Prime Minister's Research Fellowship
PMRF scheme for Indian engineering/science students pursuing PhD programs in premier institutions (IITs, IISc, IISERs).
- Award
- ₹70k - ₹80k / month
- Study in
- India
- Level
- PhD
- Deadline
- Two cycles a year, usually closing in May and November
Checked against the official source in August 2026. Verify on the official site
Who is eligible?
Applicants must be pursuing or entering a PhD at a participating institution (IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes). Either the direct-entry route from a qualifying degree with a strong CGPA, or the lateral-entry route for students already enrolled in a PhD there.
What the award covers
- Monthly fellowship for up to five years
- Annual research grant for travel, equipment and conference costs
Amounts are revised by the awarding body each cycle. Treat this as the shape of the award, not a quotation.
Documents you will need
- Research proposal
- Transcripts from class 10 onward
- Endorsement from the host institution
- GATE or NET score where the route requires it
Worth knowing before you apply
A domestic fellowship for PhD study inside India, not an overseas award. The fellowship steps up over the five years.
Covering what the scholarship does not
A partial award reduces the bill rather than removing it. Work out the remaining figure first, then decide how to fund it — that is the number a lender assesses, not the headline fee.