Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF)

To be eligible, an applicant must apply for a PhD programme at one of the PMRF-granting institutes either through the direct entry channel or the lateral entry channel.

For Direct Entry Channel

The applicants must satisfy one of the following criteria:-

• Have completed or been pursuing the final year of 4- (or 5) year undergraduate or 5-year integrated M.Tech or 5-year integrated M.Sc. or 2-year M.Sc. or 5-year undergraduate-postgraduate dual degree programs in Science and Technology streams from IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIEST and centrally funded universities with a CGPA/CPI of at least 8.0 (on a 10 point scale) or equivalent, OR
• Have completed or been pursuing the final year of 4- (or 5) year undergraduate or 5-year integrated M.Tech or 5-year integrated M.Sc. or 2-year M.Sc. or 5-year undergraduate-postgraduate dual degree programs in Science and Technology streams from any other (not covered in the first point) Institute/University recognized in India with a CGPA/CPI of at least 8.0 (on a 10-point scale) or equivalent apart from a minimum score of 650 in the respective GATE subject, OR
• Have qualified GATE and be pursuing or have completed M.Tech./MS by Research at one of the PMRF-granting institutions, having a minimum CGPA or CPI of 8.0 (on a 10-point scale) at the end of the first semester with a minimum of four courses

For Lateral Entry Channel

The applicants must satisfy all of the following criteria - 

• Be pursuing a Ph.D. in one of the PMRF-granting institutions and have completed at most 12 months in the PhD programme (if they have joined the programme with a Master's degree), OR
• Have completed at most 24 months in the PhD programme (if they have joined the programme with a Bachelor's degree)
• Have completed at least four courses in the PhD programme, each of which should be a full-semester course
• Have obtained an aggregate CGPA of 8.5 (out of 10) or higher

The students selected for the fellowship will receive:

• Year 1 - ₹70,000 per month
• Year 2 - ₹70,000 per month
• Year 3 - ₹75,000 per month
• Year 4 - ₹80,000 per month
• Year 5 - ₹80,000 per month

Additionally, each fellow will also receive a research grant of ₹2 Lakh per year for up to 5 years to cover academic contingency expenses and for foreign/national travel expenses. The tenure of fellowship will be 4 years for students from integrated courses and 5 years for B.Tech (or equivalent) students. For students selected through the lateral entry channel, the PMRF scholarship and obligations will continue only for the remainder of the student’s stay in the doctoral programme. No retrospective payment will be made.

• Passport size photograph of the applicant
• Project abstract of maximum 1,000 words in PDF file
• References
• Scanned copy of mark sheets/grade sheets/transcripts
• Scanned copy of GATE qualifying certificate
• CV (in not more than 2 A4 size pages and in PDF format)

Eligible candidates can apply for a Ph.D. programme at one of the PMRF-granting institutions, after which the institutions will make a recommendation for the fellowship.

Application is accepted throughout the year.