AI SummaryRaman-Charpak Fellowship is an academic exchange scheme that supports PhD students from India and France to carry out part of their research work in each other's countries. The scheme is implemented by the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) and covers research visits of 2 to 5 months.
Indian PhD scholars selected under this scheme get 1710 Euros per month for daily expenses, local travel and accommodation, plus a return air ticket and insurance cover. French fellows get Rs 40,000 per month with accommodation support of up to Rs 45,000 per month. The PhD call for the current cycle has closed and the next call is expected to open around September 2026, while the call for French Master's students is still open.
Raman-Charpak Fellowship - Introduction
Raman-Charpak Fellowship is named after two Nobel Laureates in Physics: Prof C.V. Raman (India, 1930) and Prof Georges Charpak (France, 1992). It was launched during the state visit of the President of France to India in February 2013. The scheme is jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the French Institute in India (IFI), French Embassy in India.
The fellowship helps doctoral students by giving them a chance to work in partner universities or research institutes in the other country. It is also open to French Master's students who want to do an internship in India as part of their course. The program is implemented by the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA).
Target Group: Qualified PhD students registered in an Indian or French research institute or university, and Master's students from France. Students get a very good chance to build professional relationships, promote new research cooperation, and experience another cultural context.
Duration of Fellowship: The support is provided for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 5 months. Fellowships of more than 3 months are processed through Campus France with a different procedure, so students should decide the duration in advance.
Areas of Study: The fellowship covers research work in the following fields:
- Atmospheric Sciences, Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences
- Materials Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Engineering Sciences
- Biological Sciences, Life and Medical Sciences
- Mathematical and Computational Sciences
- Agricultural Sciences
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Raman-Charpak Fellowship |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Science, IT & Communications |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Sub Category | Research & Development |
| Benefit Type | Composite |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Science and Technology |
| Implementing Agency | Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA) |
| Fellowship Amount | 1710 Euros per month for Indian fellows; Rs 40,000 per month for French fellows |
| Duration | 2 to 5 months |
| Open Date | 01-02-2013 |
| Tags | Fellowship, Raman, Charpak, France, Student |
Benefits
Selected fellows get the following benefits under Raman-Charpak Fellowship:
- Return air ticket in economy class between India and France.
- Insurance cover for travel and health, plus help with a Carte de Sejour if required.
- Cover for administrative costs related to visa and registration.
- Additional support of up to 500 Euros (for Indian fellows) or equal support in rupees (for French fellows) for attending a conference, seminar or workshop during the stay.
Financial support details are given below:
| Recipient | Monthly Allowance | Accommodation Support |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Fellow | 1710 Euros (covers daily expenses, local travel, social security) | Included in fellowship |
| French Fellow | Rs 40,000 | Up to Rs 45,000 per month |
Note that no support is provided for family members during the fellowship period.
Eligibility
To apply for Raman-Charpak Fellowship, you should meet the following criteria:
- If applying from India, you must be an Indian citizen living in India and registered for a PhD in a recognized Indian institution. Indian PhD students in their 2nd or 3rd year can apply.
- If applying from France, you must live in France and be registered for a PhD or Master's degree in a recognized French institution.
- You must be under 30 years of age as on 1st April of the call year.
- Students who have already been supported by CEFIPRA, and students holding a permanent position in an institution or university, are not eligible.
- You must provide a pre-authorization or no-objection letter from your home institute or university.
- The host institute for Indian applicants must be in France, and for French applicants it must be in India.
Application Process
Applications are accepted only online. You need to register and apply on the official CEFIPRA website or directly on the CEFIPRA application portal. Follow the steps given below to apply.
STEP 1 - Visit the official CEFIPRA website at cefipra.org and open the Raman Charpak Fellowship page to check the call status and download the prescribed formats.
STEP 2 - Register on the online portal mob.cefipra.org and log in to access the application form and the prescribed formats for the research proposal and CV.
STEP 3 - Prepare the research proposal (max 5 pages) and CV (max 2 pages) in the prescribed formats, and collect the recommendation letters from your PhD supervisor and the host supervisor.
STEP 4 - Upload all the required documents, name each file as per the format given on the portal, and submit the application before the deadline. Applications sent by post or submitted after the deadline are not accepted.
STEP 5 - Submit the application only once. Screening and document checking happens after the deadline, followed by evaluation by the joint expert committee, and results are declared on the portal.
Application Timeline
For the last cycle, the call was launched on 29 September 2025 and the deadline was 10 December 2025. Screening of applications was done in January/February 2026, evaluation by the joint expert committee in February/March 2026, and results were declared at the end of March or start of April 2026. As per the official website, the PhD call is closed for now and the next call is expected to be launched around September 2026. The call for French Master's students is currently open.
Documents Required
You should keep the following documents ready for the online application:
- Detailed research or educational proposal (max 5 pages) in the prescribed format, with the title and research work plan and the expected benefit of the stay.
- Current CV (max 2 pages) in the prescribed format with a recent photograph, research achievements and list of publications.
- A letter of recommendation from your PhD supervisor or head of the Master's program.
- A letter of agreement from the proposed host supervisor in the host institute.
- PhD synopsis or short summary of the PhD work with title (up to 2 pages).
- Research experience letters or publications, if any.
- No Objection Certificate from the Head of the Institution (only for Indian applicants).
- A scanned copy of a valid passport (front and back).
- A recent professional photograph.
Contact Details
For any questions related to the fellowship, you can contact CEFIPRA at the address given below. The office is open from Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 6.00 pm.
Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA), Core 5B, Ground Floor, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003. Office phone: +91 11 24682251, +91 11 24682252. Email: contact.ifcpar@cefipra.org
References
- Raman Charpak Fellowship - Official CEFIPRA Page
- CEFIPRA Online Application Portal
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship 2025 Guidelines
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship Flyer
- India Science, Technology & Innovation Portal
FAQ's
What is Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
It is a joint India-France program that helps PhD scholars and Master's students carry out part of their research in the partner country, to encourage professional and cultural growth.
What is the primary aim of the program?
The program aims to strengthen scientific cooperation between India and France by helping bright students carry out high-quality research in each other's countries.
Who manages this fellowship?
It is implemented by the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA) and jointly funded by DST, Government of India, and the French Institute in India.
When was the program started?
The fellowship was launched in February 2013 during a state visit between leaders of India and France.
Who is eligible to apply?
PhD students from India and France, and Master's students from France, who are under 30 years old as on 1st April of the call year, can apply provided they have approval from their institute. Indian PhD students in the 2nd or 3rd year can apply.
What scientific fields are covered?
The scheme covers Atmospheric, Earth, Environmental, Materials, Physical, Chemical, Engineering, Biological, Life and Medical, Mathematical and Computational, and Agricultural Sciences.
How much financial support will I receive?
Indian fellows receive 1710 Euros per month, while French fellows receive Rs 40,000 per month plus accommodation support of up to Rs 45,000 per month.
Are there extra benefits provided?
Yes, the scheme covers return airfare, medical and travel insurance, visa and registration costs, and support of up to 500 Euros for attending academic workshops.
How long can I stay on the fellowship?
The fellowship supports research visits of 2 to 5 months.
How can I apply?
You can apply by registering and filling out the details at the official CEFIPRA portal at mob.cefipra.org once the call opens. The next PhD call is expected around September 2026.
Are there other fellowship schemes for research students?
Yes. Students doing PhD in India can also check the Prime Minister Research Fellowship Scheme, and for a full list of education schemes, see the Central Government Schemes List 2026 for Students.