ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) 2025: Eligibility, Benefits, and Application Process for Ph.D.

ICAR awards a certain number of Senior Research Fellowships for Ph.D. in an Agricultural University (AU), in different disciplines of agriculture and allied sciences. This is done to encourage talented students to undertake higher agricultural education.

In order to address the emerging challenges of agricultural research and education, the ICAR supports specific time-bound schemes/projects. The schemes/projects generally have provisions for time-bound/non-regular/ contractual engagement of manpower, contingencies, and limited need-based traveling allowance (TA), besides other specifically needed provisions for a particular scheme/project. In supersession of all previous guidelines, the following guidelines are formulated to regulate all aspects relating to engagement, emoluments, and terms and conditions of Senior Research Fellows and Research Associates working in ICAR schemes.

Benefits of the ICAR SRF Scheme

The ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) provides financial support to selected candidates as follows:

Discipline	Monthly Fellowship Amount	Annual Contingency Grant
Veterinary Sciences	₹12,000	₹6,000
All Other Disciplines	₹8,640	₹6,000

Note: The fellowship rates and contingency grants may be revised periodically by ICAR.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF), candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Educational Qualification

Must have completed a Master’s degree in an agricultural or allied science discipline.
Must have secured at least 55% marks or equivalent OGPA (5.5/10, 2.75/5.00, or 2.20/4.00).
For SC/ST and PH candidates, the minimum marks required are 50%.
Final-year postgraduate students can apply, but they must complete their degree before the examination.

2. Age Limit

General Category: Maximum 30 years as of the exam date.
SC/ST/PH Categories: Relaxation of 5 years (Maximum 35 years).
OBC Category: Relaxation of 3 years (Maximum 33 years).
In-service candidates from Agricultural Universities (AU): Maximum 45 years.

3. Admission Requirements

Candidates must secure admission into a Ph.D. program in an Agricultural University (AU) other than the one from which they completed their master’s degree.
Fellowships are not available for institutions outside the Agricultural Universities (AUs) recognized by ICAR.

Note: Reservations for SC/ST/OBC and PH candidates are applicable as per Government of India guidelines. The concerned Agricultural University (AU) is responsible for verifying category certificates.

Application Process

Step 1: Online Registration

Visit the ICAR SRF Application Portal.
Click on “Apply Online”.
Provide valid Email ID and Mobile Number for registration.

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

Enter Personal Details, Academic Qualifications, and Contact Information.
Upload required documents (Photograph, Signature, Thumb Impression).
Select the preferred Agricultural University (AU) for Ph.D. admission.

Step 3: Pay the Application Fee

Proceed to the payment gateway and pay the application fee.
Save the payment receipt for future reference.

Step 4: Submit & Print Application

After submitting, download and print the system-generated Application Form.
Send a hard copy of the application form along with proof of fee payment to COE (Agril. Edn.) by post.

Application Correction Window:

ICAR provides a one-time correction window after form submission.
Applicants can edit mistakes within the given timeframe.

Documents Required

Applicants must upload and submit the following documents during the application process:

Document	Format & Size
Recent Passport-Size Photograph	JPG (10kb – 200kb)
Scanned Signature	JPG (4kb – 30kb)
Thumb Impression	JPG (3kb – 30kb)
Government Identity Proof (Aadhaar, PAN, EPIC, Passport)	PDF
Payment Receipt of Application Fee	PDF
Proof of Address, Email, and Contact Number	PDF
Bank Account Details for Fellowship Payment	PDF
Three Identical Copies of the Latest Passport-Size Photograph	Physical Copy
Post-Office Receipt as Proof of Application Dispatch	Physical Copy

Note:

Male candidates should submit a left thumb impression, while female candidates should submit a right thumb impression.
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does ICAR release application forms for Ph.D. courses?
Yes, ICAR conducts an entrance examination for Ph.D. admissions in recognized Agricultural Universities (AUs) through the ICAR-SRF-PGS program.

2. How can I apply for the ICAR SRF Fellowship?
Candidates must apply online through the official ICAR website, complete the application form, and send a hard copy by post after submission.

3. Can I submit more than one application?
No, only one application per candidate is allowed.

4. What documents do I need to upload?
Applicants must upload a passport-size photograph, signature, thumb impression, government ID proof, and payment receipt during online registration.

5. How can I pay the application fee?
The application fee must be paid online through the ICAR payment gateway.

6. Can I edit my application after submission?
Yes, ICAR provides a correction window for rectifying mistakes. However, once this window closes, no further changes are allowed.

7. Where will the ICAR SRF Fellowship be applicable?
The fellowship is only applicable for Agricultural Universities (AUs) under ICAR. It cannot be used for other universities.

8. What happens if I fail to submit the required documents?
Applications without required documents will be rejected.