National Post Doctoral Fellowship

National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) is a research fellowship run by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for young PhD, MD, and MS holders who want to build a research career in science and engineering. From 2026, the fellowship amount has been increased to ₹80,000 per month plus HRA, along with a research grant of ₹2 lakh per year for a total tenure of 2 years.

Applications for the 2026 cycle were open from 15 January 2026, and the last date was 20 February 2026. The next call for applications will be announced on the ANRF online portal at anrfonline.in and on serb.gov.in, so candidates who want to apply should keep checking the official website for the new dates.

National Post Doctoral Fellowship - Introduction

National Post Doctoral Fellowship is a scheme by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, made for young researchers who want to do independent research in frontier areas of science and engineering. Earlier, this fellowship was run by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), and now it is managed by ANRF. The scheme helps researchers work under a mentor and grow into independent research professionals.

The fellowship runs for a period of 2 years and can be done only in India, at any recognized academic institution, national laboratory, or other R&D institution. Selected fellows have to join the host institution within 3 months from the date of declaration of results. The host institution should provide the required administrative and infrastructural support.

Key Information

Benefits

Selected fellows get a monthly fellowship amount along with a research grant to carry out their research work:

The research grant can be used for minor equipment, consumables, contingencies, and domestic travel for workshops and conferences. There is no provision for hiring research staff under this scheme, so you have to carry out the research work yourself.

Fellows cannot take any other fellowship or salary from any government or non-government source during the tenure. If you need to stay away from the host institute for more than eight weeks, you must take prior consent from ANRF.

Leave is allowed as per the rules of the host institution. Work-related travel for scientific workshops is counted as duty, and female candidates can get maternity leave as per government guidelines.

Eligibility

To apply for National Post Doctoral Fellowship, you must meet the following conditions:

• You should be an Indian citizen with a PhD, MD, or MS degree from a recognized university. Candidates who have submitted their thesis and are waiting for the degree can also apply, but they get a lower fellowship amount till the degree is awarded.
• You must have published at least 2 papers by the time of submitting the application.
• Your age should be 35 years or less. SC, ST, OBC, physically challenged, and women candidates get 5 years of age relaxation.
• You can apply only within 5 years from the date of your PhD viva-voce, and this fellowship can be taken only once in your career.
• Your mentor should hold a regular academic or research position in a recognized institution in India and should have a PhD in science or engineering.
• You cannot work with your PhD guide or co-guide as mentor, and the fellowship cannot be done in the same department or institution where you earned your PhD degree.
• A mentor can guide a maximum of two N-PDF fellows at any given time.
• Candidates who have applied for regular research grants like PMECRG, ARG, or IRG in the past are not eligible for N-PDF.

Application Process

Applications are accepted only through the ANRF online portal, and only when the call for applications is open. The 2026 call was open from 15 January 2026 to 20 February 2026. The next call and its dates will be announced on the official website, so keep checking anrfonline.in and serb.gov.in for updates.

STEP 1 - Go to the official ANRF online portal at anrfonline.in and register yourself. If you already had an account on the old SERB portal, the same login details usually work on the new portal.

STEP 2 - Log in and fill all the mandatory fields in the profile section, including bio-data, photo, and institute address.

STEP 3 - Make sure your proposed mentor also registers on the same portal and updates their profile with the required details.

STEP 4 - Prepare your research proposal with the project title, summary, objectives, and expected outcome. Upload the work methodology and research plan as a single PDF file of not more than 3 pages (max 10 MB).

STEP 5 - Upload the required documents in the prescribed format and submit the application before the last date of the call.

Selection Process: An expert committee reviews all proposals. If needed, the committee may call you for a personal interview. Selected candidates get an email notification through the ANRF online portal and have to download the offer letter. Results generally take at least two months from the last date of submission.

Termination: If you want to leave the fellowship, you must inform ANRF through your mentor and host institute immediately. ANRF can also terminate the fellowship if the research progress is not satisfactory or the grant is not used properly.

For any queries related to the fellowship, you can use the contact numbers given on the official announcement page: +91-11-26562122/25/33/44, 26567373, and 26962819. The office is at Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110016.

Documents

The following documents are required to apply (in PDF format as per the prescribed format):

1. Updated bio-data
2. Age proof certificate
3. Qualification certificate (PhD, MD, or MS degree or thesis submission certificate)
4. Category certificate, if claiming age relaxation
5. Undertaking certificate by the applicant
6. Endorsement certificate from the mentor and host institute
7. Short CV of the mentor
8. Plagiarism undertaking
9. Proof of publications and documentary evidence of the PhD viva-voce date

References

• ANRF Official Website
• Guidelines and Online Application
• SERB Website
• N-PDF 2026 Call for Proposals
• India Science and Technology Portal

FAQ's

Who is eligible to apply for National Post Doctoral Fellowship?

Indian citizens holding a PhD, MD, or MS degree can apply, and candidates who have submitted their thesis and are waiting for the degree are also eligible. You must have published at least 2 papers by the time of application.

What is the fellowship amount for N-PDF 2026?

Selected fellows get ₹80,000 per month plus HRA. Candidates who have submitted their thesis but have not been awarded the degree yet get ₹50,000 per month plus HRA till the degree is awarded.

What is the upper age limit for this fellowship?

The maximum age limit is 35 years. SC, ST, OBC, physically challenged, and women applicants get a 5-year age relaxation. You also need to apply within 5 years of your PhD viva-voce.

Is the fellowship taxable?

Yes, the fellowship amount is taxable according to Government of India income tax rules.

Can I do my research at the same place where I completed my PhD?

No. The fellowship cannot be done in the same department or institution where you earned your PhD, and your PhD guide or co-guide cannot be your mentor.

When is the next application date?

The 2026 call was open from 15 January 2026 to 20 February 2026. The next call will be announced on the ANRF online portal at anrfonline.in and on serb.gov.in.

What are the other post-doctoral fellowship options in India?

Besides N-PDF, researchers can check schemes like the ICMR Centenary-Post Doctoral Fellowship and the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan UGC Post-Doctoral Fellowship on this website.

How can I receive the second year of funding?

You have to submit the annual progress report and the use certificate of funds through the ANRF online portal at the end of each financial year. The next instalment is released only after these documents are submitted.