who hold a relevant postgraduate degree in a basic science or a professional course and who clear the entrance examination, usually held in July. The award takes effect once the fellow secures a placement at a medical college, hospital, university or a recognised institution of higher learning and research. From 2024, ICMR revised this route into the Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (BRET); the earlier JRF route covered admissions up to the 2023 batch.
Sources: Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) - Indian Council of Medical Research · ICMR-Junior Research Fellowship - myScheme, Government of India · Indian Council of Medical Research - Wikipedia
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare
Central Government
Indian Council Of Medical Research, Government Of India
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Cash |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The candidate should have a Post Graduate degree (M.Sc./MA) in basic science or a Post-Graduate degree (M.Sc./MA) in a professional course with 55% marks for General/Other Backward Class (OBC) and 50% for SC/ST/Physically Handicapped (PH)/Visually Handicapped (VH). | |
| The students having degrees like B. Tech/M. Tech in biomedical sciences, B. Pharma/M. Pharma or D. Pharma are not eligible. | |
| The upper age limit is 28 years [upper age limit relaxable up to five years in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PH/VH and female candidates, three years in the case of OBC category]. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- Fellowship Stipend: ₹31,000/- per month for 1st and 2nd year (JRF); ₹35,000/- per month for 3rd to 5th year (SRF, if upgraded). - Contingency Grant: ₹20,000/- per year for research-related expenses. - Fellowship Duration: JRF for 2 to 3 years; SRF for a maximum 3 years; total duration up to 5 years. - Ph.D. Opportunity: Eligible candidates can enroll in Ph.D. programmes in recognized universities/institutions. - Hostel Facility: Hostel accommodation may be provided by the institute, subject to availability. - Medical Benefits: Provided as per the rules of the respective institution (ICMR does not bear expenses). - Leave Benefits: Casual leave and maternity leave as per Government rules. - Additional Opportunity: 100 additional candidates considered for JRF positions under ICMR-funded projects (subject to conditions).
- Note: The Fellow will not be treated as an employee of the ICMR.
- The applicant should not draw any stipend or salary or be in receipt of any other type of financial assistance except leave salary during the fellowship.
What to prepare
Documents required
1. Identity proof of applicant
2. Passport size photographs
3. Educational qualification certificates
4. Proof of age
5. Caste certificate for SC/ST candidates
6. Medical certificate for persons with disability
7. Any other document, as required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
ICMR-JRF – FAQ
The examination notice is published in leading English Newspapers of India usually during March/April and also on the websites of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. The entrance examination is usually held once a year in the first/second week of July, on a Sunday.
Test for ICMR JRF is conducted at the twelve Centres VIZ., Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Srinagar (J&K) and Varanasi.
You should have a Post Graduate degree (M.Sc./MA) in basic science or Post-Graduate degree (M.Sc./MA) in professional courses (B. Tech/M. Tech in biomedical sciences, B. Pharma/M. Pharma or D.Pharma are not eligible) with 55% marks for General/Other Backward Class (OBC) and 50% for SC/ST/Physically Handicapped (PH)/Visually Handicapped (VH). The upper age limit is 28 years [relaxable up to five years in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST/PH/VH and female candidates, three years in the case of OBC category].
A total of 150 seats VIZ; 120 for work in the field of biomedical sciences with emphasis on life sciences and 30 for social sciences. Another 100 candidates would be selected for consideration for positions of JRF under various research projects of ICMR only (subject to fulfilling the conditions for appointment under the projects) for the duration of that project. These JRFs would also be permitted to complete Ph.D. while working in the project if enrolled. The validity of the result will be two years for placement in ICMR-funded projects for this category.
The paper will consist of two Sections. The Aptitude Section (Section A) will have 50 questions on (i) scientific phenomenon in everyday life; (ii) general knowledge in sciences; and (iii) common statistics. All these 50 questions would be compulsory with each question carrying 1 mark. The subject-specific section (Sections B & C) would pertain to (B) Life sciences and (C) Social sciences. Each question carries one mark. The candidate may attempt questions in either of the two areas. Each area of section B & C would have 100 questions and the candidate may attempt any 75 questions in the predesigned area of Section B or C. Candidates are required to indicate the option for Section B or C in the application form too. Negative marking @ 0.25 will be made for each of the wrong answers. If the candidate answers more than 75 questions in Section B or C, then only the first 75 questions will be evaluated. The questions in both Sections would appear in English only.
The test will consist of one paper of two hours duration.
The specimen paper for ICMR-JRF is available at: http://icmr.nic.in/jrf/jrf_specimen.pdf
The syllabi is as per PG level by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi
The final result will be based on an aggregate of 55% marks obtained in both the Sections for the General category and OBC and 50% for SC/ST and PH/VH.
Two separate merit lists, one comprising the candidates qualifying for Life sciences and the second for those candidates qualifying for Social sciences, will be made on the basis of their performance in the above exam.
The list of successful candidates would be available on the ICMR website. Selected candidates must join their respective Ph.D. course on the prescribed date as indicated in their admission letter.
The candidates selected for the JRF programme of ICMR would be permitted to enroll themselves for the Ph.D. programme (the Ph.D. topic should be strictly pertaining to ICMR health research) of any University or government college recognized by the UGC/ or any medical college recognized by Medical Council of India (MCI). Ph.D. Enrollment letter certified through Guide is required at the time of Joining, whereas the Ph.D. registration may be submitted within two years from the date of Joining.
The validity of the fellowship awarded to a candidate will be one year from the date of issue of the Award letter.
Selected candidates must send their willingness to join ICMR JRF as soon as they receive the ICMR Award letter and then find placement under a suitable Guide and enroll themselves for Ph.D. in the concerned Institute or University and send the joining report to ICMR within one year of Issue of Award letter. The PhD Registration certificate may be submitted within two years of joining. Failure of which, leads to termination of the fellowship.
JRF is generally for first two years. Only after successful assessment by the Review Committee, JRF may be upgraded as SRF after 22 months of commencement of work either on the date when Review Committee meets but not before completion of two years. And SRF is generally for three years or submission of Ph.D. whichever is earlier. However, total duration is five years. The fellowship can be terminated at any time on a month’s notice if the progress of the work is not satisfactory or on receipt of adverse reports from the Guide. In the event if the fellow leaves before completing one year, he/she may be required to refund the stipend drawn by him/her from the date of joining to the date of leaving the fellowship.
1st year to 2nd year- Rs. 31,000/-, 3rd year or thereafter whenever upgraded as a SRF Rs. 35,000/- till submission of Ph.D. thesis or 5th year, whichever is earlier (Terms and conditions may be adopted from ICMR Fellowship rules available at http://icmr.nic.in/). The HRA will be given as per rules. If the fellow gets accommodation in the institute hostel then he/she will not be eligible for drawing HRA. The contingent amount for JRF/SRF will be Rs. 20,000/- per annum.
One needs to send the duly filled and signed mandate form for receiving e-payments along with a photocopy of a cancelled cheque (should be clearly scanned) for purpose of verification of the concerned bank account where money (stipend) is to be remitted. Relevant certificates from hostel warden / AO specifying the date of joining hostel facility should be submitted to avail HRA. If residing in a private accommodation, proof of rent paid from the land lord should be submitted.
The Fellow shall submit annual reports for 1st year and all annual report thereafter as per Guidelines and rules in the prescribed standard ICMR proforma.
The first annual report should be submitted after 10 months from the date of commencement of the fellowship (through the Guide along with his/her appraisal) giving complete factual details of the research work done. Subsequent annual reports as per the standard proforma should be submitted through the Guide two months before completion of the fellowship year.
Annual UC is needed from April to March each financial year.
A Fellow will not be allowed transfer from one institution to another except in special circumstances with the prior approval of the DG, ICMR. No Travelling Allowance (TA) will be paid as a result of such a transfer. ICMR approval is required before any Transfer of fellowship is done.
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.
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