Netaji Subhas - ICAR International Fellowship 2026: Support for Doctoral Studies in Agriculture

At a glance

About the scheme

Netaji Subhas - ICAR International Fellowship (NS-ICAR IF) is a Fellowship Scheme by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The objective is to develop competent human resource that are trained in the identified best laboratories in the world (for Indian candidates) and similarly expose overseas candidates to the best Indian Agricultural Universities (AUs) in the ICAR-AU system for creating a pool of scientist-envoys for enhanced future co-operation.

Benefits

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Master’s degree in agriculture/allied sciences with an Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA) 6.60 out of 10.0 or 65% marks or equivalent.
• Fresh candidates must not be more than 35 years of age on the last date for receipt of applications; in-service candidates must not be more than 40 years of age on that date.
• Fresh candidates must have completed their qualifying degree not more than two years before the specified date in the year of admission.
• In-service candidates from India must be employed in the ICAR‑AU system.
• The Council will announce the priority areas of research and the list of institutions for admission one year in advance.
• Indian selected fellows shall provide an irrevocable bank guarantee for US$ 10,000 (equivalent in rupee currency) in favour of the Secretary, ICAR, valid for the entire fellowship duration.
• For foreign national selected fellows, an amount of ₹ 2,00,000 will be recovered from their fellowship grant in two instalments of ₹ 1,00,000 each until successful completion of the Ph.D. programme.
• Indian in‑service candidates selected for the fellowship must execute a bond with the deputing University/Institute to serve that institution for at least three years after completing the degree.
• Fellows must submit a progress report every six months, not change the place of work or research area, devote full time to studies, and maintain satisfactory progress for continuance of the fellowship.
• Selected fellows must obtain medical fitness test and medical insurance at their own cost.
• All fees chargeable by the host institution are to be paid by the fellow from the fellowship grant or personal resources.
• Fellows must protect Intellectual Property Rights generated during the fellowship; the Council retains an appropriate share as per its IP Management bulletin.
• Within 15 days of completing the programme, fellows must submit a copy of the dissertation/thesis and a brief report on activities and significant research contributions to the Council.
• Indian fellows must return to India after completing the Ph.D.; if offered a suitable position in the ICAR‑AU system they shall serve there, otherwise non‑compliance leads to recovery of the fellowship amount with 10% overhead.

Documents required

• Photo
• Signature
• Documents of educational qualification
• Proof of experience
• Proof of achievements
• Proof of publications

How to apply

1. 1Register on the official portal Education2.icar.gov.in at the FellowShip/Registration page.
2. 2Log in and access the online application form at Education2.icar.gov.in/FellowShip/Netajisubhasnotification.
3. 3Fill in the required details and upload the documents: photo, signature, educational qualification proof, experience proof, achievements proof, publications proof.
4. 4Review the application and submit it through the portal.

Frequently asked questions