Pharma Research Fellowship under Human Resource Development

The Human Resource Development (HRD) Sub-scheme aims to provide advanced capacity building in India to medical and health research personnel in cutting-edge research related to medicine and health for creating trained human resources for carrying out advanced research activities.

The following online research proposals are invited for the year 2026-27 from eligible applicants from North Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura) :
1. Women Scientist Fellowship Programme
2. NRI/PIO/OCI Research Support Programme

WOMEN SCIENTISTS FELLOWSHIP
A large proportion of women undertake bio-medical education at graduation, post- graduation, and doctorate levels. However, the present number of working women in bio- medical research appears to be lower than expected and the same needs to be 14 addressed. The problems faced by women scientists are several, but significantly, most often take the "break in their careers" arising out of motherhood and family responsibilities. The options for revival of their profession or career are limited due to restrictions in age and qualification. Under this scheme, women scientists will be encouraged to return and pursue their career in biomedical/health research.
The woman scientist shall be submitting the research plan in either of the identified areas of research (mentioned in para 4) through any medical college/bio-medical research institute/ Central or State University under one faculty member.

Eligibility:
1. Only Indian citizens and presently unemployed having at least 1 year of recent career break and not more than 5 years of break, having qualifications as prescribed for category A or category B will be eligible in respective categories.
2. Category- A: Having M.D./ M.S./ M.D.S. or MBBS/ BDS/ M.VSc./ M.Sc./ M.Pharma/ M.Tech or equivalent with Ph.D. in the topic related to health research.
3. Category-B: Having MBBS/ BDS. or M.Sc./ M.Pharma/ M.Tech or equivalent and enrolled in PhD program with least 2 years of Work Experience after the degree.
4. The woman scientist shall be submitting the research plan in either of the identified areas of research (mentioned in para 4) through any medical college/bio-medical research institute under one faculty member.
5. Candidates already in a job or having any other fellowship or support are not eligible.
6. Candidates having research publications in indexed journals will be given preference.
7. Women of 30-45 years of age as of the last date of receipt of application are eligible. 8. Fellowship is to the applicant scientist and area specific and cannot be transferred.
9. Age relaxation would be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC and the physically challenged category as per the Govt. rules.
10. Break-in career should be substantiated with valid reasoning while applying. Women candidates with breaks due to motherhood, or family reasons will be preferred. Break in career due to medical reasons should be supported by a proper certificate from Govt. hospitals. If a break in service has been awarded due to administrative reasons, such cases would not be considered.

Financial Support
1. The fellow shall submit a research proposal and shall be working with or under the supervision of a regular faculty of a Research Institute.
2. Category A: A stipend of Rs. 90,000/- per month (consolidated amount for medical persons) and Rs. 67,000+HRA for non-medical candidates for 3 years and a research grant of up to Rs.10.00 lakhs per year will be given to meet the expenses of field work, consumables required for the research and attending meetings for project related discussions, etc.
3. Category B: A stipend of Rs. 65,000/- per month (for medical persons) and Rs. 48,000+HRA per month (for non-medical persons) for 5 years or till completion of PHD, whichever is earlier and a research grant of up to Rs.10.00 lakhs per year will be given to meet the expenses of field work, consumables required for the research and attending meetings for project related discussions, etc.

NRI/PIO/OCI Research Support Programme.
• A large number of Indian scientists go to foreign countries, especially European and North American countries, after completing their education in India and many of them are working in reputed medical/health research organizations. A number of these scientists are willing to return to India to serve the country in the field of health research, provided they get suitable opportunities. Since many of these scientists have exposure to high technologies in the front areas of research, the country will benefit greatly if they are provided some platform to work in Indian institutes. The Department of Health Research (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare), Government of India, has launched the program “to encourage research personnel [Non-resident Indian (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)] serving abroad, to come back to India for undertaking research in identified areas”.
• This Scheme has been designed to provide contractual research positions to the Indian scientists settled abroad who are willing to come back to India on a full-time basis or for a short duration to pursue medical/health research in India and take up health research projects in collaboration with Indian scientists, particularly in areas of national priority.
• There will be provision to provide financial support to the brilliant medical doctors/scientists of Indian origin from all over the world who wish to return to India, to take up research positions in the ICMR or other medical college/institute of their choice to pursue the objective. Under the scheme, the NRI/OCI/PIO will be submitting the proposal in the various areas of medical/health/biomedical research, developed in collaboration with an Indian researcher, who should be a regular employee of Govt. a research institution or medical college in India. Though all areas in medical/health/biomedical research are proposed to be covered under the scheme given the need to generate new knowledge on a wide range of subjects, the focus will be on priority Areas of Health Research (Para 4).

Eligibility
1. Only persons of Indian origin, non-resident Indian, and overseas citizens of India, as defined by the Government of India, and currently working abroad.
2. Having M.D./ M.S./ M.D.S. or M.Tech/ M.VSc./ M.Sc./ M. Pharma/ M. Tech or equivalent with Ph.D. in a topic related to health research.
3. The candidate should have at least three years of research experience in a foreign country as NRI/PIO/OCI; after obtaining the PhD/MD or equivalent degree with an excellent track record as reflected in publications and other recognitions.
4. The candidate shall submit the research plan in the areas identified for the program for research studies in collaboration with a regular faculty working in an Indian institute.
5. Candidate should be below the age of 45 years.
6. Age relaxation to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC and the physically challenged category would be given as per Govt. policy and norms.

Mode of Selection : Selection of the research project of NRI/OCI/PIO will be made through the Expert Committees by the Secretary DHR.

Financial Support
• Each selected researcher shall be eligible to receive a consolidated stipend of Rs.1.2 lakhs per month for 3 years. Research Grants would be available for research studies/projects not exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs/year.
• The project will be extendable for another 2 years at the discretion of the Secretary DHR on the recommendation of the Expert Committee. However, no stipend will be provided for the extendable 2 years although the research grant will be provided.
• In case the researcher finds a permanent position during the tenure of the position, the remuneration shall be discontinued from the day he/she joins in permanent position, but he/she may continue with the Research Grant for the project, for the remaining duration of the project.
• Provision would be available for keeping a research staff out of a Research Grant during the tenure of the fellowship.
• The Research Grant for the project which mostly will be of a laboratory nature; shall be divided into two (2) broad budget heads with the following indicative breakup:
▪ Recurring (including Project Manpower, Travel, Consumables & Contingencies, Overhead) - 65%. However, Travel and Contingencies would be limited to 10% each.
▪ Equipment - 35%
• Each Awardee needs to provide a proposal with a detailed breakup as above for utilization of the Research Grant and the Host/Parent Institution needs to adhere to the approved breakup for the entire project period.
• The amount (consolidated stipend and research grant) will be released in favor of the Head of the Parent/Host Indian Institution, where the research project will be undertaken and will be kept in a separate account.

Roles and requirements of host institutions
1. Host institutions should be encouraged to provide a congenial atmosphere for the awardees to excel in their work.
2. Access to all common infrastructural facilities, acceptable laboratory, and office space (Independently or on a shared basis), computing, library access, etc.
3. The institution’s willingness to consider the candidate for a permanent position in due course will be subject to the meeting, rules, regulations, and all relevant statutory requirements.
4. Furnishing of the Utilization Certificate (UC) and the audited statement of account from the audit authority, as applicable to the Host Institute, as per the provisions of the General Financial Rules.

Also, the applications for International Travel Grants are invited on DHR’s ePMS portal on rolling basis. Candidates from North Eastern states are encouraged to apply for these grants. *All projects involving research on human beings/animals must be cleared by the Human R.12018/03/2024-HR I/3902376/2026 Ethics Committee/ Animal Ethics Committee of the respective institute. All Fellowships are subjected approval by Technical Evaluation Committee / Project Approval Committee and availability of funds under the Scheme.

Last date of receipt of full-length research proposals on e-PMS Portal:30.11.2026 till 5:00 PM.