ICMR JRF is now the DHR-Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (DHR-BRET). AIIMS New Delhi conducts it for the Department of Health Research to award Junior Research Fellowships for a Ph.D. in biomedical and health sciences. DHR-BRET 2026 is not notified yet; registration is expected in November 2026 and the exam in January 2027.
DHR-BRET 2026 (ICMR JRF)
This page covers the expected DHR-BRET 2026 dates, how to apply and the fee, eligibility, the exam pattern and the official documents for the fellowship once called ICMR JRF.
| Full name | DHR-Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (DHR-BRET), formerly the ICMR JRF entrance exam |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | AIIMS New Delhi (Examination Section) for the Department of Health Research (DHR) and ICMR |
| Exam level | National |
| Courses / Purpose | Junior Research Fellowship for a Ph.D. in biomedical and health research |
| Exam date | Expected January 2027 |
| Application | Expected November 2026, online only on aiimsexams.ac.in |
| Application fee | Rs 2,000 (General, OBC); Rs 1,600 (SC, ST, EWS); PwBD exempt (DHR-BRET-2025 notice) |
| Eligibility | M.Sc. or equivalent PG in a life or health science with 55% (50% SC, ST, PwBD); age up to 35 |
| Mode | Online, computer-based test (CBT) |
| Questions and marks | 150 MCQs in three sections, 150 marks, 3 hours |
| Negative marking | 0.25 mark deducted for each wrong answer (+1 for a correct answer) |
| Official website | aiimsexams.ac.in |
DHR-BRET 2026 Important Dates
DHR and AIIMS have not announced the DHR-BRET 2026 schedule yet, so the dates below are expected months. The last sitting, DHR-BRET-2025, took registrations from 1 November to 8 December 2025 and was held on 10 January 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| DHR-BRET-2026 notice | October 2026 Expected |
| Online application | November 2026 Expected |
| DHR-BRET-2026 admit card | January 2027 Expected |
| DHR-BRET-2026 exam | January 2027 Expected |
| Result | March 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for DHR-BRET 2026
You apply for DHR-BRET 2026 online on the AIIMS exams portal, aiimsexams.ac.in, after AIIMS publishes the notice. There is no offline form. The exam was called ICMR JRF until it was merged into DHR-BRET, so look for the DHR-BRET listing, not ICMR JRF.
Apply Online for DHR-BRET (ICMR JRF) 2027
Applications for DHR-BRET (ICMR JRF) 2027 are expected in November 2026.
- Go to aiimsexams.ac.in and open the DHR-BRET 2026 notice once it is published.
- Click New Registration and create your login with a valid mobile number and email ID.
- Log in and fill in your personal details, your postgraduate qualification and the Section C subject you will take.
- Choose three states for your exam centre in order of preference. Centres are allotted first come, first served.
- Upload your photograph, signature and any category or disability certificate as the notice asks.
- Pay the fee online, or skip payment if you are a PwBD candidate.
- Check your registration status later and fix any rejected image or detail in the correction window.
- Print the completed form and fee receipt.
| Category | Fee (DHR-BRET-2025 notice, latest) |
|---|---|
| General, OBC | Rs 2,000 |
| SC, ST, EWS | Rs 1,600 |
| PwBD | Exempt |
The 2026 fee will be confirmed in the new notice. In the last cycle the correction window for rejected images and wrong details ran from 11 to 13 December 2025.
Who can apply for DHR-BRET 2026?
You can apply if you are an Indian citizen with an M.Sc. or an equivalent postgraduate degree such as M.Tech or M.Pharm in a life science or health subject, with at least 55% marks (50% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates).
- Subjects accepted include Life Sciences, Zoology, Botany, Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Forensic Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Immunology, Neurosciences, Veterinary Sciences, Nursing, Biostatistics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health and Social Work.
- Minimum marks in the postgraduate degree: 55% for General, EWS and OBC; 50% for SC, ST and PwBD.
- Final-year postgraduate students may also apply.
- Upper age limit in the last notice: 35 years on the last date of application. Relaxation is 5 years for SC, ST, PwBD and women, and 3 years for OBC. Only one relaxation can be used.
What is the DHR-BRET exam pattern?
DHR-BRET is a 3-hour computer-based test of 150 multiple-choice questions in English, in three sections of 50 questions each. You can move freely between sections. Each correct answer earns 1 mark and each wrong answer loses 0.25 marks.
| Section | What it tests | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A: Aptitude and Analytical Skills | Reading comprehension, reasoning, data interpretation, logical and quantitative ability | 50 |
| B: General and Interdisciplinary Knowledge | Cell biology, physiology, genetics and genomics, evolution, biotechnology, biosafety and bioethics, immunology, common infections | 50 |
| C: Domain-Specific Knowledge | The one subject you choose when you apply | 50 |
| Total | 180 minutes; +1 correct, -0.25 wrong, 0 unanswered | 150 |
Section C subjects are Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Veterinary Science or Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Biotechnology, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Nutrition, Pharmacology and Biological Sciences. Questions are set at the level of your postgraduate degree. Subject-wise ICMR JRF previous year question papers help you practise Section C.
DHR-BRET Official Notices and Downloads
- PDFDHR-BRET Syllabus and FAQs, ICMR (latest)Official site · icmr.gov.inOpen
- LINKDHR-BRET official website (AIIMS exams portal)Official site · aiimsexams.ac.inOpen