Biotechnology Scholarships 2026 – Government-funded Scholarships
First, we have covered the government scholarships that are most relevant for biotechnology and life-sciences students. The scholarships funded and administered by government departments, ministries, or councils are regarded as government-funded scholarships. Given below is the list of top biotechnology-relevant scholarships offered by the government.
Government-funded Biotechnology Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | Application Period* |
|---|---|
| DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF / BET) | February/March |
| CSIR-UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship (Life Sciences) | Twice yearly – April/May and September/October |
| ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (DHR-BRET) | April/May |
| INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) | January/February |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students | August–October |
| AICTE Saksham Scholarship for Differently-Abled Students | August–October |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) | July/August–October/November |
| National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students | February/March |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students | November/December |
*The application period mentioned in the table above is tentative and subject to change as per the discretion of the scholarship provider.
Also Read: Scholarships for Graduate Students in India
Biotechnology Scholarships 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Each scholarship listed in this article requires certain eligibility conditions to be fulfilled. If candidates wish to avail the benefits provided under these scholarships, they need to make sure they fulfil the eligibility criteria of the scholarship for which they are applying. Find below the specific eligibility conditions of all the scholarships listed in the table.
Eligibility Conditions for Biotechnology Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF / BET) | The applicant must hold an M.Sc./M.Tech./M.V.Sc. degree with Biotechnology in the title, or a related specialisation such as Agricultural, Medical, Marine, Industrial, Environmental, Pharmaceutical, or Food Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, or Molecular & Human Genetics. The applicant must have secured at least 55% marks (General/OBC) or 50% marks (SC/ST/PwD). The applicant must qualify the Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) and be enrolled/registered for a PhD programme at a recognised Indian university or institute. |
| CSIR-UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship (Life Sciences) | The applicant must be a bonafide Indian citizen residing in India. The applicant must hold a postgraduate degree in a relevant Life Sciences discipline with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories). The applicant must qualify the CSIR-UGC NET exam in the Life Sciences category. |
| ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (DHR-BRET) | The applicant must hold an M.Sc. or equivalent postgraduate degree in Biomedical/Life Sciences, including Biotechnology. The applicant must have secured at least 55% marks (General/EWS/OBC) or 50% marks (SC/ST/PwD). The applicant’s age must not exceed 28 years, with relaxations for reserved categories and women. |
| INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) | The applicant must be aged 17–22 years and enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in the Natural and Basic Sciences (including B.Sc./M.Sc. Biotechnology). The applicant must rank among the top 1% in their Class 12 board examination, or qualify through JEE-Advanced, NEET, or another approved route. The applicant must maintain at least 60% marks or a 7.0 GPA in each academic year. |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students | The applicant must be a female Indian citizen admitted to the 1st year of a technical degree/diploma programme (including B.Tech Biotechnology), or the 2nd year through lateral entry, at an AICTE-approved institution. The annual family income must not exceed ₹8 Lakh. A maximum of two daughters per family are eligible. |
| AICTE Saksham Scholarship for Differently-Abled Students | The applicant must have a disability of 40% or more, supported by a valid certificate. The applicant must be admitted to the 1st year (or 2nd year via lateral entry) of a technical degree/diploma programme, including B.Tech Biotechnology, at an AICTE-approved institution. The annual family income must not exceed ₹8 Lakh. |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) | The applicant must be among the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their Class 12 board examination. The applicant must be enrolled in a recognised full-time UG/PG course, including Biotechnology. The annual family income must not exceed ₹4.5 Lakh. The applicant must not be receiving any other major government scholarship. |
| National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students | The applicant must belong to the SC, Denotified/Nomadic Tribe, or Landless Agricultural Labourer category. The applicant must have secured an unconditional admission offer from a university ranked in the QS top 500 (first round) for a Master’s or PhD programme. The annual family income must not exceed ₹8 Lakh. The applicant’s age must not exceed 35 years. |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students | The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The applicant must have secured admission to a Master’s, PhD, or post-doctoral programme at a recognised university abroad. The annual family income must not exceed ₹6 Lakh. The applicant’s age must not exceed 35 years. |
Also Read: National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
Biotechnology Scholarships 2026 – Awards
Scholarship Rewards of Biotechnology Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Awards |
|---|---|
| DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF/BET) | ₹37,000 per month as JRF for the first two years; ₹42,000 per month as SRF thereafter; HRA as applicable; annual contingency grant of ₹30,000 |
| CSIR-UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship (Life Sciences) | ₹37,000 per month as JRF for the first two years; ₹42,000 per month as SRF thereafter; annual contingency grant |
| ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (DHR-BRET) | ₹37,000 per month as JRF; ₹42,000 per month as SRF; HRA; annual contingency grant of ₹20,000; Exemplary Performance Reward of ₹1,00,000 per annum for the top 10% of the merit list |
| INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) | ₹80,000 per year, split between the annual scholarship and a summer research attachment fee, for up to 5 years |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students | ₹50,000 per year for the full duration of the course |
| AICTE Saksham Scholarship for Differently-Abled Students | ₹50,000 per year for the full duration of the course |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) | ₹12,000 per year for undergraduate studies; ₹20,000 per year for postgraduate/professional courses |
| National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students | Full tuition fee coverage; maintenance allowance of USD 15,400 per annum (non-UK) or GBP 9,900 per annum (UK); airfare and other allowances |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students | Full tuition fee coverage; maintenance and contingency allowance broadly in line with the SC scheme; airfare and other allowances |
Biotechnology Scholarships 2026 – Application Procedure
All these government scholarships follow certain procedures during the application process. Several of these biotechnology scholarships can be applied for online through the official website of the concerned government department. The table given below tells students how to apply for these scholarships.
Application Process for Biotechnology Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | Application Process |
|---|---|
| DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF / BET) | Apply online through the official DBT-JRF portal (dbtjrf.gov.in) or the NTA website (nta.ac.in). |
| CSIR-UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship (Life Sciences) | Apply online through the official CSIR-HRDG or NTA CSIR-UGC NET portal. |
| ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (DHR-BRET) | Apply online through the AIIMS examination portal (aiimsexams.ac.in). |
| INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) | Apply online through the official INSPIRE portal of the Department of Science and Technology. |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students | Apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). |
| AICTE Saksham Scholarship for Differently-Abled Students | Apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) | Apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). |
| National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students | Apply online through the website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students | Apply online through the website of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. |
Also Read – NGO Scholarships
Biotechnology Scholarships 2026 – Private-funded Scholarships
Scholarships, grants, and other benefits provided by corporates, foundations, and other private entities come under the ambit of private-funded scholarships. Find below the table with a top scholarship for biotechnology students offered by a private organisation.
List of Biotechnology-relevant Scholarships offered by Private Entities
| Scholarship Name | Provider’s Name |
|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | Reliance Foundation |
Biotechnology Scholarships 2026 – Award Details
This scholarship, offered by a private organisation, provides financial assistance to undergraduate biotechnology students who need monetary support. Find the reward provided under this scholarship scheme in the table given below.
Reward of the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
| Scholarship Name | Award Details |
|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | Up to ₹2,00,000 over the full duration of the undergraduate degree, disbursed annually; up to 5,000 scholars selected each year |
Application Process: Apply online through the official Reliance Foundation Scholarships portal (scholarships.reliancefoundation.org).
The biotechnology scholarships mentioned above are just a drop in the vast pool of scholarships available to Indian students. Students can browse through more options that match their eligibility and course, and apply for them without wasting any time.
Also read: Engineering Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Which is the best scholarship for a biotechnology PhD in India?
The DBT-JRF is the most biotechnology-specific of the PhD fellowships listed here. That said, the CSIR-UGC NET (Life Sciences) and ICMR-JRF offer comparable stipends and are worth considering depending on whether a student’s research interest leans toward core biotechnology, general life sciences, or biomedical and health research.
Q2. Can B.Tech Biotechnology students apply for the INSPIRE Scholarship?
No. INSPIRE-SHE is limited to students of the Natural and Basic Sciences, which covers B.Sc. and M.Sc. Biotechnology but excludes B.Tech and other engineering degrees.
Q3. Are there biotechnology scholarships specifically for girls?
Yes. The AICTE Pragati Scholarship is open to female students pursuing B.Tech Biotechnology or Biotechnology Engineering at AICTE-approved institutions, subject to a family income limit of ₹8 Lakh.
Q4. Do any of these scholarships fund biotechnology studies abroad?
The National Overseas Scholarship is the main option for this, but it is restricted to SC and ST students pursuing a Master’s or PhD abroad, and requires an admission offer from a university ranked in the QS Top 500 in the first round.
Q5. Is prior work experience required to apply for these scholarships?
No. All the scholarships listed in this article are open to students directly from their academic programmes. Some, such as the DBT-JRF and ICMR-JRF, also allow final-year postgraduate students to apply provisionally.