Position Summary
Position:
Institute:
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
Country:
India
Posted Date:
Jan 01, 2026
Submission Start:
Jan 15, 2026
Submission Deadline:
Feb 17, 2026
Offer Period:
2 Years
National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF)
Overview:
The ANRF-National Post Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) is aimed to identify motivated young researchers and provide them support for doing research in frontier areas of science and engineering. The fellows will work under a mentor, and it is hoped that this training will provide them a platform to develop as an independent researcher.
Eligibility:
- The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
- The applicant must have obtained Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University. Those who have submitted their PhD/M.D/M.S thesis and are awaiting award of the degree are also eligible to apply.
- However, such candidates, if selected, will be offered lower fellowship amount till they qualify the eligible degree.
- The upper age limit for the fellowship is 35 years at the time of the submission of application, age will be calculated by taking the date of closure of the respective call. Age relaxation of 5 (five) years will be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged & Women candidates.
- NPDF can be availed only once by a candidate in his/her career.
- Mentor must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized institution in India. Should hold Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering.
- A mentor shall not have more than two ANRF NPDF fellows at any given time.
- Applicants of NPDF, SRG and EMR can submit their proposal only once in a calendar year in any of these schemes.
Employment Conditions and Benefits:
Contract duration:
- The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized academic institutions, national laboratories and other recognized R & D institutions. The host institution should provide necessary administrative and infrastructural support.
- The fellows will not be allowed to work with the PhD guide/co-guide. It is also normally not availed at the same Department / institution where the candidates have earned their PhD/M.S/M.D degree.
- The fellowship is purely a temporary assignment, and is tenable for a period of 2 years.
- Research grant can be used for minor equipment, consumables, contingencies and domestic travel. There is no provision for providing research personnel support under this scheme.
- The Fellow is expected to undertake the research objectives by himself/herself during the entire duration of the fellowship.
- The fellows are not eligible to receive any other fellowship from any Government or Non-Governmental source during the tenure of the fellowship.
- The fellows must seek the consent of ANRF if he/she intends to be away from the implementing institute (except for field work related to the project) continuously for a period more than eight weeks.
Benefits:
Not Available
Application Process:
Documents Required:
- Bio-data (under user profile section)
- Age Proof Certificate
- Qualification Certificate
- Category Certificate (in case of Age Relaxation)
- Undertaking Certificate by the applicant
- Endorsement Certificate from the Mentor & Host Institute
- Short CV of the mentor (see online portal for its format)
- CV of Mentor
- Plagiarism undertaking
How to apply:
- For successful online submission of the application the following points may be noted:Applicants should first register into the online website.
- After log-in, applicants are required to fill all the mandatory fields in Profile Detail section under User Profile. which includes Bio-data, Photo, Institute Address etc.
- Please ensure that your proposed Mentor is registered into the system by following the same procedure. After log-in, Mentor is required to fill all the mandatory fields in Profile Detail section under User Profile. which includes Bio-data, Photo, Institute Address etc.
- Details including Project Title (max 500 characters), Project summary (max 3000 characters), Keywords (max 6), Objectives of project (max 1500 characters), Expected output and outcome of the proposal (max 1500 characters) should be provided online at the time of submission of the application.
- Work Methodology and Research plan has to be uploaded in single PDF file not more than 3 pages (max 10 MB).
- For details one may visit http://anrfonline.in/ANRF/npdf
- Please ensure that your proposed Mentor is registered into the system by following the same procedure as PI. After log-in, Mentor is required to fill all the mandatory fields in Profile Detail section under User Profile. which includes Bio-data, Photo, Institute Address etc.
About the Host Institution:
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) - established through an Act of Parliament: ANRF Act, 2023, to provide high-level strategic directions for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences, including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences. ANRF has been established to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, and R&D laboratories. ANRF acts as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy. ANRF forges collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions.
Explore Other Fellowships:
You may also be interested in the following postdoctoral research positions. These opportunities are currently open at universities and research institutes worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a research fellowship?
A research fellowship is a funded position that supports researchers, scholars, or students to carry out independent or supervised research at a university, institute, or research organization for a fixed duration.
Who can apply for research fellowships?
Eligibility depends on the fellowship scheme. Applicants may include undergraduate students, master’s students, PhD scholars, postdoctoral researchers, or early-career faculty, depending on the program requirements.
What types of fellowships are available?
Fellowships can include PhD fellowships, postdoctoral fellowships, international mobility fellowships, industry-linked fellowships, and short-term research fellowships offered by governments, funding agencies, universities, and foundations.
Are fellowships salaried positions?
Most fellowships provide a monthly stipend or fellowship amount, along with additional benefits such as research grants, travel allowances, contingency funds, or housing support, depending on the program.
What is the typical duration of a fellowship?
Fellowship durations vary widely, ranging from a few months to several years. PhD fellowships often last 3–5 years, while postdoctoral and international fellowships usually range from 6 months to 2–3 years.
Can international candidates apply for fellowships?
Yes. Many fellowship programs are open to international applicants, especially global mobility fellowships, bilateral exchange programs, and international postdoctoral fellowships.
Do fellowships require a host institution or supervisor?
Most research fellowships require applicants to secure a host institution and supervisor before applying. Some programs allow applications first and matching with a host later.
Disclaimer:
This fellowship is published for informational purposes. Please refer to the official application link for the most accurate and up-to-date details.