Post-Doctoral Fellows (National Post-Doctoral Fellowship, N-PDF)

What is the National Post-Doctoral Fellowship?

The National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) is a research fellowship for early-career scientists, offered under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in the Ministry of Science and Technology. It was run by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which has since been subsumed into the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The fellowship allows a researcher who has recently completed a PhD, MD or MS to work full-time on an approved research project at an Indian host institution.

The N-PDF is designed to identify motivated young researchers and give them independent support and mentorship at an early stage of their careers. It provides a monthly fellowship to the fellow and an annual research grant to cover consumables, contingency and travel, for a fixed period of 2 years.

Because the fellowship has moved from SERB to ANRF and rates are revised from time to time, this guide states the structure of the fellowship and directs you to the official portal for the current amount rather than quoting a figure that may be out of date.

Who is eligible for the N-PDF?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian citizen.
• You hold a PhD, MD or MS degree, or have submitted your thesis and are awaiting the award.
• You are within the upper age limit: generally 35 years, with the usual relaxations for SC/ST/OBC candidates, women and persons with disabilities.
• You have a host institution and mentor in India willing to host your research.

You cannot apply if:

• You do not hold a PhD/MD/MS qualification.
• You are not an Indian citizen.
• You are above the upper age limit for your category.
• You are in a regular salaried position and cannot work full-time on the fellowship, since the N-PDF is a full-time research fellowship, not a top-up to an existing job.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the N-PDF

1. Register on the official portal. Create an applicant account on the SERB/ANRF online system at serbonline.in.
2. Identify a host institution and mentor. Secure the agreement of an Indian institution and a mentor who will host and supervise your research.
3. Prepare your research proposal. Draft the research plan you intend to carry out during the fellowship, aligned with your host and mentor.
4. Fill in the online application. Enter your academic and personal details, upload your degree, proposal, host acceptance and other documents.
5. Submit and track. Submit the application through the portal and follow its status; shortlisted applicants are evaluated before the fellowship is awarded.

Terms and duration

The N-PDF runs for 2 years. The fellow receives a monthly fellowship and an annual research grant; the host institution typically receives an overhead component to support the research. The precise amounts, application windows and any change in eligibility under ANRF are published on the official portal, and you should confirm them there before applying.

The fellowship is meant to be a bridge between completing a doctorate and taking up an independent research or faculty position. During the two years, the fellow works full-time on the approved project at the host institution, builds a publication record, and gains mentored independence, which is why it is aimed at researchers early in their careers and carries an upper age limit rather than being open to established scientists already in salaried positions.

Where to get help

• SERB/ANRF online portal: serbonline.in
• Department of Science and Technology: dst.gov.in

A note on this guide

The National Post-Doctoral Fellowship is a specialised research-support scheme with a narrow eligibility base, and its administration has shifted from SERB to ANRF. This guide therefore describes the fellowship's structure — qualification, age limit, 2-year duration and the monthly fellowship plus research grant model, and deliberately does not fix a rupee figure, because the current rate is notified by ANRF and quoting a stale amount would mislead applicants. Verify the latest terms on the official portal before you apply.