Dr. D.S. Kothari Research Grant 2026: ₹10 Lakh Grant, Eligibility & How to Apply

At a glance

About the scheme

The Dr. D.S. Kothari Research Grant for Newly Recruited Faculty Members is an initiative by the University Grants Commission under the Ministry of Education to foster research culture in Indian higher education. Newly appointed faculty members at the level of Assistant Professor against permanent posts can receive support to build their research base. With 132 slots available each year, selected candidates receive financial backing to purchase minor equipment, cover fieldwork, travel, consumables, and project contingencies for a period of two years.

Benefits

• Financial assistance of ₹10,00,000 for a tenure of 2 years.
• A total of 132 slots are supported under the scheme.
• Funds can be used for purchasing minor equipment, consumables, contingencies, fieldwork, and domestic travel.
• The recipient can allocate fund amounts under permissible heads according to project requirements.
• Items and equipment procured under this grant remain the property of the host university.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Candidate must be a regularly appointed Assistant Professor against a permanent post in an eligible institution.
• Candidate must apply within 2 years from the date of joining the post in the department or university.
• The applicant must hold a Ph.D. degree.
• The applicant must have at least five (5) research papers published in journals of international repute.
• Working in Universities (including constituent/affiliated colleges) included under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 with valid NAAC accreditation.
• Working in Deemed-to-be-Universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 with valid NAAC accreditation.
• Working in institutions fully funded by Central or State Governments empowered to award degrees, or Institutions of National Importance.

Who cannot apply

• Faculty members appointed on a temporary, ad-hoc, or contractual basis are not eligible.
• Assistant Professors who have crossed two years from their date of joining cannot apply.
• Candidates without a Ph.D. or with fewer than 5 papers in international journals are excluded.
• Grant cannot be used for international travel.
• Grant cannot be used for purchasing furniture items or hiring a project assistant/research fellow.

Documents required

• Scanned copy of recent passport-size photograph (JPG format, up to 1 MB).
• Scanned copy of applicant's signature (JPG format, up to 1 MB).
• Postgraduate degree details and Ph.D. degree certificates/documents.
• Complete research proposal (up to 5 MB) and research abstract (up to 1 MB).
• Printout of the auto-generated application form duly signed by the Head of Department (HoD) or Registrar.

How to apply

1. 1Visit the official UGC Faculty Research Grant portal at https://frg.ugc.ac.in/ and review the scheme guidelines.
2. 2Click on 'New User' under the scheme to register with your email address and upload your scanned photo and signature.
3. 3Check your email for login credentials from ugchelp@mail.inflibnet.ac.in and log in to the portal.
4. 4Change your initial password and navigate to the candidate dashboard.
5. 5Click on 'Eligibility Criteria', read the instructions, accept the guidelines checkbox, and submit your eligibility details.
6. 6Click on 'Apply Now' to open the Data Capturing Format and fill in your Postgraduate educational details.
7. 7Enter your Ph.D. details and upload all necessary supporting academic documents.
8. 8Upload your research proposal, abstract, and the auto-generated form duly endorsed by your HoD or Registrar.
9. 9Review the declaration statement, check 'I Agree with above', submit the final form, and save a copy for future reference.

Frequently asked questions