Kothari Fellowship 2026 – Application Timeline, Eligibility & Revised Stipend

The Kothari Fellowship (DSKPDF) accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, with no fixed opening or closing date for 2026. This means eligible PhD holders can apply for the Kothari Fellowship at any point, rather than waiting for an annual notification window.

The application process is entirely online, submitted through the official UGC DSKPDF portal, followed by a physical copy of the form sent to the National Coordinator’s office in Pune. Selected candidates receive a monthly stipend, along with contingency and HRA benefits, for a tenure of up to three years.

Latest Update: The Kothari Fellowship (DSKPDF) application portal is open year-round for rolling submissions. CLICK HERE to Apply.

What Is the Kothari Fellowship?

Formally known as the Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship (DSKPDF), this is a postdoctoral research fellowship introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2007, named after physicist and educationist Dr. Daulat Singh Kothari. It was created on the recommendation of an Empowered Committee chaired by Professor M.M. Sharma, specifically to address a gap in India’s research ecosystem: fresh PhD holders needed a flexible, fast-track postdoctoral pathway to strengthen their training and explore new research directions within the Indian university system, rather than relying solely on existing RA/PDF positions from other funding agencies.

Kothari Fellowship 2026 – Stipend

This is the section most in need of correction across older content. The fellowship amount has been revised upward, and current rates are structured by year of tenure:

On top of the monthly stipend, fellows also receive:

• Contingency grant – ₹1,00,000 per year, for research-related expenses
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Government of India norms, applicable if hostel accommodation isn’t available at the host institution
• Leave – up to 30 days per year (excluding public holidays), plus maternity/paternity leave per GoI rules; academic leave without fellowship is available for up to 1 year, though this period counts toward the total 3-year tenure
• Medical benefits – through facilities available at the host institution; no separate medical assistance is provided outside this

Funds are disbursed directly into the fellow’s bank account through a UGC-designated bank via Direct Benefit Transfer, historically processed through Canara Bank, though it’s worth confirming the current designated bank on the official portal at the time of selection.

Also Read – Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship

Where Can You Actually Hold This Fellowship?

This is a detail that trips up a fair number of applicants, and it’s worth understanding before you even start identifying a mentor: DSKPDF is tenable only at Science Departments of Indian Universities covered under Section 12B of the UGC Act, and at UGC-funded inter-university centres such as IUCAA, IUAC, and UGC-DAE-CSR.

It is explicitly not tenable at:

• IITs
• CSIR, DRDO, or DAE laboratories
• Colleges, whether autonomous or affiliated

Additionally, the postdoctoral work is generally expected to take place at a different institution from where you completed your PhD, and your PhD supervisor cannot serve as your DSKPDF mentor. The fellowship is deliberately structured to push researchers toward new environments and new mentorship rather than simply continuing under the same guide in the same lab.

Kothari Fellowship 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must hold a PhD degree in a Science faculty subject. Published research work strengthens an application, though it isn’t always a strict prerequisite.
• Only unemployed, PhD-awarded candidates are eligible at the time of application — this fellowship is designed as a bridge for those without an existing academic or research position, not a supplementary award for those already employed.
• The applicant must generally be below 35 years of age, with age relaxations available: 3 years for OBC candidates, 5 years for SC/ST and women candidates, and 10 years for candidates with disabilities.
• The candidate must identify a Mentor affiliated with an institution where DSKPDF is tenable, and secure that mentor’s formal consent before applying.

A note on the “confirmed post” exception: some sources reference an allowance for teachers below 35 years working on confirmed academic posts to apply as well, though the core, most consistently confirmed eligibility criterion across official guidance is the “unemployed PhD holder” condition. If you’re currently employed on a confirmed academic post and considering applying, it’s worth verifying your specific eligibility directly with UGC or on the official portal rather than assuming either way.

Also Read – Nirman Shramik Kalyan Yojana Scholarship

How to Apply for the Kothari Fellowship 2026

Applications are accepted online only, through the official UGC DSKPDF portal, and the process runs on a rolling basis throughout the year rather than a fixed annual deadline:

Step-by-Step Application Process for Kothari Fellowship 2026

Step 1 – Visit the official portal for the Kothari Fellowship.
Step 2 – Navigate to “Application” and click on it to begin your application.

Step 4 – You’ll receive a system-generated email for verification — follow its instructions to authenticate your details.

Step 5 – Once verified, you’ll receive your login ID and password by email, typically within 10 working days of your request.

Step 6 – Log in and complete the full online application form. You must complete this within 10 days of receiving your credentials, as they expire after that window.

Step 7 – Upload all required documents, each under 100 KB, in PDF or DOC format.

Take a printout of your completed application, attach physical copies of all required documents, and post the complete set to the address listed below.

Postal address for physical submission: The National Coordinator, Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship Cell, C/o Interdisciplinary School of Scientific Computing, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Post Office, Pune 411 007, India

Make sure to write your application ID clearly on the envelope, since this is how your postal submission gets matched to your online application.

Kothari Fellowship 2026 – Documents Required

Students applying for the Kothari Fellowship are required to keep the following documents handy –

List of Documents for Kothari Fellowship 2026

• PhD work summary, in the prescribed format
• Concept proposal for your intended postdoctoral research, in the prescribed format
• Mentor’s CV, in the prescribed format
• Graduation and postgraduation certificates
• Age proof (typically a Class 10 certificate)
• PhD degree certificate, or a certificate from your PhD guide/Registrar confirming degree completion
• An original letter from your chosen mentor, on institutional letterhead, confirming willingness to guide your postdoctoral research
• NET/SET certificate, if applicable
• Reserved category or disability certificate, if claiming age relaxation under those categories

What Happens After You Apply

Once your complete application (online and the posted physical copy) is received, UGC’s selection process generally takes about 6 weeks to complete. If selected, you’re expected to join your host department and mentor within 6 months of the date your fellowship award letter is issued – missing this window without a valid reason can jeopardise the offer, so it’s worth planning your transition timeline as soon as you receive confirmation.

Also Read – UP Scholarship