WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF)

What is the WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship?

The WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF) is a fellowship of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, offered under the WISE-KIRAN programme, DST's umbrella for women in science, which succeeded the earlier Women Scientists Scheme and KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing) initiatives.

WISE-PDF is aimed at women who already hold a PhD and want to continue in research at the post-doctoral stage. A recurring goal of DST's women-in-science programmes is to help women scientists stay in, or return to, research careers: particularly after a break taken for family or other reasons. WISE-PDF provides a structured, women-only route to do exactly that: a woman doctorate holder attaches to a host institution and mentor and carries out a defined post-doctoral research project with DST support.

Applications are handled online through the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in, where DST publishes its calls for proposals for women-scientist fellowships.

Key facts confirmed on the official portal

• Run by DST under the WISE-KIRAN umbrella for women in science.
• A women-only fellowship.
• Requires a completed PhD, it is a post-doctoral track.
• Applications through the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in.

Who is eligible for WISE-PDF?

You can apply if:

• You are a woman who holds a PhD in science, engineering or technology.
• You wish to pursue post-doctoral research with a host institution and mentor.
• You are looking to continue or return to research, including after a break in your career.

You cannot apply if:

• You are a man: WISE-PDF is a women-only fellowship and men are not eligible.
• You have not yet been awarded a PhD — pre-doctoral candidates cannot apply to this post-doctoral track.
• You want to work on a non-research, societal-challenge project, in that case WISE-SCOPE is the more appropriate WISE-KIRAN track.

The precise age band, permissible career-break length and fellowship rates are set out in each year's call document and are revised periodically, so confirm them in the current WISE-PDF call on onlinedst.gov.in before applying.

What does WISE-PDF provide?

WISE-PDF provides a monthly post-doctoral fellowship and research support to the selected woman scientist, as per DST norms. The exact rate depends on the current DST post-doctoral fellowship structure. This guide does not state a rupee figure, because DST revises these rates from time to time and the authoritative amount is the one published in the live call document: always verify it there.

How to apply for WISE-PDF

1. Open the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in and look for an open WISE-PDF call for proposals.
2. Register on the portal and complete your profile.
3. Prepare a post-doctoral research proposal in the DST WISE-PDF format, with a host institution and mentor identified.
4. Attach your PhD certificate, host-institution consent and identity documents.
5. Submit online before the deadline, then await evaluation by DST's expert committee.

How WISE-PDF fits into WISE-KIRAN

WISE-KIRAN groups several women-only fellowships. WISE-PDF is the post-doctoral research track for PhD holders. WISE-SCOPE (Societal Challenges with Opportunities) supports women applying their S&T background to societal problems. Related calls such as WIDUSHI target senior women scientists. Picking the right track matters. A PhD holder pursuing academic research fits WISE-PDF, whereas a woman scientist without a PhD, or one focused on a community problem, fits WISE-SCOPE.

What to prepare before the call opens

WISE-PDF calls open for a limited window, so preparation matters. Registration on the DST e-PMS portal is a one-time process and the same account works across DST calls, so set it up early instead of during the closing rush. Because this is a post-doctoral track, the two things that most often hold applicants up are the host institution and mentor arrangement and a well-defined research proposal, secure both before the deadline. Have your PhD certificate scanned and ready, along with identity and address proof. If you are returning after a career break, keep any documentation that explains the gap, since supporting women who re-enter research is a central purpose of the WISE-KIRAN programme. A proposal that clearly states the research question, method and expected contribution reads far better to an expert committee than a broad statement of interest.

Help and where to verify

• The authoritative source for eligibility, fellowship amounts and open calls is the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in.
• DST e-PMS support email: pmso.dst@nic.in.

Because DST-hosted scheme pages were not fully reachable at the time of writing, this guide records only facts confirmed on the DST e-PMS portal and deliberately omits any fellowship rupee amount that could not be verified there. Confirm all figures and the current call status on onlinedst.gov.in before applying. Last fact-checked 1 August 2026.

How to check your WISE-PDF application status

WISE-PDF does not have a separate public tracking number system the way a subsidy or pension scheme might. Because the entire process runs through the DST e-PMS portal, status checking is tied to your e-PMS login rather than any SMS or offline helpline.

1. Log in to the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in using the credentials you created when you registered for the WISE-PDF call. Your dashboard shows the proposal(s) you have submitted and their current stage.
2. Read the stage label carefully. A proposal submitted through e-PMS typically moves through stages such as received, under scrutiny, sent for expert review, and a final decision (selected, not selected, or on a waiting list). The exact wording can vary by call cycle, so treat the portal label itself, not any assumption about what it means, as authoritative.
3. Check your registered email regularly. DST's post-doctoral fellowship calls typically correspond with shortlisted or selected applicants over email using the address entered at registration, so a status change on the portal is often accompanied by an email, and a missed email is a common reason applicants feel "stuck" even though a decision has already been communicated.
4. Write to the DST e-PMS support desk if the portal status has not moved for an unusually long period relative to the timeline stated in that year's call document. Email pmso.dst@nic.in with your e-PMS application or registration number, the exact call you applied under (WISE-PDF), and your registered email address, so the support desk can locate your file without back-and-forth.
5. Do not expect a phone helpline. DST e-PMS support for WISE-KIRAN fellowships is handled primarily by email rather than a call centre, so email is the realistic channel for a status query that the portal itself cannot answer.

Because WISE-PDF selection involves an expert committee review of a full research proposal rather than an automated eligibility check, the gap between "under review" and a final decision can be longer than for a simple benefit scheme. Checking the portal every few weeks, rather than daily, is a more realistic cadence.

Common reasons WISE-PDF applications get rejected

Because WISE-PDF selection combines an eligibility screen with an expert review of the research proposal itself, rejections happen at two different stages, and the fix differs depending on which stage an applicant falls at.

• PhD not yet awarded at the time of application. WISE-PDF is strictly a post-doctoral fellowship, so a proposal from someone whose viva or degree award is still pending is screened out at the eligibility stage regardless of research quality. The fix is to apply only once the PhD has actually been conferred, or wait for the next call cycle if the degree is imminent.
• No confirmed host institution or mentor at submission. A post-doctoral fellowship requires a place and a mentor to carry out the work, so a proposal submitted without firm, documented host-institution consent is commonly rejected even when the applicant's own qualifications are strong. Secure written consent from the host institution and mentor before you begin the online application, not after.
• Research proposal does not follow the DST WISE-PDF format, or is vague. Expert reviewers assess a written proposal, so a submission that skips required sections of the DST format, or states only a broad area of interest instead of a specific research question, method, and expected outcome, tends to score poorly against proposals that are concrete. Rewriting the proposal around a clearly stated question, a defined method and a realistic timeline before submission addresses this directly.
• Applying under the wrong WISE-KIRAN track. Because WISE-KIRAN bundles several distinct fellowships, a woman scientist without a PhD, or one whose project is a societal-challenge application of science rather than academic research, is a poor fit for WISE-PDF and is likely to be rejected on relevance even if the application is complete. Check whether WISE-SCOPE or another WISE-KIRAN track matches the actual project before applying to WISE-PDF specifically.
• Missing or incomplete supporting documents. A PhD degree certificate, host institution consent, and identity proof are all required attachments, so an application submitted with any of these missing, or with a certificate that is provisional rather than final, is commonly returned or rejected on completeness grounds. Assemble every required document before starting the online form rather than uploading placeholders.
• Submission after the call deadline. DST e-PMS calls for WISE-PDF open for a defined window, and the portal generally does not accept submissions once that window closes. Registering on e-PMS early, before the deadline rush, avoids losing the fellowship cycle to a last-minute technical or documentation problem.

Where a rejection reason is unclear from the e-PMS portal itself, writing to pmso.dst@nic.in with the application reference number is the practical way to get a specific explanation, since DST does not publish a standard rejection code list.