The CIFE – Institutional Fellowship is an initiative of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It provides financial support to students pursuing Master’s (M.F.Sc.) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in fisheries sciences. The fellowship aims to encourage research and higher education in fisheries science disciplines and offers financial assistance for research-related expenses, tuition fees, and living allowances.
Since its recognition as a Deemed University in 1989, CIFE has been offering specialized degree programs in eleven disciplines of fisheries sciences, making it one of the leading institutions in this field.
Benefits
ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for Master’s Degree (M.F.Sc.)
- Monthly Fellowship Amount: ₹5,760/- for two years.
- Contingent Grant: ₹6,000/- per annum for essential chemicals, equipment, books, and travel for research data collection.
- Renewal Condition: Fellowship continues only if the student maintains the required OGPA (Overall Grade Point Average) as per CIFE guidelines.
- Scholastic Probation: Students who fail a course but maintain OGPA will still receive the fellowship but will be on probation until they clear the failed subject.
- Condition: Fellowship is available only if the candidate enrolls in a different university/institute than the one where they obtained their Bachelor’s degree.
ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) for Ph.D. Degree
- Monthly Fellowship Amount:
- ₹7,000/- per month (First two years).
- ₹5,600/- per month (Third year).
- Contingent Grant: ₹10,000/- per annum for research expenses.
- Utilization of Contingency Grant:
- ₹2,500/- (First year) for books.
- ₹2,500/- (First year) for thesis preparation.
- Remaining grant is used for research-related expenses.
Institutional Fellowship for M.F.Sc. & Ph.D. Programs
- M.F.Sc. Fellowship: ₹5,040/- per month for two years.
- Ph.D. Fellowship: ₹7,000/- per month for three years.
- Contingent Grant:
- ₹6,000/- per annum (M.F.Sc.)
- ₹10,000/- per annum (Ph.D.)
- Grant Usage: Similar to SRF, including book purchases, research, and thesis preparation.
Eligibility Criteria
For M.F.Sc. Admission & Fellowship
- Educational Qualification:
- Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.) or a related field under the 10+2+4 education system.
- Minimum marks required:
- General/OBC Candidates: 60% marks or OGPA 6.50/10 (3.25/5 or 2.60/4).
- SC/ST Candidates: 55% marks or OGPA 6.00/10 (3.00/5 or 2.40/4).
For Ph.D. Admission & Fellowship
- Educational Qualification:
- B.F.Sc. & M.F.Sc. (4+2 years) or B.Sc. & M.Sc. (3 years from CIFE till 1995).
- Minimum marks required:
- General/OBC Candidates: OGPA 7.5/10 (3.75/5).
- SC/ST Candidates: OGPA 7.00/10 (3.50/5).
- Alternative Eligibility:
- D.F.Sc. holders from CIFE with a Bachelor’s degree in biological science + two years of experience in fisheries development work.
- Sponsored Candidates: Those with M.Sc. in Fish and Fisheries/related disciplines + two years of fisheries development experience.
Foreign Students
- Exempted from appearing in the written test and interview.
- Selection is based on bio-data evaluation and recommendation from the Head of the concerned discipline.
Selection Procedure
For M.F.Sc. Admission
- A National-Level Entrance Exam is conducted by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) in the first week of June.
- Candidates are selected based on Merit in Entrance Examination + Counselling.
- The ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is awarded based on merit rank in the entrance exam.
For Ph.D. Admission
- Admission is based on a written test and interview:
- Academic Score – 20% weightage.
- Subject Matter Written Test Score – 70% weightage.
- Interview Score – 10% weightage.
- From 2020 onwards, admission is based on the National-Level Ph.D. Entrance Test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).
For Foreign Students
- Self-financed foreign students must meet Indian eligibility criteria and will be considered for admission based on their academic records.
- Admissions are conducted through open competition.
Application Process
Online Application Submission
- Visit the ICAR-NTA official website: https://icar.nta.ac.in.
- Fill out the online application form (no offline applications accepted).
- Upload scanned copies of required documents.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Submit the form before the deadline.
Documents Required
Candidates must upload the following scanned documents while applying online:
- Recent Passport-size Photograph.
- Scanned Signature.
- Scanned Thumb Impression.
- Academic Certificates (uploaded later during admission process).
Note: No physical submission of certificates is required at the time of application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q: Is direct admission possible without qualifying for AIEEA-UG/AIEEA-PG/AICE-JRF-SRF(Ph.D.)?
No, all admissions for Indian students are based on national entrance exams. - Q: What is the mode of application?
Applications can only be submitted online at ICAR-NTA website. - Q: Can I submit more than one application form?
No, only one application per candidate is allowed. - Q: How can I pay the application fee?
The application fee can be paid through online banking, credit/debit cards, or UPI. - Q: What is the official website for applying online?
The official website is https://icar.nta.ac.in. - Q: What documents are required while applying online?
Only photograph, signature, and thumb impression need to be uploaded at the application stage.