ICAR-CIFE has launched the Institutional Fellowship for the 2026 academic session, offering monthly stipends to students enrolled in Master of Fisheries Science and Doctoral programmes across eleven specialised fisheries disciplines. The fellowship provides financial support of ₹5,040 per month for M.F.Sc students and ₹7,000 per month for Ph.D scholars, along with annual contingent grants for research expenses.
The 2026 admission cycle saw the National Testing Agency conduct the ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) entrance examinations in June-July 2026, with admit cards released in early July. A total of 77 seats are available for M.F.Sc across eleven disciplines, while 41 seats are open for Ph.D across twelve disciplines at the deemed university in Mumbai.
CIFE Institutional Fellowship - Overview
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, a deemed university since 1989 under the UGC Act, runs this fellowship to support full-time scholars pursuing advanced fisheries education. The scheme covers two separate fellowship tracks - the Institutional Fellowship funded by the institute itself, and the ICAR Junior Research Fellowship or Senior Research Fellowship awarded through the national entrance exam. Students receive monthly stipends directly through DBT, along with yearly contingent grants for books, chemicals, equipment, and fieldwork travel.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | CIFE Institutional Fellowship |
| Launched By | ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Beneficiaries | M.F.Sc and Ph.D students at ICAR-CIFE |
| M.F.Sc Monthly Stipend | ₹5,040 (Institutional) / ₹5,760 (ICAR JRF) |
| Ph.D Monthly Stipend | ₹7,000 (Institutional) / ₹7,000-₹5,600 (ICAR SRF) |
| Contingent Grant (Yearly) | ₹6,000 (M.F.Sc) / ₹10,000 (Ph.D) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | exams.nta.nic.in/icar/ |
Fellowship Benefits and Stipend Details
The financial support under this scheme varies based on the programme level and whether the student holds an ICAR fellowship or the institute's own Institutional Fellowship. The table below shows the current rates applicable for the 2026 session.
| Programme | Fellowship Type | Monthly Stipend | Contingent Grant (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.F.Sc (2 years) | Institutional Fellowship | ₹5,040 | ₹6,000 |
| M.F.Sc (2 years) | ICAR Junior Research Fellowship | ₹5,760 | ₹6,000 |
| Ph.D (3 years) | Institutional Fellowship | ₹7,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Ph.D (3 years) | ICAR Senior Research Fellowship | ₹7,000 (Years 1-2), ₹5,600 (Year 3) | ₹10,000 |
From the contingent grant, students can utilise up to ₹2,500 in the first year for purchasing books and another ₹2,500 for thesis preparation. The remaining amount must be used for research-related expenses such as chemicals, equipment, and travel for data collection. Continuation of the fellowship after the first year depends on maintaining the required OGPA as per academic guidelines. The ICAR JRF is awarded only to candidates who join an institute different from where they completed their Bachelor's degree.
Who Can Apply - Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility differs for the two programme levels. For M.F.Sc admission, candidates must hold a Bachelor of Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc) degree under the 10+2+4 system with at least 60% marks or an OGPA of 6.50 out of 10.00. For SC/ST candidates, the requirement is relaxed to 55% marks or OGPA 6.00/10.00. The minimum age is 19 years as on 31st July of the admission year.
For Ph.D admission, candidates need an M.F.Sc or M.Sc degree in a relevant fisheries discipline with an OGPA of 7.50/10.00 for General/OBC categories and 7.00/10.00 for SC/ST candidates. Those holding a D.F.Sc from CIFE are also eligible provided they have a Bachelor's degree in biological science and at least two years of fisheries development experience. Sponsored candidates with M.Sc in Fish and Fisheries plus two years of relevant experience can also apply. The minimum age for Ph.D is 22 years as on 31st July. Foreign nationals are exempt from entrance tests and interviews - their admission is based on bio-data review and recommendation by the concerned Head of Discipline.
Seat Availability for 2026 Session
The Academic Council has approved the following seat distribution for the 2026 academic session. Five additional seats per year in M.F.Sc are reserved for in-service candidates from state fisheries departments, over and above the regular ICAR-allotted seats.
| Programme | Total Seats | Disciplines |
|---|---|---|
| M.F.Sc | 77 | 11 disciplines including Aquaculture (10), Fisheries Resource Management (8), Aquatic Animal Health Management (8), Fisheries Extension (8), Post Harvest Technology (7), Fish Genetics & Breeding (6), Fish Biotechnology (6), Fish Nutrition & Feed Technology (6), Fish Physiology & Biochemistry (6), Fisheries Economics (6), Aquatic Environmental Management (6) |
| Ph.D | 41 | 12 disciplines including Aquaculture (9), Fisheries Resource Management (6), Aquatic Animal Health Management (4), Post Harvest Technology (4), Fish Genetics (3), Fish Biotechnology (3), Fish Nutrition & Feed Technology (3), Fish Physiology & Biochemistry (2), Fisheries Economics (2), Fisheries Extension (2), Aquatic Environmental Management (3) |
Application Process
STEP 1 - Visit the official NTA ICAR portal at exams.nta.nic.in/icar/ when applications open, typically in May each year. The portal hosts separate registration links for AIEEA (PG) for M.F.Sc and AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) for doctoral admissions.
STEP 2 - Register using a valid email ID and mobile number to generate login credentials. Fill the online application form with personal details, academic qualifications, category, and choice of discipline. Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, and thumb impression as per the specified format and size limits.
STEP 3 - Pay the application fee online through net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI. The fee varies by category - General/OBC candidates pay a higher amount while SC/ST/PwD candidates get a concession. After successful payment, download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
STEP 4 - When the correction window opens (usually a few days after the last date), log in to make any necessary corrections to the submitted form. No corrections are allowed after this window closes.
STEP 5 - Download the admit card from the portal when released (typically in June). The admit card contains exam date, time, centre address, and important instructions. Carry a printed copy along with a valid photo ID to the examination centre.
STEP 6 - Appear for the computer-based test. For M.F.Sc, the combined exam covers subject knowledge for both JRF award and admission. For Ph.D, the written test carries 70% weightage, academic record 20%, and interview 10%. Results and rank lists are published on the portal.
STEP 7 - Qualified candidates participate in the online counseling process for seat allocation. During counseling, candidates choose their preferred discipline and institute based on their rank and seat availability. Final admission is confirmed after document verification at the allotted institute.
Documents Required
For the online application, candidates need to upload scanned images of their recent passport-sized photograph, signature, and left thumb impression. No certificates or marksheets need to be uploaded at the application stage. However, the following documents are required during the counseling and admission verification process:
- Proof of date of birth (Class 10 certificate or equivalent)
- Class 12 marksheet and certificate
- Bachelor's degree certificate and all semester marksheets
- Master's degree certificate and marksheets (for Ph.D applicants)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) in the prescribed format, issued within six months of application
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Sponsorship certificate for in-service candidates (for M.F.Sc state department quota)
- Migration certificate and character certificate from last institution attended
Selection Procedure
For M.F.Sc, a combined entrance examination is conducted by NTA on behalf of ICAR. The exam covers subject-specific knowledge in fisheries science. Candidates are selected for both ICAR JRF award and admission to 100% seats at CIFE and other agricultural universities based on merit in this exam followed by centralized counseling.
For Ph.D, the selection process involves a written test conducted by NTA (70% weightage), evaluation of academic records (20% weightage), and a personal interview (10% weightage). The written test assesses subject knowledge in the chosen discipline. Since 2020, NTA has been organizing these national-level Ph.D entrance tests. Foreign students are admitted based on scrutiny of their bio-data and recommendation by the Head of the concerned discipline, without any written test or interview.
Reservations apply as per government norms - 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, and 27% for OBC candidates. Two seats each are reserved for physically handicapped candidates and Kashmiri migrants. SC/ST seats are interchangeable within the same discipline if sufficient candidates are not available in one category.
References
ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) Official Portal | CIFE Admission Details and Seat Matrix | ICAR-CIFE Official Website
FAQ's
Is there any provision for direct admission without qualifying the entrance exam?
No. There is no provision for direct nomination. All candidates must qualify in AIEEA (PG) for M.F.Sc or AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) to be considered for admission.
What is the mode of application for the fellowship?
Applications can only be submitted online through the official NTA portal at exams.nta.nic.in/icar/. Offline or physical application forms are not accepted.
Can I submit more than one application form?
No. Only one application is allowed per candidate for each examination. Multiple submissions will lead to rejection.
Can I make corrections after submitting the application?
A correction window is opened for a few days after the last date of application. You can log in during this period to make changes. No corrections are allowed once the window closes.
Where can I find the official website to apply?
Visit exams.nta.nic.in/icar/ for all application-related activities including registration, admit card download, and result checking.
What documents are needed for the online application?
You need to upload scanned images of your recent passport-sized photograph, signature, and left thumb impression. No other documents are required at the application stage.
What is the fellowship amount for M.F.Sc students?
M.F.Sc students receive ₹5,040 per month under the Institutional Fellowship for two years, with a contingent grant of ₹6,000 per year. Those awarded ICAR JRF get ₹5,760 per month with the same contingent grant.
What is the fellowship amount for Ph.D scholars?
Ph.D scholars receive ₹7,000 per month for three years under the Institutional Fellowship, with a contingent grant of ₹10,000 per year. ICAR SRF holders get ₹7,000 per month for the first two years and ₹5,600 in the third year, with the same contingent grant.
When are the entrance exams usually held?
The ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) exams are typically conducted in June each year. For the 2026 session, exams were held in June-July 2026 with admit cards released in early July.
Are there any age limits for applying?
Yes. For M.F.Sc, the minimum age is 19 years as on 31st July of the admission year. For Ph.D, the minimum age is 22 years as on 31st July. There is no upper age limit specified.