Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowships In Sciences 2026

The Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowships in Sciences, launched by the UGC, offers financial support and Read More... a streamlined application process for young researchers to pursue full-time research. Read less

Details

Are you a bright young mind with a PhD in Science looking to take your research further? The Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowships in Sciences could be just the opportunity you need. Introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC), this scheme aims to provide a flexible, fast-track platform for talented researchers.

What is the Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowship?

This fellowship is designed to support full-time research work for scientists who have completed their PhD. It's a step towards a more efficient and modern approach to providing post-doctoral research opportunities, moving away from traditional methods towards an online handling and decision-making system.

Who can benefit from this scheme?

The fellowship is primarily for young researchers, ideally under 35 years of age, who have earned their PhD in a science faculty. The scheme also adheres to the Government of India's reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PH).

Why this scheme is important

This initiative recognizes the need for dedicated support for post-doctoral research in science. It offers significant financial assistance and a clear structure, encouraging promising researchers to contribute to scientific advancements without the immediate pressure of employment.

Objective

The Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowships in Sciences, launched by the UGC, offers financial support and a streamlined application process for young researchers to pursue full-time research.

Benefits

Financial Assistance:

The tenure of the award is three years with no provision for further extension. The financial assistance available under the scheme is as follows:

Fellowship:

@ Rs. 43,800/- pm for I year

@ Rs.45,000/- pm for II year

@ Rs. 46,500/- pm for III year

Contingency:

@Rs.1,00,000/-p.a.

HRA:

Suitable hostel accommodation may be provided to the candidates in the institutions. In such cases, the fellow is eligible to draw only hostel fees excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA is not permissible for those candidates who are staying in Hostel accommodation.
In case of non-availability of hostel accommodation, the fellow may be provided with single accommodation by the host institution. In such cases, the rent paid by the fellow on an actual basis may be reimbursed subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms.
If the fellow makes her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to draw HRA as per the categorization of cities by the Govt. of India.

Medical:

No separate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the Post-Doctoral Fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/College.

Leave:

Leave for a maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to public holidays may be taken by the Post-Doctoral Fellow with the approval of the Head of the Department. However, they are not entitled to any other vacations, such as summer, winter, and pooja vacations.
Candidates are eligible for maternity/ paternity to leave at full rates of the fellowship as per Government of India rules once during the tenure of the award.
The fellow, in special cases, may be allowed by the Commission, academic leave without fellowship and contingency for a period not exceeding one year during the tenure of the award on the recommendation of the Head of the department of the institution concerned to undertake academic/ teaching assignment or foreign travel in connection with academic work. The expenditure on travel cannot be claimed from UGC. The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the tenure.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must have a doctorate (PhD) degree in a relevant science subject, ideally with published research work.
Only candidates who have been awarded their PhD and are currently unemployed are eligible.
The upper age limit is 35 years. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST/OBC/Women candidates, following Government of India norms.

How To Apply

The application process for the Dr. D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowships is entirely online. Interested candidates can apply through the official portal. While the exact steps might vary, generally, you will need to:

Visit the official application website: http://ugcdskpdf.unipune.ac.in/
Register and fill out the application form with all required details.
Upload necessary documents.
Submit the application.

The selection process is designed to be completed within 6 weeks of receiving your application.

Documents Required

When applying and for post-selection processes, you will typically need the following documents:

Aadhaar Card
Educational Qualification Certificates (including PhD degree certificate)
Proof of Age
Bank account details (for fellowship disbursement)
Community/caste certificate, if applicable (for reservation benefits)

Post-Selection Formalities:

Joining Report: Selected candidates must submit a Joining Report in the prescribed format along with the UGC Award Letter to the designated Canara Bank branch. This report needs to be signed by the Head of the Department and countersigned by the Registrar of the institution.
Continuation Certificate: A Continuation Certificate must be submitted to the designated Canara Bank branch every three months to ensure continued fellowship disbursement.
Contingency Utilization Certificate: After one year, a contingency utilization certificate needs to be submitted to the designated Canara Bank branch for the release of the next year's contingency grant.
HRA Certificate: If claiming HRA, an HRA certificate must be submitted to the designated Canara Bank branch every three months.

Official Sources:

For information on designated bank branches: https://dskpdf.ugc.ac.in/Downloads/UGC_BRANCH_LIST.pdf

FAQ’s

When is the last date to apply for the fellowship?

There's no specific deadline for applications. The scheme operates on a rolling advertisement basis, meaning you can apply anytime as the process for thesis submission and PhD award is ongoing.

Can I apply if I am currently employed after my PhD?

No, this fellowship is exclusively for candidates who have completed their PhD and are currently unemployed.

What is the monthly fellowship amount for the first year?

The fellowship amount for the first year is ₹ 43,800/- per month.

Is there any provision for paternity or maternity leave?

Yes, candidates are eligible for maternity or paternity leave at the full rate of the fellowship for the entire duration once during their award tenure, as per Government of India rules.

How often do I need to submit a continuation certificate?

You need to submit the Continuation Certificate to the designated Canara Bank branch every three months to receive your fellowship payments for the next quarter.

What is the annual contingency allowance?

The annual contingency allowance provided is ₹ 1,00,000/-.

How long does it typically take to get selected after applying?

The selection process is designed to be completed within 6 weeks from the date your application is received.

Can I claim travel expenses under this fellowship?

No, the fellowship does not cover travel expenses, and you cannot claim them from the UGC.

What is the total duration of the fellowship?

The fellowship is tenable for a period of 2 years.

How can I get my fellowship amount disbursed?

The fellowship amount is directly transferred to your bank account by the UGC-designated bank. You can find a list of these designated branches on the UGC portal.

What proof of research work is needed?

While a doctorate degree in the relevant subject is mandatory, having published research work to your credit is preferred.

Does the scheme follow reservation policies?

Yes, the scheme strictly follows the Government of India's reservation policy for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PH).

What if I don't get hostel accommodation? Can I still get HRA?

Yes, if hostel accommodation is unavailable, you may be provided single accommodation by the institution. If you make your own arrangements, you are eligible for HRA as per Government of India norms based on city categorization.

How many days of leave can a fellow take in a year?

You can take a maximum of 30 days of leave annually, in addition to public holidays, with the approval of your Head of Department. You are not entitled to other vacation breaks.

Is there an age limit to apply for this fellowship?

Yes, the upper age limit for applicants is 35 years. However, age relaxation is provided for SC/ST/OBC/Women candidates as per Government of India rules.

Can I apply offline for this fellowship?

No, the entire application process is managed online through a dedicated portal. Offline applications are not accepted.

What is the purpose of introducing this fellowship?

This fellowship was introduced to create a more flexible, fast-track, and online system for post-doctoral research support, complementing existing positions offered by other agencies.

What medical benefits are provided to the fellows?

No separate medical allowance is provided. However, fellows can avail of the medical facilities available at their university, institution, or college.