Eligibility Criteria:  

Educational Qualification:     M.Sc. /M.A. or equivalent degree (subject areas mentioned in Section 5, pg. no. 7) with minimum 55% marks for General/EWS/OBC candidates and 50% for the SC/ST and PwBD candidates.

A candidate who is appearing/has appeared in the final year (IV/VI Semester whichever is applicable, and final year where Semester system is not there) of M.Sc./M.A. or equivalent examination during the session (2020–2021) can also apply for the exam as RA (Result Awaited). Such candidates will have to submit the attestation format (given in annexure–I duly certified by the Head of the Department/Institute over his/her signature and rubber stamp(with address and name) where he/she is appearing in the final year examination.However, such candidates shall be admitted to the Exam provisionally and shall be considered eligible for JRF only after they submit the proof of having passed the Master’s Degree examination with requisite percentage. The M.Sc. /M.A. or equivalent degree mark sheet must be submitted to ICMR, latest by 31st December, 2021 otherwise candidature will automatically be forfeited.

Age limit :    The age limit for admission to the eligibility test is 28 years as on 30-09-2021 (upper age limit relaxable up to five years in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST, PwBD and female candidates, three years in the case of OBC category.)

 Fellowship: 

• The value of the fellowship is Rs. 31,000/- (Rupees Thirty One thousand only) per month.
• The duration of fellowship will initially be limited until two years carrying a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000/- and an annual contingency grant of Rs. 20,000/- per annum.

The progress of research work would be evaluated annually through annual progress reports (APR). On completion of two years as a JRF, the stipend of a fellow may be increased to Rs. 35,000/- p.m. from 3rd year onwards on the basis of assessment of candidate’s research progress/achievements and upgradation report recommendation as submitted by the Institute’s Assessment Committee. Upon such a recommendation, the fellow will be called as a senior research fellow (SRF). In the event of the Committee not recommending upgradation, the fellow will continue as JRF with a stipend of Rs. 31,000/- per month for the 3rd year or his/her fellowship may be terminated depending on the decision of the Committee. The duration as SRF may be for a maximum duration of 03 years or until submission of Ph.D. thesis (whichever is earlier). Thus, the total tenure as JRF plus SRF shall not exceed 5 (five) years.

Selection Process :

ICMR will hold a National level examination on Sunday, September 12, 2021 for determining the eligibility of Indian National candidates for the award of JRF through ICMR. The ICMR JRF Entrance Examination 2021 will be an online test of two hours duration.