National Renewable Energy Fellowship 2026: Up to ₹54,000 Stipend, Eligibility & Details
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Quick answer
The National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme provides financial support ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹54,000 per month for students and researchers pursuing higher studies in renewable energy. It covers M.Sc., M.Tech., JRF, SRF, and Post-Doctoral Research Associates in top NIRF-ranked institutions. Applications are processed through eligible host institutions following an annual notification by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
At a glance
| Main benefit | Up to ₹54,000 monthly fellowship plus HRA |
| Ministry / department | Ministry Of New and Renewable Energy |
| Level | Central Government |
| Application mode | Offline |
About the scheme
Launched by the Human Resources Development Division of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme aims to create trained manpower for the clean energy sector. With a financial outlay of ₹200 crore, the programme supports advanced research and education in frontier-edge technology areas. Fellowships are offered to M.Tech., M.Sc., doctoral, and post-doctoral researchers studying at top-ranked universities and institutes across India.
Benefits
- M.Tech. Fellowship: Monthly stipend of ₹12,400 for 20 to 24 months based on institute rules.
- M.Sc. (Renewable Energy) Fellowship: Monthly stipend of ₹4,000 for up to 24 months.
- Junior Research Fellow (JRF): Monthly fellowship of ₹31,000 plus HRA and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000 for 2 years.
- Senior Research Fellow (SRF): Monthly fellowship of ₹35,000 plus HRA and contingency grant for 3 years.
- Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate (PDF/RA): Tiered monthly fellowship of ₹47,000 (Level I), ₹49,000 (Level II), or ₹54,000 (Level III) plus HRA and contingency grant for 3 years.
- Integrated PhD route allowing JRF candidates to upgrade to SRF for a combined tenure up to 5 years.
- Direct PhD route allowing entry at SRF level for up to 3 years.
- Disbursement made directly to beneficiary bank accounts each month via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Applicant must be pursuing M.Sc., M.Tech., or PhD in Renewable Energy technologies, or working as a Research Associate/PDF in MNRE or key institutions.
- Fellowships are granted solely for courses and research strictly related to Renewable Energy subjects.
- M.Tech. and PhD candidates must be selected through valid GATE, CSIR, CSIR-JRF, AICTE, or NET qualification scores.
- M.Sc. fellowship applicants must be pursuing an M.Sc. in renewable energy and hold a valid NET qualification.
- Host institutes must be ranked in the Top 100 under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) with adequate RE faculty and infrastructure.
- Host universities, technical institutes, or national laboratories must offer M.Tech. or Integrated M.Sc. courses in energy studies or renewable energy.
Documents required
- Passport sized photograph
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Proof of Indian citizenship
- Aadhaar card
- Academic transcripts from all undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
- Research proposal
- Two letters of recommendation
- Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC), if applicable
- Disability certificate (PwD), if applicable
- Income certificate, if applicable
How to apply
- 1The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issues an annual public advertisement calling for fellowship applications from universities and institutes.
- 2Eligible universities and institutes apply directly to MNRE for the allocation of fellowship seats.
- 3An expert committee evaluates and sanctions fellowship slots to top-performing institutions.
- 4Selected host institutes conduct internal selection through their academic or research committees to select qualified candidates.
- 5The institute forwards the selected students' details and documents to MNRE for final approval.
- 6MNRE verifies the candidate profiles and officially sanctions the fellowship.
- 7Fellowship amounts are credited monthly to the selected candidate's bank account via DBT based on monthly continuation reports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the monthly stipend for M.Tech students under NREF?+
M.Tech students receive a monthly stipend of ₹12,400 for a duration of 20 to 24 months, subject to institute norms.
What is the fellowship amount for JRF and SRF positions?+
Junior Research Fellows (JRF) receive ₹31,000 per month with an annual contingency of ₹20,000, while Senior Research Fellows (SRF) receive ₹35,000 per month, both along with HRA as per central government norms.
Can students apply directly on an individual basis to MNRE?+
No, MNRE allocates fellowship slots to eligible NIRF top-100 institutes, and candidates are selected through internal institute selection committees.
Is GATE or NET mandatory to get this fellowship?+
Yes, M.Tech and PhD candidates require GATE, CSIR, AICTE, or NET qualification, while M.Sc. students must have qualified NET.
How is the fellowship money disbursed?+
The fellowship amount is transferred directly to the student's bank account every month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) upon submission of attendance reports.
NaukriZila is not a government website. Apply only on the official portal; never pay anyone to apply for a government scheme. Source: myScheme (Government of India)