Scholarship
PRL Junior Research Fellowships(PRLJRF)
Overview
About PRLJRF
The PRL Junior Research Fellowship is a doctoral fellowship run by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, a unit of the Department of Space, Government of India. PRL was founded in 1947 by Vikram Sarabhai and works in space and allied sciences, so the fellowship is aimed at students who want to pursue a PhD in these fields rather than a general merit scholarship.
Selected candidates join as Junior Research Fellows and carry out full-time research at PRL toward a doctoral degree, moving to Senior Research Fellow after two years of satisfactory work. The fellowship carries a monthly stipend paid to the fellow through the doctoral programme. Research areas include astronomy and astrophysics, atomic, molecular and optical physics, geosciences, planetary sciences, solar physics, space and atmospheric sciences, and theoretical physics.
The programme is for Indian postgraduates in physics and allied sciences or engineering who have qualified a national eligibility examination such as CSIR-UGC-NET, GATE or JEST, and who meet PRL's academic and age requirements. Because the fellowship leads directly into PhD research at a Department of Space institute, the field of study and the entry exams narrow who can apply; the precise marks, exam and age limits for a given year are set out in PRL's own call for that cycle.
Sources: PRL – Junior Research Fellowship (PhD programme) · PRL – History (founding, Department of Space)
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Science And Technology
Central Government
Department of Space
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| 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 should have studied at recognized Universities/Institutes in India. | |
| The applicant’s age should be 28 years as of 01st July 2024. | |
| The applicant should complete a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in science or engineering with at least 60% marks (or equivalent) at both levels. | |
| Candidates from disciplines of any branch of Physics, Chemistry, Engineering Physics, Photonics, Space Physics, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Oceanography, Meteorology, Geology, Geophysics, Earth Science and Remote Sensing are eligible to apply. | |
| The applicant should be interested in pursuing a research career in the current research areas at PRL, and must have qualified in any one of the following exams: | |
| CSIR-UGC-NET JRF/AP (2022 or later) in Physical Sciences/Chemical Sciences/Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Planetary Sciences. | |
| GATE (2022 or later) in relevant subjects. | |
| JEST (2024) in Physics. | |
| UGC-NET JRF/AP (2022 or later) in Environmental Sciences. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- Fellowship Allowance: Junior Research Fellow (JRF): ₹37,000/- per month.
- Senior Research Fellow (SRF, after 2 years): ₹42,000/- per month (based on performance review).
- Platinum Jubilee Research Fellowship (ATAL): Selected meritorious JRFs may receive an additional ATAL fellowship of ₹40,000/- per month (for 3rd to 5th year).
- Ph.D. Registration: Fellows have the opportunity to register for a Ph.D. at an institute/university with an MoU with PRL.
What to prepare
Documents required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
PRLJRF – 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.