Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Netaji Subhas - ICAR International Fellowship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Academic Qualification: A Master’s degree in agriculture or allied sciences with a minimum OGPA of 6.60 out of 10.0 or 65% marks is required.
• Age Limit:
  • Fresh candidates should be no older than 35 years as of the application deadline.
  • In-service candidates have an upper age limit of 40 years as of the application deadline.
• Candidate Type: The fellowship is open to both fresh candidates and in-service professionals. Fresh candidates should have completed their qualifying degree within two years before the admission year. In-service candidates from India must be employed within the ICAR-AU system.
• Research Areas and Institutions: The Council will announce the priority research areas and designated institutions for applications annually.

Important Conditions and Requirements:

• Bank Guarantee/Recovery:
  • Indian selected fellows must provide an irrevocable bank guarantee of US$ 10,000 (or its Rupee equivalent) valid for the entire fellowship duration.
  • Overseas selected fellows will have an amount of ₹ 2,00,000 recovered from their fellowship grants as security, paid in two installments. This amount will be returned upon successful completion of their Ph.D.
• Service Bond for Indian In-service Candidates: Selected Indian in-service candidates must sign a bond with their current institution to serve there for at least three years after completing their degree.
• Continuance of Fellowship:
  • Fellows must submit bi-annual progress reports, certified by their advisor/supervisor.
  • Candidates must not change their place of work or research area without prior approval. An undertaking to this effect is required upon acceptance.
  • Full-time dedication to studies and research is mandatory.
  • Satisfactory academic progress, reflected in grades and supervisor certification, is essential for continued support.
  • Unsatisfactory performance or conduct can lead to termination of the fellowship.
  • This fellowship is not for short-term training or research.
• Medical Fitness and Insurance: Selected fellows must undergo a medical fitness test and obtain medical insurance at their own expense.
• Fees: All fees charged by the host institution must be paid by the fellow from their fellowship grant or personal resources.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Fellows are expected to protect IPR generated during their studies. ICAR will have a share in any patents or knowledge created. Any other IP agreements must be shared with ICAR. Publications must acknowledge ICAR's support.
• Completion Report: Upon completing the program, both Indian and overseas fellows must submit a copy of their dissertation/thesis and a brief report on their activities and research contributions to ICAR within 15 days.
• Return to India for Indian Fellows: Indian fellows must return to India after completing their Ph.D. If offered a suitable position in the ICAR-AU system, they must serve there. Failure to comply may result in recovery of the entire fellowship amount plus 10% overhead costs.