The applicant should have a valid and tenable National-level Fellowship (JRF/SRF from agencies like CSIR, ICMR, UGC, DBT, DST, etc.) or equivalent fellowships like DBT-BET, INSPIRE, RGNF, etc.

Experience: Must have been employed as a project assistant in a sanctioned R&D project at the Institute for at least one year.

Permission: Requires prior permission from the PI of the project and concurrence of the Institute's Director.

Publication Requirement: Those without a national level examination qualification must have at least one publication in an SCI journal with substantial research contribution as co-author.

Exemptions: Project assistants who have qualified any Ph.D. qualifying national level examination (NET-LS, GATE, BET, JEST, etc.), even without a valid fellowship, are exempt from the publication requirement.

Financial Assistance: The financial assistance from the project to the applicant should be valid for at least one year from the notified date of commencement of the academic session.

Evaluation: Must meet eligibility conditions and be critically evaluated by the Screening and Selection committee.

Selection: Based on an oral examination by the Selection Committee.

Continuation: Post-project tenure, students may continue without a fellowship with the Director's approval, or their admission will be cancelled.

Group-IV Scientists and Group-III Technical Staff may apply with prior approval from the Ph.D. Ad-hoc screening committee and the Director.

Requires an endorsement (No Objection Certificate) from the current employer.

Selected candidates must fulfill the Pre-Ph.D. coursework requirements by attending the Institute in person.