Scholarship
National Post Doctoral Fellowship(N-PDF)
Eligibility
The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
Region
All India
Award
Composite
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk
Overview
About N-PDF
The National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) supports early-career researchers who have finished a doctorate and want to keep working in science and engineering. It was launched by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body set up under the Department of Science and Technology. SERB was wound up in 2023, and its schemes, N-PDF among them, are now run by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
The stated aim is to identify motivated young researchers and give them the means to work in frontier areas of science and engineering. A fellow is placed with a mentor at a host institution and works there for a fixed two-year term. It is a composite award: a monthly fellowship covers the researcher, while a separate annual research grant and an overhead component meet the direct costs of the work.
N-PDF is an individual fellowship, open to researchers who hold a PhD, MD or MS from a recognised institution, or who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting the degree. Eligibility is capped by age and by how recently the doctorate was awarded, with relaxations for SC, ST, OBC, women and differently-abled applicants.
Sources: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) – National Post Doctoral Fellowship · myScheme – National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) · Science and Engineering Research Board – Wikipedia
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Science And Technology
Central Government
Department Of Science & Technology · Science And Engineering Research Board, Government Of India
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Science, IT & Communications |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Composite |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The applicant should be an Indian citizen. | |
| The applicant must have obtained PhD/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University. Those who have submitted their PhD/M.D/M.S. thesis and are awaiting the award of the degree are also eligible to apply. However, such candidates, if selected, will be offered a lower fellowship amount till they qualify for the eligible degree. | |
| The upper age limit for the fellowship is 35 years at the time of the submission of the application, age will be calculated by taking the date of closure of the respective call. Age relaxation of 5 (five) years will be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged & Women candidates. | |
| NPDF can be availed only once by a candidate in his/her career. | |
| The mentor must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized institution in India. Should hold a Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering. | |
| A mentor shall not have more than two SERB NPDF fellows at any given time. | |
| Note 01: The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized academic institutions, national laboratories, and other recognized R&D institutions. The host institution should provide the necessary administrative and infrastructural support. | |
| Note 02: The fellows will not be allowed to work with the Ph.D. guide/co-guide. It is also normally not availed at the same Department/institution where the candidates have earned their PhD/M.S./M.D degree. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- The fellows will be entitled to receive the grants as given below: Sl. No.Budget HeadAmount1Fellowship₹55,000/- per month (consolidated) and ₹35,000/- per month for candidates who have submitted the thesis but degree not awarded2Research Grant₹2,00,000/- per annum3Overheads₹1,00,000/- per annumNote 01: Research grants can be used for minor equipment, consumables, contingencies, and domestic travel. There is no provision for providing research personnel support under this scheme. The Fellow is expected to undertake the research objectives by himself/herself during the entire duration of the fellowship.
- Note 02: The fellows are not eligible to receive any other fellowship from any Government or Non-Governmental source during the tenure of the fellowship.
- Note 03: The fellows must seek the consent of SERB if he/she intends to be away from the implementing institute (except for field work related to the project) continuously for a period of more than eight weeks.
- Leave: SERB PDFs are entitled to leave as per the rules of the host institution. Participation in scientific workshops held in India or abroad will be treated as on duty. Maternity leave as per the Govt. of India instructions issued from time to time would be available to female candidates in all categories.
What to prepare
Documents required
Bio-data (under user profile section) ( Download Template )
Age Proof Certificate
Qualification Certificate
Category Certificate (in case of Age Relaxation)
Undertaking Certificate by the applicant ( Download Template )
Endorsement Certificate from the Mentor & Host Institute ( Download Template )
Short CV of the mentor (see online portal for its format)
CV of Mentor ( Download Template )
Plagiarism undertaking ( Download Template )
Documentary evidence indicating the Ph.D. viva-voce date (viva intimation letter, letter issued by Dean / Director (R&D), provisional degree indicating date of viva-voce etc.)
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Questions
N-PDF – FAQ
The applicant should hold Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering or M.D or M.S degree in any area of medicine. Those who have submitted their PhD/M. D/M. S thesis and are awaiting award of the degree are also eligible to apply. Applicants should have an outstanding track record as evident from the quality of the research outputs and publications. The selection will be based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee.
The upper age limit for the fellowship is 35 years at the time of the submission of application. Age relaxation of 5 (five) years will be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged & Women candidates.
The Fellowship amount for NPDF is ₹55,000/- per month. For those who have submitted their Ph.D. degree, ₹35,000/- per month will be offered till they are awarded the eligible degree. The fellowship is taxable under the Income Tax rules of India. The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized academic institutions, national laboratories and other recognized R&D institutions. The host institution should provide necessary administrative and infrastructural support.
The fellowship is purely a temporary assignment, and is tenable initially for a period of 2 years. In exceptional cases, depending on the progress of research, the fellowship can be extended for one more year. There is no provision to extend the tenure beyond three years in any case.
The fellowship is generally not availed at the same institution where one has obtained or worked for the PhD/M.S./M.D degree. Also, the fellowship cannot be availed with the doctoral thesis supervisor or co-supervisor as a mentor. The fellows are not eligible to receive fellowship/salary from any other Government or Non-Governmental source during the tenure of the SERB National Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
National Post-Doctoral Fellow will be entitled to receive grants under the following budget heads. The fellows will be entitled to receive the grants given below: Fellowship (₹55,000/- per month (consolidated)) (₹35,000/ p.m. for candidates who have submitted the thesis but the degree has not yet been awarded) Research Grant (₹2,00,000/- per annum) Overheads (₹1,00,000/- per annum)
The applicant must first identify the host institution and a suitable Mentor in the host institution under which the proposed research objectives will be pursued. The call for applications for SERB- NPDF will be notified through the website www.serbonline.in and www.serb.gov.in Usually one month window will be provided to submit the application along with other documents. All applications should be submitted through the SERB online portal www.serbonline.in.
The Mentor should hold a regular academic or research position in the host institution. The fellowship cannot be availed with the doctoral thesis supervisor or co-supervisor as a mentor.
All applications should be submitted through the SERB online portal www.serbonline.in. Usually, a month window is provided to submit the application along with other documents. The following documents are mandatory. Research proposal (see www.serbonline.in for the correct format). Proof of Date of Birth (Class X certificate or Date of Birth Certificate). Proof of Caste (only for cases seeking age relaxation). Proof of Ph.D. Degree or proof of Ph.D. thesis submission certificate. Endorsement Certificate signed by Mentor and Head of the Host Institution (format can be downloaded from www.serbonline.in). Undertaking Certificate by the applicant (see online portal for its format). Reprints of your two best publications. CV of the Mentor (see online portal for its format). The applicants are advised to follow detailed instructions provided in the SERB online portal www.serbonline.in.
The selection process on an average takes at least two months from the last date of submission of the applications. All selected candidates shall receive an Email notification through the SERB online portal, who are then required to download the offer letter.
Flexibility is provided to the Fellow and the Mentor for utilising the Research Grant as per the needs of the research work. Generally, the Research grant can be used for purchasing minor equipment, consumables and contingencies. The grant can also be utilised for travel in India to attend workshops/conferences and other research-related activities. In this regard, the host institution's norms shall apply for TA/DA.
There is no provision for providing manpower under this scheme. The Fellow is expected to undertake research himself/herself during the entire duration of the fellowship.
The Fellows should upload annual Progress Report and financial statements at the end of each financial year. The release of the next instalment of the grant will be considered only after submission of (a) Proper Utilization Certificate and Statement of Expenditure, financial year wise and (b) Annual Progress Report through the SERB online portal.
Change of Mentor/Host Institution is generally discouraged and can be allowed only in exceptional cases. Change of Host Institution shall be undertaken only after obtaining due approval from SERB. The new host institute in any case should not be the institution from which the applicant has worked for his Ph.D. or obtained his Ph.D. degree. The transfer of the fellowship along with balance grant and the assets to the new institute is allowed, provided the administrative authority of both institutes agree in writing. NOC from the previous host institute and Endorsement Form from the new host Institute &new Mentor must be sent to SERB through the online portal.
If the one wishes to terminate the fellowship and leave the institute, he/she shall inform the SERB through the host institution immediately. The implementing institute should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the project or the date of resignation of fellow.
The NPDF is entitled to leave as per the norms of the host institution. Participation in scientific workshops held in India or abroad will be treated as on duty. Maternity leave, as per the Govt. of India instructions issued from time to time, would be available to female candidates in all categories.
SERB reserves the right to terminate the Fellowship at any stage if it is convinced that appropriate progress is not being made or the grant has not been utilized properly.
The fellows must seek the consent of SERB if he/she intends to be away from the implementing institute (except for field work related to the project) continuously for a period more than eight weeks.
The following documents should be sent to the SERB after the duration of the Fellowship is completed: Final Consolidated Statement of Expenditure (in duplicate), giving expenditure financial year wise (FY) from date of start till date of completion. Utilization Certificates (FY wise) for all FYs (in duplicate) matching with Statement of Expenditure figures in that FY. Project Completion Report (PCR) with list of publications, and patents filed. DD/ cheque for the unspent grant, drawn in favor of 'Fund for Science & Engineering Research' Mentor and PDF candidate are responsible for the timely submission of progress report, utilization certificate, project closure report (PCR), refund of unspent balance amount etc. at the end or early closure of the project.
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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