Ramanujan Fellowship 2026: ₹1.35 Lakh Monthly Fellowship, Eligibility & How to Apply

At a glance

About the scheme

The Ramanujan Fellowship is an initiative by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Ministry of Science and Technology, designed to attract brilliant Indian scientists and engineers working abroad back to India. The fellowship is highly selective, scientist-specific, and supports researchers for five years in Indian universities, national laboratories, and academic institutions other than their doctoral alma mater. Fellows are empowered to conduct independent research with dedicated funding and retain the flexibility to apply for other extramural government research grants.

Benefits

• Consolidated fellowship of ₹1,35,000 per month (including HRA component).
• Research grant of ₹7.00 lakh per annum for consumables, travel, research personnel, and contingencies.
• Overhead charges of ₹60,000 per annum paid directly to the host institution.
• Fellowship support provided for a fixed duration of five years (non-extendable).
• Eligibility to apply for regular research grants and Core Research Grant proposals through Government of India funding agencies.
• Entitlement to one international travel per year under the fellowship.
• Host institution status equivalent to Scientist-D for travel and daily allowances.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Must be an Indian scientist or engineer working abroad at the time of nomination.
• Applicant must not be more than 40 years of age.
• Must hold a higher degree or equivalent, such as a Ph.D. in Science or Engineering, Master's in Engineering or Technology, or MD in Medicine.
• Must have adequate professional experience and a proven, outstanding track record through scientific publications and recognitions.
• Must not hold any permanent, tenure-track, or contractual position in any Indian institute or university.
• Must pursue research in new areas and laboratories other than the institution where the doctorate degree was obtained.

Who cannot apply

• Candidates aged 40 years or older are not eligible.
• Scientists holding permanent, temporary, tenure-track, or contractual positions in India are excluded.
• Nominations from the candidate's Ph.D. guide or from the institution where the Ph.D. was awarded will not be considered.
• Selected fellows who take up any permanent, tenure-track, or contractual job in India become ineligible and must relinquish the fellowship entirely.

Documents required

• Passport-size photograph
• Proof of age
• Details of educational qualifications
• Details of awards and honours (if any)
• Details of research publications
• Details of patents filed, granted, or commercialised
• Nomination letter on official letterhead, duly signed and stamped by the host institution
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the nominee
• Research proposal outline and proposed area of research (single PDF up to 5 pages)
• Plagiarism undertaking
• Any other document requested by SERB

How to apply

1. 1Identify and contact a suitable host institution or university in India willing to provide the necessary infrastructural support.
2. 2Register on the official SERB online portal at www.serbonline.in.
3. 3Log in and complete all mandatory profile fields, including photograph, address, and host institution details under the User Profile section.
4. 4Go to the Form Submission tab, select 'Ramanujan Fellowship', and fill out the nominee, nominator, and qualification details.
5. 5Upload the research proposal and brief outline as a single PDF file not exceeding five pages.
6. 6Click 'Send to Nominator' so the head or authorised representative of the host institution receives the form online.
7. 7The nominator verifies the nomination details and submits the application to SERB directly through the portal.

Frequently asked questions