Scholarship
National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme(NREFS)
Overview
About NREFS
The National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREF) is run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, as part of its Human Resource Development (HRD) programme in new and renewable energy. Its purpose is to build a pool of trained and qualified people for the renewable energy sector by supporting higher studies and advanced research at recognised institutions.
The benefit is a cash fellowship paid monthly to the selected fellow. NREF covers a range of academic levels, from M.Tech and M.Sc in renewable energy through junior and senior research fellows, research associates, and post-doctoral fellows. The research it funds is meant to align with the thrust areas and technology priorities that MNRE identifies for renewable energy.
The scheme is for students and researchers pursuing renewable energy studies or research in India. MNRE applies the eligibility norms already used by bodies such as CSIR, DST, UGC and AICTE, so the level of fellowship a candidate can hold depends on their qualification and the stage of study or research. The exact amounts and conditions for each level are set out in the official scheme details.
Sources: MNRE - Fellowships for Higher Studies and Research · MNRE - Human Resource Development programme portal · myScheme - National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of New and Renewable Energy
Central Government
Central Sector Scheme
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Cash |
| Application mode | Offline |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant | |
| The applicant must be pursuing higher studies in renewable energy, viz. M.Sc, M. Tech, PhD in Renewable Energy technologies OR The applicant must be a Research Associate or post-doctoral Fellow pursuing advanced research in MNRE institutions and other key institutions. 1. These Fellowships will exclusively be awarded for Courses on Renewable Energy related subjects only. | |
| These Institutions will select the students for M.Tech /PhD courses through GATE Score, CSIR Score, or CSIR-JRF /AICTE/NET Qualified Score only. | |
| M.Sc fellowships will be provided only to students pursuing an M.Sc in renewable energy qualified with NET. | |
| NOTE 1: The Ministry would be guided by the norms of CSIR/DST/UGC for the eligibility of the candidates for JRF/SRF/RA/PDF. | |
| NOTE 2: The Ministry would be guided by the AICTE guidelines for M.Tech and the Department of Biotechnology norms for M.Sc in renewable energy. | |
| Eligibility Criteria for the Institute | |
| Only those institutes will be considered for the allocation of fellowship slots that are in the Top 100 institutes under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), with faculty for the required expertise in relevant areas of RE and infrastructure facilities available at such institutes for RE education and research in RE, etc. | |
| The scheme is open for Universities, Technical Institutions, and national laboratories having facilities for research in the identified thrust areas of RE, and institutes having M.Tech./ Integrated M.Sc. courses in energy studies/ renewable energy with specialisation in any branch of renewable energy. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- CategoryFellowship (₹/month)HRAContingency (₹/annum)DurationJRF₹31,000/-As per the central govt. norms₹20,000/-Per Month2 yearsSRF₹35,000/--do--do-2 yearsPDF/RA₹47,000/- (Level I), ₹49,000/- (Level II), ₹54,000/- (Level III).-do--do-2 yearsM.Tech/M.S ₹12,400/---20-24 months (as per the institute norm)M.Sc (Renewable Energy)₹4,000/---24 months (as per the institute norms)
- Notes: Flexible Allocation: The number of fellowships in each category (M.Tech, M.Sc, JRF, SRF, RA) is interchangeable based on the quality of research proposals and industry demand. - Monthly Disbursement: All fellowships are disbursed on a monthly basis directly into the beneficiary's bank account via DBT mode upon receipt of attendance/continuation reports from host institutions.
What to prepare
Documents required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply offline
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
NREFS – FAQ
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.