Long Term Fellowship under the Human Resource Development Programme for Health Research

Department of Health Research (DHR) under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released amended guidelines for Long Term Fellowship under the Human Resource Development Programme for Health Research in 2026. This fellowship gives advanced training opportunities in India and abroad for medical and health research professionals to improve their skills in modern healthcare fields. The scheme is designed for medical faculty and researchers, offering financial support, stipends, and research grants to help them work on important health problems and grow their professional careers.

DHR announced the Call for Research Proposals for 2026-27 under the HRD Scheme with several new additions including the Young Medical Faculty PhD Program. The scheme continues to support medical personnel by offering advanced training in India and abroad. It creates a skilled workforce capable of doing high-level research by upgrading the skills of medical students and faculty. Whether you are a researcher aiming to work on national health issues or a professional looking to improve your expertise at leading institutions, this scheme provides the required support.

Long Term Fellowship under Human Resource Development Programme for Health Research

This scheme focuses on developing a pool of experts by providing targeted fellowships. It encourages professionals to build multidisciplinary teams that can solve complex local and national health problems. It specifically targets young medical doctors and faculty members who want to make medical research their main career path.

Types of Long Term Fellowships

The scheme offers three types of long term training options for medical professionals:

• Long Term Training at Indian Institutions (6 to 12 months): Available for regular faculty members who have at least three years of experience. Training happens at a host institute which may be at a different station or the same station as the parent institute.
• Long Term Fellowships for Training Abroad (6 to 12 months): For regular faculty members who want training in identified priority health research areas at foreign institutes. This helps researchers get exposure to international standards and latest methods.
• Long Term Training for Medical College Faculty (6 to 12 months): For faculty members working on other approved DHR schemes who want to expand their research skills through additional training.

Main Aims

The scheme has three main goals that guide its work:

• Increase trained health researchers: Provide fellowships for dynamic medical professionals to build a strong base of skilled researchers across the country.
• Create specialised research teams: Build a dedicated group of researchers in fields like Clinical Trials, Toxicology, Genomics, Proteomics, Modern Biology, Biotechnology, Gene Therapy, and Clinical Psychology or Mental Health.
• Encourage collaboration: Support partnerships between medical colleges, universities, and research institutes to work on important health goals and find solutions to national health problems.

Areas of Research

The fellowship covers a wide range of research fields. These include Toxicology, Genomics, Proteomics, Geriatrics, Stem cell research, Clinical Trials, Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA), Modern Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Drug Chemistry, Operational Research, Health Informatics, Medical Ethics, Disease Modelling, Health Economics, Environmental Health, Mental Health or Clinical Psychology. Any other area recommended by the national committee is also considered.

Benefits and Stipend Details

The scheme provides good financial support to selected fellows. The amount depends on where the training takes place and other factors.

For Indian Institute Fellowships:

• Different Station: Monthly stipend of ₹40,000 plus a one-time contingency grant of up to ₹30,000 for local expenses and ₹20,000 for attending review meetings at DHR. Travel expenses are reimbursed as per the parent organisation rules.
• Same Station: Monthly stipend of ₹20,000 plus a one-time contingency grant of up to ₹30,000 and ₹20,000 for review meetings.

For Foreign Institute Fellowships:

• Monthly Stipend: US $3,000 per month (or equivalent in local currency) for the full duration abroad.
• Airfare: Economy class air travel from parent institute to the foreign host institute via Air India by the shortest route.
• Contingency Grant: One-time grant of up to ₹50,000 for local transport, visa fees, health insurance, and other expenses plus ₹20,000 for review meetings at DHR.
• Conference Support: Additional grant of US $600 for up to 6 months or US $1,200 for 6-12 months for attending conferences with the host guide recommendation.

Who Can Apply

To apply for this fellowship, you need to meet these conditions:

1. You must be an Indian citizen currently working in an Indian institute.
2. You should hold an M.D., M.S., M.D.S., MBBS, BDS, MVSc., M.Sc., M.Pharma, or M.Tech degree, or have a Ph.D. in a relevant health research topic.
3. You must have at least three years of experience as a regular faculty member.
4. Your age should be below 45 years as of the application deadline.
5. You should not have received a government fellowship of one month or longer for the same research subject before.

Application Process

You need to submit your application through the online e-PMS portal. Here are the steps to follow:

STEP 1 - Go to the official e-PMS portal at schemes.dhr.gov.in and click on the registration link if you are a new user.

STEP 2 - Register yourself by filling in your basic details on the registration page. After registration, log in to your account.

STEP 3 - Check your email and click on the verification link sent to you. This will activate your account. Then log in again on the portal.

STEP 4 - Complete your profile by filling in all required details in the PI or Fellow Profile section.

STEP 5 - Click on Proposal Submission, then Submit New Proposal, and select the appropriate sub-scheme under HRD. Choose the Long Term Fellowship option.

STEP 6 - Upload your research plan, all required documents, and submit the proposal. Make sure to read the scheme guidelines before submitting.

Documents Required

Keep these documents ready before starting your application:

• Identity proof and passport-size photograph.
• Academic qualification certificates (degrees, mark sheets).
• Caste or disability certificate if applicable.
• Detailed research proposal, undertaking form, and mentor consent letter.
• Certificate from the Head of Institute and DSIR recognition.
• Mandate form from your organisation to help with payment processing.

You can find templates for these documents on the official HRD guidelines page.

2026 Updates

DHR has released amended guidelines for the HRD Scheme effective from 1 January 2026. The Call for Research Proposals for 2026-27 was announced with the last date of 30 May 2026, later extended to 15 June 2026 for most components. The Short-Term and Long-Term Fellowship Abroad call for 2026-27 had a deadline of 30 June 2026. A new Young Medical Faculty PhD Program 2026-27 was also introduced with the last date extended to 14 July 2026. For the latest updates, check the official e-PMS portal regularly.

Contact Details

For scheme related queries, contact Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi at Telephone: 011-23736216. For website or online submission related queries, contact the Technical Team at ICMR Headquarters, New Delhi at Telephone: 011-26589571 or email: epms.dhr@icmr.gov.in.

References

Official HRD Guidelines Page | Download Amended Guidelines 2026 | Application Portal (e-PMS)

FAQ's

What is the aim of this programme?

The aim is to give advanced training in India and abroad to medical personnel. This helps create a highly trained workforce for modern health research in priority areas.

Who can apply for this scheme?

Indian citizens with degrees like M.D., M.S., M.D.S., MBBS, or Ph.D. in relevant fields can apply. You also need to be a regular faculty member with at least three years of experience.

What is the maximum age limit?

You should be under 45 years of age as of the last date of application for long term fellowships.

How much stipend will I get?

Stipend depends on the training location. For Indian institutes at a different station, you get ₹40,000 per month. For same station training, you get ₹20,000 per month. For international training, you receive US $3,000 per month plus airfare and other benefits.

How do I submit my application?

You need to submit your proposals online through the e-PMS portal at schemes.dhr.gov.in. No physical copies are accepted.

Has the scheme been updated for 2026?

Yes. DHR has released amended guidelines effective from 1 January 2026. The Call for Proposals for 2026-27 has been announced with new components like the Young Medical Faculty PhD Program. Check the official portal for the latest updates.