Know And Track The Top Six Research Scholarships For Indian Students

There are various research institutions across the country that offer scholarships to assist students in carrying out research in specific fields. Moreover, institutions such as IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs, ICAR also offer fellowships and grants to support the research study of scholars in various fields.

Here is a list of top six research scholarships for Indian students that one must keep track of:

Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF): 

This fellowship aims to promote technical research studies and attract the meritorious students to pursue doctoral programmes at leading institutions in India. The students who have completed or pursuing BTech or MTech, MSc or integrated MTech or MSc degree can avail benefits under this scheme.

They are required to apply for a PhD programme at one of the PMRF granting institutes either through direct entry channel or lateral entry channel.

Provider Details: Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India
Eligibility: BTech graduate, final year BTech, integrated MTech, integrated MSc students from IISc/IITs/NITs/IISER/IIITs
Awards: Stipend up to Rs 80,000 per month and other benefits
Application Timeline: Round the year
Application Mode: Apply through the PMRF granting institutions

Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships:

This scholarship is meant for postgraduate students who are registered or admitted to a PhD programme at a recognised university or institution in India. Applicable for two years, this scholarship supports research in specialisation including sociology, Indian history, economics, geography, ecology, and environment etc. The candidates who are below 35 years of age and have obtained at least 60 per cent marks in both graduation and postgraduation can apply for this scholarship.

Provider Details: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund
Eligibility: Students enrolled in PhD programmes
Awards: Up to Rs 18,000 per month and other benefits
Application Timeline: Between May and June (tentative)
Application Mode: By post (to Administrative Secretary of Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund)

ICMR Centenary-Post Doctoral Research Fellowship Scheme: 

This fellowship aims to support PhD/MD/MS degree holders to pursue research in the areas of basic science, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and reproductive health including nutrition at ICMR institutions and centres. The candidates are required to apply for this fellowship within three years of completion of PhD/MD/MS. The age of the candidates should be below 32 years on the date of application.

Provider Details: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Eligibility: PhD/MD/MS degree holders
Awards: Rs 50,000 per month and other benefits
Application Timeline: Between July and December (tentative)
Application Mode: By post (to the Director-General of ICMR)

Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship – IIT Ropar: 

This fellowship offers financial support to students having a PhD degrees. It is mandatory for students to apply within five years after the completion of PhD. The fellowship is also open for candidates who have completed their PhD thesis under the supervision or co-supervision of IIT-Ropar faculty members. In this case, students are allowed to apply after three years of completion of their PhD degree.

Provider Details: Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar
Eligibility: PhD degree holders
Awards: Rs 45,000 to Rs 55,000 and other benefits
Application Timeline: Round the year
Application Mode: By post or in-hand application submission to the department/centre in which the candidate intends to join as a Post-Doctoral Fellow

SERB National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF): 

This fellowship aims at identifying motivated young researchers and provide them with support to carry out research in frontier areas of science and engineering. Under this fellowship, the students below the age of 35 who have obtained a PhD/MD/MS degree from a recognised university can avail variable benefits to carry out research at the postdoctoral level. The candidates who have submitted their PhD/MD/MS thesis and are awaiting award can also apply. However, they will receive a lower fellowship amount till they qualify the degree.

Provider Details: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Eligibility: PhD/MD/MS degree holders
Awards: Monthly stipend up to Rs 55,000 and other benefits
Application Timeline: Between April and May (tentative)
Application Mode: Online, through the official website of SERB

Teachers Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE): 

This initiative of SERB is meant for students having PhD degrees in Science or MD/MS in medicine or ME/MTech in engineering or technology. The key objective of the scheme is to facilitate mobility of faculty members working in state universities/colleges and private academic institutions to carry out research in renowned institutions such as IITs, IISc, IISERs, etc. The age of the candidates should be less than 45 years and they must not hold any ongoing research projects or fellowship at the time of application submission.

Provider Details: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Eligibility: PhD in Science or MD/MS in medicine or ME/MTech in engineering or technology degree
holders
Awards: Rs 60,000 per annum and a research grant of Rs 5 lakh per annum
Application Timeline: Between March and April (tentative)
Application Mode: Online, through the official website of SERB