Top PhD Fellowships in India 2026 - Eligibility & Benefits

A PhD or Doctor of Philosophy is a higher academic degree pursued by many individuals who are interested in research and teaching. A PhD is a long educational journey. The duration of the PhD program is usually 3 to 6 years, depending on the program and the university. The individuals receive the doctoral degree after submitting the required coursework, presentations, and dissertation. They will also earn the ‘Dr.’ title at the end of their program. 

The individuals can apply for fellowships for the PhD programs. The fellowships offer financial support to individuals who wish to pursue a PhD and a research career. In the financial award, it usually covers students’ tuition fees and the cost of living for individuals who are pursuing a PhD program.  The individuals can get their fellowships through entrance exams like UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, and many more. 

Individuals who couldn’t crack any of the entrance exams for the fellowship need not worry, as they still can earn the degree through the online DBA program. An online DBA refers to the Doctor of Business Administration, which is considered equivalent to the regular PhD program. In an online DBA program, students will earn their degree from a foreign university. The online DBA program also provides an affordable fee structure for interested individuals in comparison to the fee structure of a regular PhD program, if they are able to crack an entrance exam. 

Here are the top fellowships in India for a PhD:

1. Junior Research Fellowship

The Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is a scholarship offered to individuals who wish to pursue a PhD and want to conduct research in any field, including science, humanities, or arts. The eligible candidate only receives the fellowship after clearing the entrance exams, like UGC-NET or CSIR-NET entrance examinations. 

The students are required to get the scoring marks to receive the fellowship. Based on their scores, the individuals have to take admission in any of the universities that align with their area of interest and field of study. 

Key Highlights of JRF

Here are the key highlights of the Junior Research Fellowship given for students’ better understanding: 

• The JRF offers fellowships in terms of stipends for individuals who wish to pursue a PhD and research. 
• The validity for the JRF through UGC-NET and CSIR-NET is usually 2-3 years, depending on the specialization
• The stipend may vary depending on the course and the university.

Eligibility criteria for Junior Research Fellowship:

The eligibility criteria for the Junior Research Fellowship are- 

• Individuals who have cleared the entrance exams like UGC NET or CSIR NET and have scores according to the cut-off. 
• The candidate must also meet the eligibility criteria of the university. 

 JRF through UGC-NET 

The University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) is a national-level examination that is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Individuals who have an educational background in commerce, humanities, and arts can apply for the UGC NET. The examination is conducted twice a year to determine the eligibility of individuals who are interested in pursuing a PhD through Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor, or PhD. To receive the fellowship, students are required to get scores according to the cutoff marks. The individuals will only be able to avail the benefit of the fellowship when they enroll in a university.  

Who can apply for the fellowship through UGC NET?

The eligibility criteria for individuals who wish to receive the fellowship through UGC NET:

• Individuals who have a master’s degree in any specialization from a recognized university. 
• Candidates who have scored a minimum 55% in their master’s degree, 50% for the reserved categories. 
• The upper age limit for individuals belonging to the general category is 30 years. 
• Candidates belonging to the reserved categories have a 5-year relaxation. 
• An individual is only eligible for this fellowship after clearing the entrance exams like UGC-NET and CSIR-NET with the required scores. 

 How to get JRF through CSIR-NET? 

Students can also apply for the fellowship through CSIR NET. The CSIR NET refers to the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research National Eligibility, a national-level examination which is conducted by the National Testing Agency. The individuals who have graduated having science specializations can apply for the fellowship through CSIR NET. 

Eligibility criteria for the CSIR NET 

The individuals applying for JRF through the CSIR NET have to meet the following eligibility criteria:- 

• Students who have a Master of Science (MSc) in Life Science or a BTech degree in Biotechnology from a recognised university. 
• The candidate must have 55% or above in their graduation  
• Individuals belonging to the reserved category were required to have 50% in their master's to apply for the CSIR-NET 
• The upper age limit for the JRF is 30 years 
• There is a 5-year relaxation for students who belong to the reserved category. 

JRF stipend through UGC NET 

Here are the stipend details that will be provided to the candidates who got JRF through UGC NET and CSIR NET.   

Designation	Duration	Qualification	Stipend
JRF	2 years	Post-graduate in basic science, Post-graduate in professional course through UGC NET, GATE exam, or other National-level exams conducted by MHRD & institutes like UGC, IIT, IISC, IIIT, etc.	37,0000
JRF through CSIR NET	2 years	Post-graduation in science or related subjects	37,000

Individuals who are appearing for the entrance exams should keep in mind that clearing an entrance exam doesn’t mean that they are eligible to receive the fellowship. The eligible candidates are required to apply to the university for their PhD program to be eligible for the fellowship. 

Fellowships for PhD without NET

Individuals can pursue a PhD without appearing for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) OR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

The individuals can apply directly to the universities that offer their own fellowships. The selection is through entrance exams conducted at the university level. The fellowships are also offered based on funds and merit.  

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) offers Non-Net fellowships to individuals.  

Those who couldn’t appear for the UGC NET examination or couldn’t get the required marks can also apply for the online DBA program. The online DBA refers to the Doctor of Business Administration, which is equivalent to the regular PhD program. 

2. NCERT Doctoral Fellowship

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was set up by the Government of India to assist the Ministry of Human Resource Development in the areas of Education. The NCERT offers doctoral fellowships for individuals pursuing a PhD in the education sector.  

Eligibility criteria of the NCERT fellowship

The eligibility criteria of the NCERT doctoral fellowship are:

• The individuals must have a minimum of 60% in their graduation and post-graduation subjects. 
• The upper age limit to apply for the fellowship is 35 years. 
• Candidates registered for a Ph.D. degree in a recognized university are eligible to apply

Stipend for NCERT fellowship 

The stipend in the NCERT fellowship is: 

Stipend for NCERT fellowship
Type of fellowship	Stipend
Non-Net fellowship	INR 23,000
Net fellowship	INR 25,000

3. Senior Research Fellowship

An SRF or Senior Research Fellowship is given to individuals who have shown remarkable research experience. This fellowship is given after two years of Junior Research Fellowship. The senior research fellowship is not given directly to students pursuing a PhD program.  They have to be enrolled in any of the universities for their PhD program and must have a junior research fellowship or two years of research experience. 

Key highlights of SRF

Here are the key features of the fellowship:

Fellowship	Details
SRF	Senior Research Fellowship
Tenure	3 years
Age limit	32-35 years
Admission Exam	No examination is required

Eligibility criteria for Senior Research Fellowship

Here is the eligibility criterion for the senior research fellowship:

• Individuals having a master’s degree in any of the specializations with a minimum of 50% to 55% in their post-graduation. 
• The individuals must have 2 years of research experience. 

Stipend details for SRF

Here is the detail of the stipend provided to the senior research fellowship. 

Designation	Duration	Qualification	Stipend (Monthly)
SRF	3 years	Post-graduation in science or related subjects	INR 42,000

Different Senior Research Fellowship programs in India

Many institutes and universities offer senior research fellowships in India. Some of the institutes offering the SRF are listed below:

Senior Research Fellowship	Duration	Eligibility	Age limit	Stipend
ICSSR senior fellowship	2 years	PhD in social science	45-70 years	INR 45,000
ICMR fellowship	3 years	Two years of research experience in a medical or related field	32-37 years	INR 35,000
CSIR SRF	2 years	Two years of research experience in the science and technology field	32-37 years	INR 42,000
UGC NET SRF	3 years	Two years of research experience in any specialization		INR 42,000

4. Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship 

The PMRF, or the Prime Minister Research Fellowship, offers fellowships as well as research grants to Indian students who are from science and engineering backgrounds. The Prime Minister's research fellowship supports students who are innovative in terms of scientific research and problem-solving.

This fellowship empowers individuals having extraordinary talent, helping towards breakthroughs that shape industries and lives.   

Key Highlights of PMRF

Here are a few key highlights of the PMRF given for students’ better understanding:

• The PMRF fellowship is designed for individuals who are visionary thinkers with innovative mindsets and problem solvers.
• This fellowship focuses on extremely challenging and innovative research problems. 
• The PMRF fellowship is being offered in all the IITs, IISERs, and IISC Bangalore, and a few top universities/ institutes like the NITs that offer science and technology degrees. 

Eligibility criteria for PMRF

The eligibility criteria for PMRF depend on the educational background and performance of the individual. For the PMRF fellowship, the eligibility criteria depend on the pathways- lateral entry and direct entry. 

Direct entry 

Educational qualifications

• The candidate must have completed or be pursuing a four or five-year undergraduate degree in science and technology streams. Students having a  five-year integrated M.Tech or a two-year MSc are also eligible. 
• The individuals who have completed their degree from the IISC, IITs, NITs, IISERs, and the centrally funded IIITs are eligible to apply. 
• The individual must score a minimum CGPA/CPI of 8.0 (on a 10-point scale)

Lateral Entry 

Educational Qualification

• The individuals must be enrolled in any university or institute that offers PMRF. 
• The candidate must complete a minimum of four full courses in a PhD program with a CGPA/CPI of 8.5 or above. 
• A candidate can only apply twice for the lateral entry
• Those who have completed their master’s must apply for the PhD program of no more than 12 months. 

Stipend for PMRF

Here is the stipend for the individuals in PMRF. 

Duration	Stipend
1st year and 2nd year	INR 70,000 per month
3rd year	INR 75,000 per month
4th year	INR 80,000 per month
5th year	INR 80,000 per month

How to apply for the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship?

Here are the steps to apply for the Prime Minister Research Fellowship- 

• Admission to the PhD program-    

To apply for the fellowship, the candidates must take admission in a PhD program. They can take admission through Direct or lateral entry. 

• Nomination by the Institute

The participating institutes will nominate the eligible candidates through the portal. 

• Application Submission

The nominated candidates will have to submit a detailed application through the PMRF portal and submit the names of their recommendations. 

• Evaluation and Selection

The applications are being evaluated in detail.  

The final selection is done by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) based on ranks and the number of seats allocated for each PMRF institute. 

Universities granting the PMRF

Here is the list of universities that grant the Prime Minister Research Fellowship. 

Type of Institute/University	Universities
Indian Institutes of Technology	IIT Bhilai IIT BHU IIT Bhubneshwar IIT Delhi IIT Bombay IIT Dharwad IIT Dhanbad IIT Goa IIT Roorkee IIT Tirupati  IIT Ropar IIT Patna IIT Mandi IIT Palakkad IIT Madras IIT kharagpur IIT Jodhpur IIT Jammu  IIT Guwahati  IIT Indore IIT Hyderabad
All Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs):	IISER Berhampur IISER Bhopal IISER Kolkata IISER Mohali IISER Pune IISER Tirupati IISER Thiruvanthapuram
Indian Institutes of Science (IISC)	IISC Bengaluru
Central Universities	Aligarh Muslim University Banaras Hindu University University of Delhi University of Hyderabad Jawaharlal Nehru University  Jamia Millia Islamia  NIT Trichy

5. DST-Inspire Fellowship 

The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) fellowship is managed by the Department of Science and Technology. The fellowship is given to the candidates to inspire them to make innovations with a creative mind. The main objective of this fellowship is to strengthen the science and technology department of India. 

Key highlights of DST- Inspire Fellowship

Here is the key highlight of the Department of Science and Technology- Inspire fellowship. 

Scheme	Designation	Age Limit	Stipend (Monthly)	Qualification
INSPIRE Fellowship	SRF	35 years	INR 31,000	Research experience in the Science and Technology field

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for DBT-INSPIRE are:

• Individuals who secure a 1st Rank in any recognized University and academic Institutions (Excluding Autonomous Colleges) in India in Post-Graduate (PG) level examination in Basic/Applied Sciences, including Engineering, Pharmacy, Agricultural Sciences, and Veterinary Sciences.
•  Individuals who have secured a minimum of 70% marks (or CGPA equivalent) in MSc or integrated MS or MSc. 

6. Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF):

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) is a scheme for individuals belonging to the Scheduled Caste. This fellowship is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice &Empowerment. Candidates who belong to the scheduled caste and want to pursue their PhD program can apply for financial assistance in any specialization, including science, humanities, social science, or engineering. Each year, there are 2000 slots open for the fellowship. 

Stipend details for RGNF

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship provides both Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship. Here is the detail of the stipends provided in the fellowship. 

Program	Duration	Stipend
JRF	2 year	INR 25,000
SRF	3 years	INR 28,000

 Who can apply for this fellowship?

Here is the eligibility criteria for individuals for the fellowship:

• The candidate must belong to the SC/ST
• They must have completed their master's degree in any of the specializations
• The Candidate must be registered for M.Phil./Ph.D.
• Transgender candidates are eligible to apply under the scheme. The reservation shall be followed as per the Government of India norms

Pursue your PhD without any entrance exams

For the students who do not wish to appear for any entrance examination or can’t get any of the fellowships, they can opt for an alternative option of an online DBA program. An online DBA refers to the Doctor of Business Administration. A DBA degree holds similar importance to the degree earned through a regular PhD. 

The online DBA offers flexible class timings, which are an ideal choice for working professionals who wish to pursue their doctoral degree without leaving their jobs. 

Key highlights of an online DBA program

Here are the key highlights of the online DBA program for students’ better understanding:

• The online DBA is a three-year-long program that offers online classes.
• There is no maximum age limit for individuals to apply for the online DBA program
• The flexible timings of the online DBA classes are an ideal choice for working professionals, where they can take classes at their convenience without even leaving their jobs. 
• The students will earn the ‘Dr.’ degree after completing their program. 
• The enrolled students will get to know their subject-matter experts through online
• The learners will gain more knowledge and skills in various specializations, which they can use in national and international markets. 
• The students will also gain confidence while interacting with other students from diverse backgrounds online. 
• After receiving the doctoral degree, the students will receive a wider range of job opportunities, where many top companies will be eager to hire them. 

Eligibility criteria:

• Candidates who have completed their bachelor’s degree in any specialization with a minimum of 5 years.
• Those who have their master’s degree or an equivalent degree. 

Universities offering an online DBA program:

Universities	Fees
Birchwood Online University DBA Online	INR 6,00,000
Golden Gate University DBA Online	INR 8,14,000
Rushford Business School DBA Online	INR 8,12,500
EIMT Online DBA	INR 5,50,000
ESGCI International School of Management Paris DBA Online	INR 8,14,000
Swiss School of Business Management DBA Online	INR 7,50,000
Edgewood College DBA Online	INR 7,00,000