Entrance Examination for DHR Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (DHR-BRET)

The Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (DHR-BRET) is conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) under the DHR. Award of the fellowship to qualified candidates is contingent upon securing placement in a recognised Medical College/Hospital/University/National Laboratory/Institution of National Importance/ICMR Institute/Centre, under one of the following categories :
i. UGC/INI : Pursuit of a doctoral degree at UGC-recognized universities/research institutions or Institutes of National Importance in India.
ii. ICMR–AcSIR : Pursuit of a doctoral degree at any of the 27 ICMR Institutes/Centres with Ph.D. registration under the AcSIR-ICMR Faculty of Medical Research.

Fellowships : A tentative total of 250 candidates shall be selected, subject to the availability of budgetary provisions and in accordance with the guidelines of DHR.
Merit List : Merit will be determined solely on performance in DHR-BRET and declared as per the notified criteria.
Discipline : Selected candidates may enrol for Ph.D. programmes only in subjects related to biomedical/health research.
Reservation : SC/ST/OBC/PwBD and EWS candidates will receive reservation/relaxations as per Government of India policy.

Administration of DHR-BRET
The DHR Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (DHR-BRET-2025) will be conducted by the Examination Section, AIIMS New Delhi, which is solely responsible for examination-related activities including online application, conduct of the Computer Based Test, and declaration of results of eligible candidates. The award of Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs), along with all related administrative processes such as placement, fellowship disbursal, tenure, and compliance with Government of India reservation policies, shall be under the purview of DHR. AIIMS New Delhi has no role in the award of fellowships and assumes no financial liability under this programme.

Eligibility for appearing in DHR-BRET
The eligibility criteria mentioned under this section are limited to application and examination component of DHR-BRET-2025.
(i) M.Sc or equivalent post-graduate (PG) degree (M. Tech/M. Pharma), In life sciences, zoology, botany, biomedical sciences, microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, biophysics, bioinformatics, forensic sciences, environmental sciences, food and nutrition, molecular biology, biological sciences, ecology, immunology, neurosciences, veterinary sciences, nursing, biostatistics, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, public health, social work, with minimum 55% marks in PG test for General/EWS/OBC candidates and 50% for the SC/ST and PwBD candidates.
(ii) A candidate who is appearing/has appeared in the final year (IV/VI Semester whichever is applicable, and final year where semester system is not there) of M.Sc. or equivalent post graduate test during the session 2025 can also apply for the test as RA (Result Awaited).
(iii) Such candidates will have to submit the attestation format (given in Appendix E duly certified by the Head of the Department/Institute over his/her signature and official seal/stamp (with address and name) where he/she is appearing in the final year PG test.
(iv) However, such candidates shall be admitted to the Test provisionally and shall be considered eligible for JRF only after they submit the proof of having passed the Master’s Degree test with requisite percentage.

Age Limit
The age limit for admission to the eligibility test is 35 years determined based on the last date of the application form as mentioned the important date and time.
Age relaxation: - Age relaxation is permissible to various applicants is as under (subject to foot note): -
1. SC/ST : 05 years
2. PwBD : 05 years
3. Female Candidates : 05 years
4. OBC : 03 years
Note:- If a candidate qualifies for more than one type of age relaxation under different criteria such as being a person with a disability, or belonging to a specific gender, they will not be allowed to combine all the relaxations. Instead, they will receive only one additional age relaxation benefit, on top of the relaxation already granted based on their primary category (such as SC/ST, OBC, etc.).

Section V : Scheme and Pattern of Examination
1. Mode of Examination: Computer Based Test (CBT)
2. Medium: English only
3. Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours)
4. Total Questions: 150 MCQs
5. Scoring:
a) +1 mark for each correct response
b) –0.25 mark for each incorrect response
c) 0 mark for unanswered questions
d) Any questions marked as flagged or marked for review in CBT delivery system shall not be evaluated and will be treated as not answered irrespective of answer.
6. Pattern:
a) The examination will consist of 150 objective-type multiple-choice questions consisting of components as described in Syllabus & Structure in this document.
b) The question paper will be structured section-wise, in accordance with Sections A, B and C of the prescribed syllabus.
c) The total duration of the examination shall be three (03) hours, during which candidate will be permitted to navigate freely across all sections.
d) In each part, the candidate will be presented with 50 questions, in accordance with
Sections A, B and C:
i. Aptitude and General Analytical Ability (Section-A)
ii. Fundamentals of Biomedical and Life Sciences (Section-B)
iii. Discipline/Subject-specific domains (Microbiology, Biochemistry,
Biostatistics, Veterinary Science/Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Biotechnology, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Biological Sciences). (Section-C)

7. Preparation of Merit List a) Merit will be determined on the basis of the total marks obtained out of 150. b) Ties, if any, will be resolved as per the notified tie-breaking rules.
8. Resolution of tie cases :
a) In the event that two or more candidates secure the same overall score in DHR- BRET-2025, the following criteria will be applied sequentially until the tie is resolved :
i. Higher score in the Domain-Specific component (Section-C).
ii. Fewer negative marks accumulated in the test.
iii. Older age of the candidate

Application Fee
Application fee is to be paid at the time of Completion of Application for the DHR-BRET-2025 in online mode. The application fees are mentioned in table below :
1. General/OBC Category : Rs. 2000/- (Rupees Two Thousand only)
2. SC/ST/EWS Category : Rs. 1600/- (Rupees One Thousand Six Hundred only)
3. PwBD : Exempted
Note
1. The applicant can pay the prescribed application fee through DEBIT CARD/ CREDIT CARD/ NETBANKING.
2. Transaction/Processing fee, if any, as applicable, will be payable to the respective bank etc. by the applicant.
3. Application fees once remitted shall not be refunded under any circumstances.
4. If due to any reason, application fee is paid more than once against one application form, the additional payments shall be refunded to applicants after verification & completion of examination process.
5. Applications without the prescribed fee shall not be accepted and summarily rejected.

Application Process of DHR-BRET-2025
All information as well as access to process related to DHR-BRET-2025 will be done through its online portal. The portal for DHR-BRET-2025 can be accessed from aiimsexams.ac.in>>Academic Course Tab >>and clicking on DHR-BRET-2025. The applicants are requested to visit the site frequently to keep themselves updated with latest information.

Online application
1. Online application is one-time process to be done by applicants for appearing in DHR-BRET- 2025.
2. All candidates who wish to apply for the DHR-BRET-2025 are required to apply online on the website aiimsexams.ac.in.
3. The aspiring applicants satisfying the eligibility criteria in all respect can submit their application only through ON-LINE mode. The Online applications can be done through the website aiimsexams.ac.in as per closing date specified under Important dates. No documents, including the Registration Slip of the online application form, are required to be sent in Physical form. Any kind of Physical document regarding registration will be treated as null and void and will be destroyed. However, all the applicants are advised to keep a copy of the registration slips with them, along with proof of payment, for their records. Correction in registration will not be considered through any mode i.e. Email/letter. Hence candidates are advised to fill their registration form carefully as no correction will be allowed after specified dates as per the procedure.
4. The Examination is being conducted without any scrutiny on eligibility. Merely issue of admit card, declaration of result does not guarantee selection/admission which always subject to verification of eligibility.
5. All applicants must fulfil the essential requirements and other conditions stipulated in the advertisement. They are advised to satisfy themselves before applying that they possess at least the essential qualifications. They must fulfil all the eligibility criteria as specified, failing which their candidature will be summarily rejected & application fee will be forfeited.
6. The crucial date for deciding eligibility in all respect unless otherwise expressly mentioned will be the closing date of the online registration as mentioned in the Important Dates section.
7. As the examination will be conducted without any scrutiny on eligibility, a candidate will be treated as disqualified from beginning in case ineligibility detected at any stage.
8. The On-line portal for application will be closed for registration as closing date & time mentioned under the Important Dates. The candidature of applicants who fail to complete the online application by the stipulated date and time will not be considered and rejected. No correspondence in this regard will be entertained.
9. The candidate must ensure that images of the photo, signature and thumb impression should be as per the guidelines mentioned in the ‘Upload Image Instructions’ given in the General links and are visible clearly in the preview at the time of filling out an application in online mode. If the photo/signature/thumb impression image is not as per instructions given in the ‘Upload Image Instructions’ in that case, your application will be rejected. Due diligence and care should be taken while uploading images of photo, signature and thumb impression.
10. Applicants seeking benefits of reservation/relaxation available for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD & Female candidate must ensure that they are entitled to such reservation/relaxation. They should be in possession of all the requisite valid certificates in the prescribed format in support of their claim. The OBC(NCL)/EWS certificates should have been issued between period as mentioned in Important Dates.
11. The SC/ST/OBC(NCL)/EWS/PwBD certificates must be uploaded with online registration on or before last date of application form as mentioned in the Important dates/Notice/Advertisement published. The applicants will be required to upload appropriate valid certificates and, therefore must take utmost care to ensure that required valid certificates are uploaded.
12. An applicant will be eligible to get the benefit of community reservation only in case the particular caste to which the candidates belong is included in the list of reserved communities issued by the Central Government. The candidates will be eligible to get the benefit of the Economically Weaker Section reservation only in case the candidate meets the criteria issued by the Central Government and in possession of such eligibility certification. If an applicant indicates in his/her application form for DHR-BRET-2025 that he/she belongs to General Category but subsequently communicates to the Examination Section to change his/her category to a reserved one, such request shall not be entertained. Further, once a candidate has chosen a reserved category, no request shall be entertained for change to other reserved category viz. SC to ST, ST to SC, OBC to SC/ST or SC/ST to OBC, SC to EWS, EWS to SC, ST to EWS, EWS to ST, OBC to EWS, EWS to OBC.

13. Uploading of valid Certificate/Card: Must upload PWBD/SC/ST/OBC(NCL)/EWS/Certificate from 01/11/2025 to 21/11/2025 a. Date(s) of valid OBC(NCL) certificate: Candidates applying under OBC category must produce the valid caste certificate in the format provided by the DoP&T vide O.M No. 36036/2/2013- Estt. (Res.) dated 30.05.2014 and further clarification issued by DoP&T OM No. 36011/1/12- Estt.(Res.) dated 14.03.2016. The certificate must mention the non-creamy layer status of the applicant (Non-creamy layer status issued by an authority mentioned in DOPT Office Memorandum no. 36012/22/93-Estt. (SCT) dated 15.11.1993). The OBC applicants who belong to the ‘Non-Creamy Layer’ and whose caste appears in the Central List of the OBCs (notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the recommendations of the National Commission for Backward Classes available at the website htttp://ncbc.nic.in, shall be eligible to be considered under the OBC category (Validity period of OBC Certificate in respect of non-creamy layer status of the applicants as per DOPT Office Memorandum No. 36036/2/2013-Estt. (Res-I) dated 31 March 2016). The validity of the non-creamy layer certificate should be for the financial year 2025-2026 for the certificate issued from 01.04.2024 to 21.11.2025. Certificates issued from 1st April 2025 to 21st November, 2025 (closing date of application) will be considered valid. If the applicant does not have the OBC non-creamy layer certificate valid for the financial year 2025-2026 at the time of registration, the applicant must upload the previously issued (older) OBC non-creamy layer certificate with the acknowledgement slip of the OBC non-creamy layer certificate application for renewal. However, at the time when asked to submit/upload the valid certificate, the applicant must produce the applicable certificate valid for financial year (2025-2026) within the date as mentioned above as applicable. This additional certificate (if any) must have a reference of his/her already issued original caste certificate. b. Date(s) of valid EWS certificate: The vacancies advertised under EWS Category are as per the instructions issued by DoPT, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Govt. of India, vide OM. No. 36039/1/2019-Estt (Res), dated 31.01.2019. Application under EWS category will be considered subject to submission of Income and Assets certificate on a prescribed format issued by the competent authority and subject to verification of genuineness of the certificate by the issuing authority. In pursuance to DoP&T OM No. 36039/1/2019-Estt (Res), dated 31.01.2019, a EWS certificate issued in prescribed format for employment in Central Government on the basis of income of financial year 2024-2025 issued from 01.04.2025 to 21.11.2025 valid for the financial year 2025-2026 will be considered valid. Any Certificate issued before 01-04-2025 and issued after 21-11-2025 will not be considered valid where last date of application is 21-11-2025.
14. Further no “Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)” candidate of any subcategory there under shall be allowed to change his/her sub-category of disability. If the certificates uploaded by application to support their claim for PwBD reservation are found to invalid as defined under The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 to enable him/her to get the benefits of PwBD reservation, then the applicant’s candidature as PwBD shall be cancelled and will be considered as Non-PwBD candidate.
15. If it is established, at any time during the process of conduct of DHR-BRET-2025 or later, that applicant has deliberately furnished incorrect information or has uploaded incorrect images (including morphed/digitally edited) for the purpose of falsification of identify/impersonation, it shall be treated as an attempt to cheat and the candidature shall be annulled and further legal and disciplinary actions will be taken. Information related to legal and disciplinary action is mentioned under Section XIII.

Examination of DHR-BRET-2025
The online CBT mode examination of DHR-BRET-2025 will be conducted on date as specified in important dates link. Applicants are required to be in possession of a print out of Admit Card downloaded from the portal of DHR-BRET-2025, to be allowed to appear for examination. No candidate will be allowed to enter the examination center unless he/she possess an Admit Card valid for DHR-BRET-2025. All requirements mentioned in the Admit Card must be complied for entry into the examination center. The admit card must bear the details of printout such as IP address etc. Candidate must follow the instruction given in Admit Card along with other relevant information that will be published on DHR- BRET-2025 portal. The decision of AIIMS regarding allotment of centers and shift shall be final and will not change. No further correspondence from the applications for change of center and shift will be entertained.

Syllabus & Structure of Question Paper
The syllabus and level of questions in all components of the examination — Aptitude & Analytical Skills, General/Interdisciplinary Knowledge, and Domain-Specific Knowledge — will correspond to the subjects and topics ordinarily prescribed and expected at the qualifying degree level, commensurate with the standards required for pursuing higher studies and research in the relevant fields. The Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (DHR-BRET) will be a Computer Based Test (CBT) of 150 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 180 minutes.
The questions will be drawn in from following components in given manner :
1. Aptitude and Analytical Skills– SECTION-A
This component will assess general aptitude (approx. 50 questions) relevant to biomedical
research consisting of, including:
• Reading comprehension
• Reasoning ability (verbal, non-verbal, data interpretation, deductive reasoning)
• Analytical ability (logical reasoning, data analysis)
• Quantitative ability (numerical analysis, graphical interpretation)
• Quantitative comparison
2. General & Interdisciplinary Knowledge – SECTION -B
This component will test broad-based fundamentals (approx. 50 questions) common across biomedical and life sciences, including:
• Molecular basis of cellular changes
• Cell structure and communication
• Basic physiology
• Genetics and genomics
• Evolution and origin of life
• Biotechnology processes and applications
• Biosafety and bioethics
• Immunology (innate and adaptive)
• Common bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections
3. Domain-Specific Knowledge – SECTION-C
Each candidate must choose one discipline at the time of application. Questions (approx. 50 questions) will be drawn from the chosen subject domain, selected from the following list :
A. Microbiology (Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Entomology, Mycology)
B. Biochemistry
C. Biostatistics
D. Veterinary Science / Medicine
E. Public Health
F. Nursing
G. Biotechnology
H. Social & Behavioural Sciences (Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology)
I. Nutrition
J. Pharmacology
K. Biological Science (Life Science, Human Biology, Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Botany)

Online Registration for application
Closing Date : 08.12.2025 (by 5:00 pm)
Status of Registration and last date of correction of rejected Images / incorrect registration details
Start date : 11.12.2025
Closing Date : 13.12.2025 (by 5:00 pm)
Uploading of admit card on AIIMS website : Will be declared later
Date of Examination : Will be declared later