CSIR NET JRF Guidelines
CSIR NET JRF Guidelines
CSIR NET JRF Guidelines
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1. GENERAL
a) The EMR Division under HRD Group of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) provide CSIR Research Fellowships
and Associateships to bright young men and women for training in methods of research under the expert guidance of faculty
members/scientists working in University Departments/Institutes of National Importance/National Laboratories and Institutes of
CSIR in various fields of Science & Technology and Medical Sciences. List of CSIR Laboratories is at Annexure-I.
b) The CSIR Fellowships/Associateships are tenable in Universities/IITs/Post-Graduate Colleges/ Government Research
Establishments including those of CSIR, R&D establishments of recognized public or private sector, industrial firms and other
recognized institutions. However, CSIR reserves the right to determine the place best suited to provide necessary facilities in the
area of science and technology in which the awardee is to specialize.
c) The CSIR Fellowships / Associatships are tenable in India. Only bonafide Indian citizens, residing in India are eligible for the award
of research Fellowship/Associateships. The programme is aimed at National Human Resource Development for S&T.
d) The award of CSIR Fellowship / Associateships is for fixed tenure and does not imply any assurance or guarantee for subsequent
employment by CSIR to the beneficiary. The authority to award/ terminate vests with CSIR. The awardee shall not lay claim to
permanent absorption in CSIR, after the expiry of Fellowship / Associateship.
2. SUBJECT OF RESEARCH
Preference is given to a subject / topic of research relevant to the research programme of CSIR laboratories and nationally
important S&T areas.
A large number of JRFs are awarded each year by CSIR. to candidates holding BS-4 years program/BE/B. Tech/B. Pharma/MBBS/
Integrated BS-MS/M.Sc. or Equivalent degree/BSc (Hons) or equivalent degree holders or students enrolled in integrated MS-
Ph.D program with at least 55% marks for General & OBC (50% for SC/ST candidates, Physically and Visually handicapped
candidates) after qualifying the National Eligibility Test ( NET) conducted by CSIR twice a year June and December.
Candidates with bachelor’s degree, whether Science, engineering or any other discipline, will be eligible for fellowship only after
getting registered/enrolled for Ph.D/integrated Ph.D. programme within the validity period of two years.
Candidate enrolled for M.Sc. or having completed 10+2+3 years of the above qualifying examination are also eligible to apply in the
above subject under the Result Awaited (RA) category.
4. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
On-line applications for JRF-NET are invited twice a year on all India basis through press advertisement. The information with
respect to inviting applications is also made available on HRDG website : www.csirhrdg.res.in.
5. AGE LIMIT
The upper age limit for applying for the award of JRF shall be 28 years, which is relaxed upto 5 years in the case of candidates
belonging to Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes/, Physically Handicapped/Visually Handicapped and female applicants whereas 3
years in case of OBCs (Non-creamy layer candidates).
6. SELECTION PROCEDURE
The Selection for award of JRF shall be made on the basis of a competitive written test called the National Eligibility Test (NET),
conducted by CSIR at national level twice a year in the following areas (1) Chemical Sciences (2) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and
Planetary Sciences (3) Life Sciences, (4) Mathematical Sciences, and (5) Physical Sciences. From June 2011, CSIR has introduced a
Single MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) Paper based test comprising of three parts. Part-A shall be common to all subjects
comprising question on General Science and Research Aptitude. Part-B shall contain subject-related conventional MCQ and Part-C
shall contain higher value questions that may test the candidate’s knowledge of scientific concepts and/or application of the
scientific concepts. Negative marking for wrong answers shall be done.
The candidates who qualify the test are informed individually. The Fellowship is awarded on receipt of necessary details of the
qualifying degree examination, proposed place of research work, research topic, the name of supervisor and the concurrence of the
Institution to provide all the necessary facilities. The validity of the offer of the JRF award is two years and will not be extendable.
Application Format of the Undertaking by a a Research Fellow /Associates on Acceptance of the Award of Research Research
Fellowship/ Associateship
Candidates with bachelor’s degree, whether Science, engineering or any other discipline, will be eligible for fellowship only after
getting registered/enrolled for Ph.D/Integrated Ph.D. programme (Ph.D proforma Download from here) within the validity
period of two years.
CSIR Junior Research Fellows should register for PhD within a period of two year (Ph.D proforma Download from here) from the
date of joining their fellowship, failing which the fellowship may be terminated. In exceptional circumstances, CSIR may consider
giving extension for an additional period of one year. During the extended period, the Junior Research Fellowship will, however,
not be upgraded to Senior Research Fellowship. If at the end of 3rd year also, the fellow is not registered for PhD, the fellowship
will be terminated.
(c) The Fellowship shall stand terminated from the date of PhD viva-voce or from the date the Fellow resigns and his/her
resignation has been accepted by CSIR or on completion of tenure. The fellowship may also be terminated if the institution where it
is tenable refuses to provide facilities to the fellow on disciplinary grounds and so informs CSIR.
(a) The stipend of a JRF selected through CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) will be Rs 31,000/ p.m for the first two years. In
addition, annual contingent grant of Rs. 20,000/- per fellow will be provided to the University / Institution. The guidelines for
utilization of contingent grant are given in (Annexure- II)
(b) SRF-NET: On Completion of two years as JRF and if the fellow is registered for PhD, the fellowship will be upgraded to SRF
(NET) and the stipend will be increased to Rs. 35,000/- p.m for the 3rd and subsequent years, on the basis of assessment of Fellows’
research progress/ achievements through interview by an Expert Committee consisting of the Guide, Head of the Department and
External Member from outside the University/ Institution who is an expert in the relevant field, not below the rank of Professor/
Associate Professor. As far as possible the External Member should be the chairman of three members Committee. Where the
guide happens to be the Head of the Department, the Dean, Faculty of Science or any senior member of the Department may be
associated as the third member of the Committee (Annexure-III)and (Annexure-IV). In the event of the Committee not
recommending upgradation or the fellow has not registered for PhD, the candidate will continue as JRF with a stipend of Rs
31,000/- p.m for the 3rd year or his/her fellowship may be terminated depending upon the recommendation of the Committee and
the decision of CSIR in this regard will be final. The progress of research work of JRF will be assessed by duly constituted three
member assessment committee again at the end of 3rd year for such upgradation.
(c) It is expected that Fellows will have published work to their credit by the end of 3rd year. This shall form an important
quantitative and qualitative criterion for judging the progress made by the candidate. If the work of JRF is still not found
satisfactory for upgradation by the Committee or did not registered for PhD, the fellowship will be terminated. Further, if the
progress is not satisfactory on completion of any sanctioned tenure, the fellowship will be terminated. Extension of tenure for the
4th year of SRF (NET) will be on the basis of the progress report (Annexure-IV) and recommendation of the guide. The 5th year
extension as SRF(NET) is permissible on the recommendation of a three member assessment Committee and progress report duly
supported by publications in the form of reprints/preprints/manuscripts of the paper published, accepted or communicated for
publication (Annexure-IV)and (Annexure-V).Noncompliance of CSIR norms for submission of annual progress report along with
other requisite documents within six months after completion of yearly tenure may result in termination of
fellowship/associateship.
(d) The total tenure as JRF plus SRF(NET) will not exceed five years. This will include the tenure of Fellowship awarded by
UGC/DST/DBT/ICMR/ICAR etc or any other funding agency/Institution. The order for continuation at the same rate of stipend
as SRF(NET), continuation at the same rate of stipend as JRF or otherwise will be issued by the EMR Division of HRDG, CSIR.
Extension may not also be granted if the fellow does not acknowledge the support of CSIR in his/her research publication(s).
(e) A Research Fellow who joins on the first day of the month, his/her tenure will be completed on the last day of the previous
month. In other cases the tenure will be completed on the last day of the same month of joining the Fellowship.
(a) The Fellowship will be awarded to the selected applicants by a formal letter giving details of the grant and the conditions
governing it, under intimation to the University/Institution, which forwarded their applications. The tenability f NET certificate is
two years from the effective date of fellowship and a NET qualified JRF-NET should avail the fellowship within two years i.e. within
the validity period of JRF-NET certificate. The fellowship grant money is payable on monthly basis through Direct Benefit Transfer
(DBT) mode whereas the annual contingency will be paid to the host institute of the research fellow (Annexure-VIa for Annual
Contingency) and (Annexure-VIb for monthly Fellowship) duly signed by the Finance Officer/Registrar/Head of the Institution.
(b) The first payment (fellowship stipend) will be made after the receipt of the joining report of the fellow along with other
necessary documents (such as Birth Certificate, Caste Certificate, Graduate & Postgraduate Marksheets, Integrated-PhD/PhD
enrolment/registration, JRF-NET Certificate etc.) through the Guide duly forwarded by the Executive Authority of the institute in
whose favour the contingency grant is to be released. Subsequent monthly stipend will be made on receipt of duly signed bills
(Annexure-VIb) along with the attendance records. The annual contingency payments will be made only after receipt of (a) the
progress report of the Research Fellow in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-IV) for the period ending 31 March and previous one
year report, (b) utilization certificate (Annexure-VII), and statement of receipt and payment (statement of accounts) (Annexure-
VIII) incurred during the financial year ending 31 March, along with the claim bill for the next financial year from the concerned
institution. The unspent amount of earlier payments and Interest Earned by Institutions/Universities on Grants released by CSIR
for fellowships has to be refunded to CSIR at the end of a financial year or has to be adjusted while submitting/making the fresh
claims for payment. The accounts should be maintained on ledger type system by the grantee Institution for the Research
Fellow (Annexure-IX). The university/Institution shall be responsible for proper utilization of grant and for rendering the account to
the CSIR-HRD Group.
(a) An annual contingent grant of Rs.20,000/- per fellow is provided to the University/Institution. For less than one year, the
contingent grant will be admissible on pro-rata basis. Part of this grant may be utilized in the interest of research work, purchase of
books, etc. The unspent balance of contingency grant at the end of a year may be carried forward to the next year, however, the next
release of contingency grant will be subject to adjustment of unspent balance of contingency grant of the previous year thereby
restricting contingency expenditure to a maximum of Rs 20,000/- in a year. Further, request (claim) for release of contingency
grant of the previous financial year(s) will not be entertained. The guidelines for utilization of the contingent grant are given in
(Annexure-II).
(b) The CSIR Research Fellows will be given Rs.3,000/- (lump sum) extra on submission of PhD thesis in e-form. For
details, Head, CSIR’s Unit for R&D of Information Products (URDIP), ‘JOPASANA’, 85/1, Paud Road (Near Vanaz Engineering
Company), Kothrud, Pune -411 038, Maharashtra, may be contacted. The website address of URDIP is www.urdip.res.in.
(c) The University/Institution has to submit the consolidated Utilization Certificate (Annexure-VII) and Statement of
Expenditure (Annexure-VIII) at the end of each Financial Year failing which grant-in-aid payable for next year will not be
released.
The preparation of annual progress report on the research work done shall be essential part of the Fellow’s work. Each Research
Fellow shall submit his/her annual research report in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-IV) within a period of 15 days after
completion of one year tenure to CSIR (HRD Group) through his/her Guide/Head of the Department. It is essential to give up to-
date and full information against all the columns of (Annexure-IV). The results should be presented quantitatively in Tables/Figures
and discussed in terms of the objectives and conclusions drawn should also be given. Fragmentary reports shall not be
entertained. The progress report should be always accompanied by copies of published papers, re-prints and pre-prints of papers
accepted for publication, manuscripts of papers communicated for publication duly acknowledging financial assistance of
CSIR. Noncompliance of CSIR norms for submission of annual progress report along with other requisite documents within six
months after completion of yearly tenure may result in termination of fellowship/associateship. Attendance record must
accompany the annual report. The Guide/Head of Department shall bring out in his/her assessment report the share of originality
and initiative of the fellow in carrying out the research work. If thesis is submitted for higher degree, this may be reported by the
guide of the department to CSIR and the result when announced.
12. PUBLICATION/PATENT
(a) Publication: The results of Fellow's research work may be published in standard refereed journals at the discretion of the Guide.
IT SHOULD BE ENSURED THAT THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY CSIR is ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED IN ALL SUCH
PUBLICATIONS. One copy of the published research papers should be sent to CSIR.
(b) Patent: The commercial exploitation of the results and ownership of patent rights pertaining to investigations concerning the
intellectual work of the CSIR research fellows/associates will be as follows: (i) Public funded educational/research institution, to
which a fellow is associated, may seek patent right at their own cost and/or commercial exploitation of the results of the
investigation concerning the Intellectual work of the fellow and all rights would vest exclusively with the Institution concerned. All
matters concerning ownership of IP and its licensing/exploitation would be governed by the IP policy of the concerned institutions.
(ii) In case an institution, to which a fellow is associated, is not in a position to seek patent rights and/or commercial exploitation of
the results of the investigation concerning the intellectual work of the fellow, CSIR at its own cost may seek the patent rights and/or
commercial exploitation of the results of the intellectual work of the fellow and all rights would vest exclusively with CSIR. (Issued
vide CSIR OM NO. F.No. 6/IPR/2011/EMR-I dated 29th July 2011)
a) He/She has to be a full time researcher and submit himself/herself to the disciplinary regulations of the University/ Institute/
Laboratory where he/she is working. Regular attendance of the fellow may be ensured by the department by keeping an attendance
register.
b) In case a fellow decides to appear for competitive examination, he/she would invariably seek permission from the guide and
inform CSIR about it.
c) The Research Fellow is not to take any assignment other than related to his/her approved research programme, paid or unpaid.
However, if required, the fellow may assist the host institute in its academic work/other activities, as per guidelines of its
PhD programme, provided such assignments should not hamper the progress of research work of the fellow.
d) Once a Research Fellow accepts the Fellowship and joins, it is incumbent on him/her to continue the research for the normal
tenure of the fellowship or for such lesser duration in which the original objectives of the research problem have been achieved.
e) No Fellow shall discontinue his/her Fellowship without prior approval of CSIR. In case he/she wishes to discontinue the
fellowship prior to completion of the tenure on attainment of original objectives of research, he/she must submit the resignation to
CSIR through the Guide one month in advance, indicating specific reasons for not continuing the Fellowship. The Fellowship shall
cease from the date stipulated in the CSIR letter approving the resignation.
f) The research Fellow must send a detailed consolidated report of the research work done during the entire period of Fellowship on
completion of the tenure/resignation of the Fellowship through the Guide to CSIR, in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-X), within
one month.
g) During the tenure of the Fellowship, the Fellow shall correspond with CSIR only through the Guide with the approval of the Head
of the Institution.
h) The Research Fellow shall keep CSIR informed about his/her getting the higher degree, submission of thesis for Ph.D., MD, MDS,
MS, MPhil, ME etc. and submission/acceptance/publication of any research paper arising out of the research work done during the
tenure of the fellowship. He/She must acknowledge the support of CSIR in the publication(s). One copy each of all the research
papers published must be sent to CSIR at each stage of publication/ manuscript/reprint.
A Research Fellow on the recommendation of Guide, and provided that his/her University/ Institute has no objection, may be
permitted by CSIR to take up temporary paid lectureship/research job in a recognized R&D Institution/University, College/Institute
of repute/Recognized R & D Institution/ PDF studies in India & abroad for a period not exceeding one year during the entire tenure
of the Fellowship (JRF & SRF together). The Research Fellow will not be entitled to any extension of the Fellowship for such periods.
The Fellow will not be entitled to stipend and contingency grant during such leave. Such leave period will be counted in the tenure.
Such leave can be taken only after joining and working as Research Scholar at least for one year. Fellow has to report for duty at the
same place from where he proceeded on leave.
15. LEAVE
a) Leave with stipend not exceeding 30 days for each completed year of tenure may be allowed by the Guide after the request has
been communicated to CSIR. The leave will be treated as part of the Fellow’s tenure. The leave due can be carried over to the next
year, however not more than 90 days can be accumulated at any time during the tenure. Of this not more than 30 days can be
availed in a calendar year with stipend and beyond that any leave will be treated as “Leave Without Stipend”. During the first year of
Fellowship or any uncompleted year, leave may be granted on pro-rata basis. Sanction of leave without stipend may be considered
by CSIR under special circumstances. In case a Fellow proceeds on leave before expiry of Fellowship tenure, he/she must join back
before the expiry of tenure; failing which the tenure will be deemed to have terminated with effect from the date he/she proceeded
on leave. The fact of joining back from leave should be communicated to CSIR immediately. As the CSIR releases the grant in
advance, therefore, the amount on account of “Leave Without Stipend” has to be refunded to CSIR at the end of a financial year or
adjusted against the fresh claim, if any.
b) The Guide can grant leave to a Fellow in his/her charge with the concurrence of the Head of the Institution/Department if the
leave is due as prescribed in para 15(a) above. If leave is not due, such cases will be decided by CSIR only. The Fellow should not be
allowed to proceed on leave to visit abroad for attending conferences/seminars etc. without prior approval of the CSIR well in
advance. The entire duration of such foreign visits if funded by any national/international agency, whether partially or fully, would
be treated as leave without stipend.
c) Women Fellows with less than two surviving children are entitled to full stipend plus HRA, during the period of absence180 days
on grounds of maternity. Such leave shall be sanctioned by the Guide under intimation to CSIR. The Fellowship amount for leave
period will be paid after the fellow resumes duty and submits a medical certificate in support of actual confinement. It is expected
that the Fellow will make up for the research work during the remaining tenure.
d) Male Fellows of CSIR with less than two surviving children are entitled for 15 days paternity leave during confinement of his wife
on submission of relevant documentary proof.
The fellow should carefully choose the host institution, guide/supervisor, availability of necessary infrastructural and other research
facilities etc. to carry out his/her research before joining. Request for transfer of fellowship will not be entertained except on
compelling circumstances for which the fellow & his/her guide should submit proper justification. The No Objection Certificate
should be produced by the Fellow/ Associate from supervisor and Head of Department of University/Institute from where
transfer is sought and consent of the Guide/Host Institute where Fellowships is sought to be transferred by giving reasons of
transfer. No fellow will be allowed to join another institute without seeking prior approval from CSIR for "transfer of fellowship"
and if he/she joins elsewhere without approval of CSIR, his/her fellowship will be terminated. Fellowship/Associateship will
stand terminated from the date of resignation. Further, no transfers will be allowed in the last six months of the tenure of
fellowships & also after submission of Ph.D. thesis.
(a) Junior Research Fellowship /Senior Research Fellowship will be terminated from the date of viva-voce of PhD or on
completion of fellowship tenure, whichever is earlier. The fellowship shall also stand terminated from the date the Fellow resigns
and his/her resignation has been accepted by CSIR. The Fellowship may be terminated by the CSIR on the recommendation of the
Supervisor and Head of the Department/Institution. The fellowship may also be terminated if the institution where it is refuses to
continue to provide facilities to the fellow on disciplinary grounds and so informs CSIR.
(b) If a fellow leaves without permission, stipend due at any time shall not be paid to him/her by theInstitution, till all University and
other dues are cleared and certified by the University/Institution Responsibility in such cases shall be that of the
University/Institution concerned.
(c) The unspent balance of grant lying with the Institution at any time due to termination/ resignation/transfer of fellowship of a
Fellow/Leave sanctioned without stipend/interest earned on grants released by CSIR must be refunded to CSIR immediately by
means of a demand draft in favor of Deputy Secretary, EMR, CSIR Complex,Delhi.
(d) Research Fellows must settle their fellowship claims within one year of leaving the Fellowship. No claim will be admitted by CSIR
after one year of leaving the Fellowship.
All Research Fellows may be allowed hostel accommodation wherever available and those residing in hostel provided by
University/Institute will not be eligible for HRA. Reimbursement of hostel fee is not permissible. Where this is not possible, house
rent allowance will be allowed as per the rules of the host institutions. In no case it should exceed the rates payable to Central
Government Employees in that area. The basis for calculating HRA will be the actual stipend of the Research Fellow. The concerned
institution will send HRA claim bill, in triplicate separately in respect of the Fellows who fulfill the requisite conditions of the host
institution.
(a) All Research Fellows may be provided medical facility as per Central /State Government Medical norms.This will be limited to the
fellow only and not for his/her family members/dependents.
(b) The host institute may get the fellows/associates medically examined at the time of joining or thereafter.
(a) For maintaining and timely submission of the accounts of CSIR grants, the beneficiary University/Institution is entitled to claim
from CSIR the overhead charges at the following rates.
i) For Research Fellows: Rs.500/- per year per fellow without any ceiling on the total amount.
ii) The rates are made applicable from the financial year 1998-99 onwards.
(b) The admissibility of the overhead charges shall be subject to the timely submission (within one month) of the following
statement/documents to CSIR.
i) Consolidated list of research fellows/associates working/terminated/ transferred/ resigned in the particular year with their
date of termination/transfer/resignation of fellowship/associateship.
ii) Year-wise information with respect to the PhD degrees awarded to CSIR Research Fellows (JRF/SRF)/PhD theses
submitted by CSIR Research Fellows (JRF/SRF)
iii) Consolidated utilization certificate (Annexure-VII) in respect of all the fellows during the financial year in question.
iv) Statement of Receipt & Expenditure (Annexure-VIII)of CSIR grants head-wise and year-wise. Audited statement by
statutory auditors or government auditors may be sent later on.
(c) Payment of the overhead charges to the employees maintaining accounts of CSIR shall be made only on authorization by CSIR
and on receipt of the statement/documents mentioned above.
(d) The utilization of overhead charges will be at the discretion of the institute/university.
The Director of CSIR laboratory/Institute is empowered to upgrade the JRF to SRF and extend the tenure of SRF and RA after
following the prescribed procedure and eligibility. The order is to be issued by the laboratory and only a copy of the order is
required to be sent to Head, HRDG for monitoring. Director is also empowered to sanction leave (without stipend also), accept
resignation etc. under intimation to HRDG. This will apply in case of those Fellows/Associates who are awarded
Fellowship/Associateship by HRD Group of CSIR. Director is also empowered to sanction leave without stipend to fellow/associate
proceedings abroad upto the period of one year only under intimation to HEAD, HRDG. Director of CSIR Laboratory/Institute is
also empowered to change the guide of a research fellow/associate under intimation to HRDG.
(a) CSIR may send whenever considered necessary its officers for reviewing the work of the fellows and Associates, inspection of
accounts, attendance, etc, in Universities/Institutes where the Research Fellows/Associates are placed.
(b) Any kind of paid or honorary, part-or-full-time employment or private practice even in honorary capacity is not permissible
during the tenure of Fellowship/Associateship.
(c) The stipend of research fellow/associate is exempt from the payment of income tax under10(16) of IT Act
(d) These terms and conditions supersede all previous instructions issued in regard to JRF/SRF/RA.However, any relaxation would
require approval of DG, CSIR. In all matters decision taken by CSIR shall be final.
Important Note: CSIR reserves the right to modify any of the conditions/guidelines mentioned above any time.
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