National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme of the Human Resource Development Programme in New and Renewable Energy
About this Scheme
Through this scheme, fellowships will be provided for pursuing higher studies/ advanced research in renewable energy. The fellowship scheme is directly aligned with the overall requirement of renewable energy, research thrust areas identified by MNRE.
About This Scheme
Launched in 2021, the scheme “National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme” has been launched by the Human Resources Development Division, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, aims to institutionalise renewable energy education and training to meet the requirements of qualified and trained manpower in the country. Through this scheme, financial fellowships are provided to meritorious students and researchers pursuing higher studies or advanced research in frontier-edge technology areas of renewable energy. The scheme is a key component of the broader Human Resource Development Programme and is implemented with a total financial outlay of âš200 crore for the period of FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. It covers various academic levels, providing an annual intake for M.Tech and M.Sc. students, Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) leading to PhDs, Senior Research Fellowships (SRF), and post-doctoral Research Associates (RA/PDF). The scope of the research is strictly aligned with the technology readiness levels and research thrust areas identified by MNRE, focusing on technology development and commercialisation rather than generic studies. The delivery mechanism is structured to support a total of 375 new fellowships over the five-year period, with the number of fellowships in each category remaining interchangeable based on the quality of research proposals and industry demand. Monitoring ensures that the fellowship duration for students does not exceed the specified tenure, such as two years for postgraduates or five years for JRFs moving into SRF roles.
Objectives
To institutionalise renewable energy education and training to create a pool of qualified and trained manpower for the national energy sector.
To provide financial support for higher studies and advanced research in technology areas specifically identified as thrust areas by the MNRE.
To encourage frontier-edge research that focuses on technology development, technology readiness levels, and the commercialisation of renewable energy solutions.
To fulfil the specialised manpower requirements of the industry through a focused academic approach in M.Tech, M.Sc., and doctoral research paths.
Benefits
M.Tech. Fellowship: A monthly stipend of âš12,400/- is provided for a duration of 20 to 24 months, depending on specific institute norms.
M.Sc. (Renewable Energy) Fellowship: Students receive a monthly stipend of âš4,000/- for a maximum duration of 24 months.
Junior Research Fellow (JRF): Provides a monthly fellowship of âš31,000/- plus House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Central Government norms, along with an annual contingency grant of âš20,000/- for a period of 2 years.
Senior Research Fellow (SRF): Provides a monthly fellowship of âš35,000/- plus HRA and Contingency as per Central Government norms for a duration of 3 years.
Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate (PDF/RA): Offers a tiered monthly fellowship of âš47,000/- (Level I), âš49,000/- (Level II), and âš54,000/- (Level III) plus HRA and Contingency as per Central Government norms for a period of 3 years.
Total Intake Capacity: The scheme supports an annual intake of 75 new fellows, aiming for a total of 375 fellowships over the five-year programme period (2021-2026).
Integrated PhD Path: JRF awardees can transition into SRF roles for a combined doctoral research tenure not exceeding 5 years (2 years JRF + 3 years SRF).
Direct PhD Path: The scheme allows a direct route for candidates to enter at the SRF level for a PhD program not exceeding 3 years.
Post-Doctoral Research: Specialised support for 3-year advanced research projects at the Research Associate/PDF level.
Flexible Allocation: The number of fellowships in each category (M.Tech, M.Sc, JRF, SRF, RA) is interchangeable based on the quality of research proposals and industry demand.
Monthly Disbursement: All fellowships are disbursed on a monthly basis directly into the beneficiary’s bank account via DBT mode upon receipt of attendance/continuation reports from host institutions.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant
The applicant must be pursuing higher studies in renewable energy, viz. M.Sc, M. Tech, PhD in Renewable Energy technologies OR The applicant must be a Research Associate or post-doctoral Fellow pursuing advanced research in MNRE institutions and other key institutions.
These Fellowships will exclusively be awarded for Courses on Renewable Energy related subjects only.
These Institutions will select the students for M.Tech /PhD courses through GATE Score, CSIR Score, or CSIR-JRF /AICTE/NET Qualified Score only.
M.Sc fellowships will be provided only to students pursuing an M.Sc in renewable energy qualified with NET.
NOTE 1: The Ministry would be guided by the norms of CSIR/DST/UGC for the eligibility of the candidates for JRF/SRF/RA/PDF.
NOTE 2: The Ministry would be guided by the AICTE guidelines for M.Tech and the Department of Biotechnology norms for M.Sc in renewable energy.
Eligibility Criteria for the Institute
Only those institutes will be considered for the allocation of fellowship slots that are in the Top 100 institutes under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), with faculty for the required expertise in relevant areas of RE and infrastructure facilities available at such institutes for RE education and research in RE, etc.
The scheme is open for Universities, Technical Institutions, and national laboratories having facilities for research in the identified thrust areas of RE, and institutes having M.Tech./ Integrated M.Sc. courses in energy studies/ renewable energy with specialisation in any branch of renewable energy.
Application Process
Apply Offline
Call for Applications
Step 1: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) publishes annual advertisements inviting applications from universities and institutes engaged in renewable energy education and research.
Step 2: Interested institutes or universities must apply for the allocation of fellowship slots against the advertisement to the Ministry.
Selection Process for the Institutes
Step 3: The selection of these host institutes is conducted by a committee chaired by eminent scientists and professors, including experts from reputed academic institutions and Directors General of NISE, NIWE, and NIBE.
Step 4: Once an institute is selected and sanctioned with a specific number of fellowship slots, it conducts its own internal selection through its Research or Administrative committees.
Selection Process for the Candidates
Step 5: The selected institutes identify meritorious candidates who meet the MNRE eligibility criteria and forward the details of these NREF fellows to the Ministry.
Step 6: The host institution must forward the specific details of the students every year against the sanctioned number of fellowship slots allocated to that particular institute.
Step 7: Upon receipt and verification of the names, the Ministry officially awards the fellowships to the individual students/candidates based on their eligibility.
Official Source: View on myScheme.gov.in
Scheme Benefits
- M.Tech. Fellowship: A monthly stipend of âš12,400/- is provided for a duration of 20 to 24 months, depending on specific institute norms.
- M.Sc. (Renewable Energy) Fellowship: Students receive a monthly stipend of âš4,000/- for a maximum duration of 24 months.
- Junior Research Fellow (JRF): Provides a monthly fellowship of âš31,000/- plus House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Central Government norms, along with an annual contingency grant of âš20,000/- for a period of 2 years.
- Senior Research Fellow (SRF): Provides a monthly fellowship of âš35,000/- plus HRA and Contingency as per Central Government norms for a duration of 3 years.
- Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate (PDF/RA): Offers a tiered monthly fellowship of âš47,000/- (Level I), âš49,000/- (Level II), and âš54,000/- (Level III) plus HRA and Contingency as per Central Government norms for a period of 3 years.
- Total Intake Capacity: The scheme supports an annual intake of 75 new fellows, aiming for a total of 375 fellowships over the five-year programme period (2021-2026).
- Integrated PhD Path: JRF awardees can transition into SRF roles for a combined doctoral research tenure not exceeding 5 years (2 years JRF + 3 years SRF).
- Direct PhD Path: The scheme allows a direct route for candidates to enter at the SRF level for a PhD program not exceeding 3 years.
- Post-Doctoral Research: Specialised support for 3-year advanced research projects at the Research Associate/PDF level.
- Flexible Allocation: The number of fellowships in each category (M.Tech, M.Sc, JRF, SRF, RA) is interchangeable based on the quality of research proposals and industry demand.
- Monthly Disbursement: All fellowships are disbursed on a monthly basis directly into the beneficiary's bank account via DBT mode upon receipt of attendance/continuation reports from host institutions.