Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme

Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme (VAJRA) is open for applications throughout the year for overseas scientists, NRIs and OCIs who want to work as visiting faculty in public funded research institutions of India. Applications for the 2026 cycle are being accepted online on the ANRF portal, and the selection committee meets twice a year to pick the faculty.

Selected scientists get up to US$ 15,000 for the first month of residence and US$ 10,000 for each of the next two months. The assignment runs for one year and can be renewed, and the work covers modern fields like science, technology, energy, water and health.

Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme Overview

The scheme is made for overseas scientists, faculty members and R&D professionals, with a special focus on Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs). Selected people work as adjunct or visiting faculty in Indian public funded academic and research institutions for a fixed period, and help in co-guiding research students, technology development and innovation.

Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme is run by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which now works under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The whole application process happens online on the ANRF portal, so there is no need to visit any office.

The faculty has to stay in the host institution for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months every year. The initial assignment is for one year and it can be extended for more years based on the research output and the interest of both sides.

Key Information

Benefits

Selected VAJRA faculty members get financial support and a chance to work with top Indian research teams. Main benefits of the scheme are given below.

• Honorarium: US$ 15,000 in the first month of residence and US$ 10,000 for each of the next two months. For shorter assignments, the amount is paid on pro-rata basis.
• Residency support: Faculty can stay in India for 1 to 3 months every year and work with the host institution's research team.
• One year assignment: The position is offered for one year and can be renewed every year based on the committee's recommendation.
• Host support: The host institution may provide additional help like subsidised on-campus or nearby accommodation. There is no separate payment for travel, accommodation or medical insurance.

Eligibility

Anyone who matches the conditions given below can apply for the scheme through an Indian collaborator.

• Applicant should be an overseas scientist, faculty member or R&D professional, including NRIs and OCIs.
• Should be an active researcher working with a leading academic, research or industrial organisation with a proven record in research and development.
• The Indian collaborator should be a regular faculty member or researcher in a public funded academic or research institution with ongoing research in the same area.
• VAJRA faculty should have their own medical or personal insurance for the period of the visit in India.

Application Process

Applications for Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme are accepted throughout the year. The Indian lead collaborator has to apply online on the ANRF portal, so the overseas faculty does not need to come to India for the application.

STEP 1 - Find an Indian lead collaborator in a public funded institution and prepare a joint research plan with him or her.

STEP 2 - The lead collaborator should register on the official ANRF online portal and fill all the mandatory details in the profile section.

STEP 3 - If there are other Indian collaborators, make sure they are also registered on the portal with complete profiles.

STEP 4 - Go to the 'Form Submission' section, choose VAJRA as the scheme and fill in the online application form.

STEP 5 - Upload the required documents like the VAJRA faculty's CV, research proposal, endorsement certificate from the Indian institution and consent letter from the overseas faculty's institution.

STEP 6 - After submission, a confirmation link is sent to the overseas faculty member, and the application gets completed only after his or her acceptance.

STEP 7 - The selection committee reviews the applications twice a year, in January and July. Results are announced in April and September.

Documents

Keep these documents ready before starting the online application:

• Detailed CV of the overseas faculty with academic qualifications, research experience and relevant publications (file size up to 10 MB).
• Research proposal as per the official template.
• Certificate from the lead Indian collaborator.
• Endorsement letter from the Indian collaborator's institution.
• Consent letter from the institution where the VAJRA faculty works.

References

For the latest updates, visit the official VAJRA website at vajra-india.in, the ANRF scheme page at anrfonline.in/ANRF/vajra, the registration page at anrfonline.in/ANRF/Registration and the DST scheme page at dst.gov.in/vajra.

FAQ's

Is the VAJRA scheme still open in 2026?

Yes, the scheme is running and applications are accepted throughout the year on the ANRF online portal. The selection committee meets in January and July.

Which agency manages this scheme?

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) runs the scheme. It was started by the Department of Science and Technology in 2017.

Can researchers from private or NGO institutes apply?

The scheme is mainly for public funded academic and research institutions. The Indian collaborator should be a regular faculty member or researcher in a public funded institution.

How much honorarium does a VAJRA faculty get?

A VAJRA faculty member gets US$ 15,000 in the first month and US$ 10,000 for each of the next two months. For shorter assignments, payment is made on pro-rata basis.

Which research fields are eligible?

The scheme welcomes research in all frontier areas of science and technology, including energy, water, health, security, nutrition, materials and manufacturing.

Can an overseas faculty member apply for two institutions?

Multiple applications can be submitted, but a selected faculty member can hold only one VAJRA position at a time.

What is the minimum stay required in India?

The faculty has to stay in the host institution for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months every year. The assignment is initially for one year and can be renewed.

How are tax rules applied to the honorarium?

The honorarium is subject to the standard tax rules of the Government of India, and the payment is made in Indian Rupees.