About this education scheme
Through this scheme, fellowships will be provided for pursuing higher studies/ advanced research in renewable energy. The fellowship scheme is directly aligned with the overall requirement of renewable energy, research thrust areas identified by MNRE.
Launched in 2021, the scheme "National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme" has been launched by the Human Resources Development Division, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, aims to promote education and research in renewable energy. The scheme provides financial fellowships to meritorious students and researchers for higher studies like M.Tech, M.Sc., PhD, and post-doctoral research. It focuses on advanced and industry-relevant research in renewable energy technologies. The scheme is implemented with a total budget of Rs. 200 crore for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26. Around 375 fellowships will be awarded over five years based on merit and industry demand. It also aims to create skilled manpower and support innovation and commercialisation in the renewable energy sector.
Benefits at a glance
| Scheme name | National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREFS) |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Ministry Of New and Renewable Energy |
| Benefit type | Cash (money paid to your bank account) |
| Category | Education |
| Level / State | Central · All India |
| Official portal | hrd.mnre.gov.in (link at the end of this page) |
Key facts
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
|---|---|
| Scheme for | Individual |
| Application mode | Offline |
| Last date | Ongoing (no last date notified) |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | Yes |
| Age | 21 to 55 years |
Who can apply (quick check)
- 👤All genders
- 🎂Age 21 to 55 years
- 📝Offline
Quick check from official data. Full conditions are in the Eligibility section.
What you receive
| Category | Fellowship (Rs. /month) | HRA | Contingency (Rs. /annum) | Duration |
| JRF | Rs. 31,000/- | As per the central govt. norms | Rs. 20,000/-Per Month | 2 years |
| SRF | Rs. 35,000/- | -do- | -do- | 2 years |
| PDF/RA | Rs. 47,000/- (Level I), Rs. 49,000/- (Level II), Rs. 54,000/- (Level III). | -do- | -do- | 2 years |
| M.Tech/M.S | Rs. 12,400/- | - | - | 20-24 months (as per the institute norm) |
| M.Sc (Renewable Energy) | Rs. 4,000/- | - | - | 24 months (as per the institute norms) |
Notes:
- Flexible Allocation: The number of fellowships in each category (M.Tech, M.Sc, JRF, SRF, RA) is interchangeable based on the quality of research proposals and industry demand.
- Monthly Disbursement: All fellowships are disbursed on a monthly basis directly into the beneficiary's bank account via DBT mode upon receipt of attendance/continuation reports from host institutions.
Who qualifies
Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant
- The applicant must be pursuing higher studies in renewable energy, viz. M.Sc, M. Tech, PhD in Renewable Energy technologies OR The applicant must be a Research Associate or post-doctoral Fellow pursuing advanced research in MNRE institutions and other key institutions.
- These Fellowships will exclusively be awarded for Courses on Renewable Energy related subjects only.
- These Institutions will select the students for M.Tech /PhD courses through GATE Score, CSIR Score, or CSIR-JRF /AICTE/NET Qualified Score only.
- M.Sc fellowships will be provided only to students pursuing an M.Sc in renewable energy qualified with NET.
NOTE 1: The Ministry would be guided by the norms of CSIR/DST/UGC for the eligibility of the candidates for JRF/SRF/RA/PDF.
NOTE 2: The Ministry would be guided by the AICTE guidelines for M.Tech and the Department of Biotechnology norms for M.Sc in renewable energy.
Eligibility Criteria for the Institute
- Only those institutes will be considered for the allocation of fellowship slots that are in the Top 100 institutes under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), with faculty for the required expertise in relevant areas of RE and infrastructure facilities available at such institutes for RE education and research in RE, etc.
- The scheme is open for Universities, Technical Institutions, and national laboratories having facilities for research in the identified thrust areas of RE, and institutes having M.Tech./ Integrated M.Sc. courses in energy studies/ renewable energy with specialisation in any branch of renewable energy.
Who is not eligible
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In addition to the above documents, applicants may also be required to submit the following, depending on their category:
Registration walkthrough
Offline
Step 1: Visit the official website in any browser (Preferable Browser: Chrome)
Step 2: Click on "Register" menu option on Home page of HRD portal for creating the account/registration.
Step 3: Download Sandes Application on Android/iOS mobile for mobile number verification.
Step 4: On Registration page, select "Student" category and other mandatory fields followed by clicking on Submit button.
Step 5: Check OTP in Sandes Application and enter the same received OTP to complete registration.
Step 6: Check your inbox for receiving temporary password. Login to account using your registered email ID and password shared via email. .
Step 7: After login, Click on "Entries" menu option followed by "Internship Form".
Step 8: Fill required fields in Internship application and click "Submit".
Step 9: Check your application status by logging to your account.
Call for Applications:
Step 1: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) publishes annual advertisements inviting applications from universities and institutes engaged in renewable energy education and research.
Step 2: Interested institutes or universities must apply for the allocation of fellowship slots against the advertisement to the Ministry.
Selection Process for the Institutes:
Step 3: The selection of these host institutes is conducted by a committee chaired by eminent scientists and professors, including experts from reputed academic institutions and Directors General of NISE, NIWE, and NIBE.
Step 4: Once an institute is selected and sanctioned with a specific number of fellowship slots, it conducts its own internal selection through its Research or Administrative committees.
Selection Process for the Candidates:
Step 5: The selected institutes identify meritorious candidates who meet the MNRE eligibility criteria and forward the details of these NREF fellows to the Ministry.
Step 6: The host institution must forward the specific details of the students every year against the sanctioned number of fellowship slots allocated to that particular institute.
Step 7: Upon receipt and verification of the names, the Ministry officially awards the fellowships to the individual students/candidates based on their eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
What role do the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode and beneficiary Bank Accounts play in disbursing fellowships?
DBT mode ensures direct, transparent, and efficient transfer of fellowship funds to beneficiaries' bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and enhancing accountability.
Can you elaborate on the payment schedule and the importance of attendance from host institutions?
Payments begin from the Date of Joining, and the Ministry disburses fellowships monthly based on attendance and continuation reports provided by host institutions.
What is the role of the Scientist-in-charge, HRD in the selection process for institutes?
The Scientist-in-charge, HRD acts as the convener of the selection committee, facilitating coordination and ensuring a smooth selection process.
Could you explain the reasons for interchangeability of the number of fellowships in different categories?
Interchangeability depends on factors like the number of applications received, the quality of proposed research work, and the demand from the industry, which can vary annually.
Are there any specific provisions for fellowships targeted at renewable energy research related to cutting-edge technologies?
Yes, the scheme is designed to support research in cutting-edge technology areas related to renewable energy, aligning with the Ministry's thrust areas.
What measures are in place to ensure transparency in the selection process of institutes and candidates?
The selection committees consist of eminent scientists, experts, and professionals, which helps ensure a transparent and unbiased selection process.
How do the funding rates for fellowships for M.Tech and M.Sc compare to the rates for JRF, SRF, and RA/PDF?
Funding for M.Tech and M.Sc is comparatively lower, indicating the Ministry's focus on promoting advanced research through JRF, SRF, and RA/PDF.
Can you explain the liability for fellowships sanctioned from 2022-23 onwards spilling over beyond the scheme period?
Fellowships awarded after 2022-23 may extend beyond the scheme period as per their fellowship duration, ensuring that students have adequate time to complete their research.
How does the Ministry ensure that fellowship slots are allocated to institutes with the required expertise in renewable energy areas?
Institutes are considered based on their ranking under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and the presence of faculty and infrastructure for research and education in renewable energy.
Could you elaborate on the significance of technology areas not being of a generic nature in the fellowship scheme?
The fellowship scheme focuses on frontier-edge research in technology development. It means the research undertaken should be at the cutting edge of technology and not general or commonly practiced research.
What is the selection process for the institutes applying for fellowship slots?
Institutes are selected by a committee chaired by eminent scientists/professors, and the selection committee includes experts from reputed academic institutions, DG, NISE, NIWE, and NIBE, Group Head, and HRD.
How does the application process work for institutes and universities interested in these fellowships?
MNRE publishes annual advertisements inviting applications from universities and institutes for fellowships for higher education and research in renewable energy thrust areas.
What is the mode of disbursal for the fellowships?
Fellowships are disbursed on a monthly basis through beneficiary Bank Accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
How are the fellowship payments structured in terms of duration?
Fellowship payments commence from the Date of Joining of the candidates and continue on a monthly basis.
Submit your application yourself on the official portal; it costs nothing. Treat anyone demanding money to "get you approved" as a scam.
- Guidelines hrd.mnre.gov.in (PDF)
tsmpb.in is not affiliated with any government department. Apply only on the official portal and never pay anyone for an application.
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