The ICMR JRF 2026 (Indian Council of Medical Research Junior Research Fellowship Entrance Examination) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh to identify eligible candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowships in Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) and Social Sciences. The ICMR JRF 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled to be held in the first or second week of July 2026 (on a Sunday), with the official notification expected in March/April 2026. Each year, ICMR awards a total of 150 fellowships – 120 in Life Sciences and 30 in Social Sciences – along with an additional 100 candidates considered for placement in ICMR-funded research projects. Candidates can fill the ICMR JRF 2026 application form, download the admit card, and check the result at the official website icmr.gov.in.
Latest: – ICMR JRF 2026 official notification is awaited at icmr.gov.in. The exam is tentatively expected in the first/second week of July 2026.
ICMR JRF 2026
What is the ICMR JRF 2026?
The ICMR JRF 2026 (Indian Council of Medical Research Junior Research Fellowship) Entrance Examination is a national-level entrance test conducted annually by ICMR with PGIMER, Chandigarh, to determine the eligibility of Indian National candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowships through ICMR. ICMR JRF 2026 is the first step for aspirants seeking admission to the Ph.D./Research Programme through ICMR’s financial support. The ICMR JRF 2026 fellowship enables qualified candidates to pursue research in Life Sciences (microbiology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, biochemistry, biophysics, etc.) or Social Sciences (psychology, sociology, statistics, anthropology, social work, health economics, etc.) at any UGC/MCI-recognized university or institute.
ICMR JRF 2026 Direct Link – Candidates can apply for ICMR JRF 2026 and check exam notifications at the official ICMR portal icmr.gov.in.
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ICMR JRF 2026 Important Dates
Candidates can check the tentative ICMR JRF 2026 schedule based on the historical pattern of the examination. Official dates will be released on icmr.gov.in by ICMR.
| Event | Tentative Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| ICMR JRF 2026 Notification Release | March / April 2026 |
| Online Application Form Start | April 2026 (Tentative) |
| Last Date to Apply | May 2026 (Tentative) |
| Application Form Correction Window | May / June 2026 (Tentative) |
| Admit Card Release | Last week of June 2026 (Tentative) |
| ICMR JRF 2026 Exam Date | First / Second week of July 2026 (Sunday) |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | Within 2 weeks of exam (Tentative) |
| Objection Window | 3 – 5 days after answer key release |
| Final Answer Key | Along with Result |
| ICMR JRF 2026 Result | 3 – 4 weeks after the exam |
ICMR JRF 2026 Application Form
The ICMR JRF 2026 application form will be available online at icmr.gov.in once the official notification is released. Candidates must complete the registration and submit the application form before the prescribed last date. The ICMR JRF 2026 application fee structure (based on previous cycle) is as follows:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 1,500 |
| SC / ST | Rs. 1,200 |
| PwBD | Nil |
How to Apply for ICMR JRF 2026
Candidates can follow these steps to fill the ICMR JRF 2026 application form once it is released at icmr.gov.in:
- Visit the official ICMR website at icmr.gov.in.
- Click on the “JRF Examination 2026” or “Apply Online” link.
- Register as a new user with a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Log in with the generated credentials.
- Fill in personal, academic, and contact details accurately.
- Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, and required certificates as per the prescribed format.
- Select the subject section (Life Sciences or Social Sciences) and preferred exam centre.
- Pay the application fee online (Net Banking / Debit / Credit Card / UPI).
- Review all details and submit the ICMR JRF 2026 application form.
- Download and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
ICMR JRF 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for ICMR JRF 2026 must fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Nationality: Candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- Educational Qualification: M.Sc. / M.A. or equivalent Postgraduate degree in Basic Science (Life Sciences or Social Sciences) with at least 55% aggregate marks for General/OBC and 50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates from a recognised university.
- Age Limit (as on closing date of application):
- General: 28 years
- OBC: 31 years (3-year relaxation)
- SC / ST / PwD / Female: 33 years (5-year relaxation)
- Final Year Candidates: Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination may also apply, subject to fulfilling the eligibility before admission.
ICMR JRF 2026 Exam Pattern
The ICMR JRF 2026 exam pattern is as follows:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Number of Papers | 1 |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for each correct answer |
| Medium | English |
| Number of Sections | 3 (Section A is compulsory; one of B or C as per choice) |
ICMR JRF 2026 Section-wise Distribution
| Section | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A (Compulsory) | Aptitude (Scientific Phenomena in Everyday Life, General Knowledge in Sciences, Common Statistics) | 50 | 50 |
| Section B (Optional) | Life Sciences | 100 | 100 |
| Section C (Optional) | Social Sciences | 100 | 100 |
| Total (A + B or C) | 150 | 150 |
Note: Candidates must attempt Section A (compulsory) and one of either Section B (Life Sciences) or Section C (Social Sciences) based on the subject opted at the time of application.
ICMR JRF 2026 Exam Centres
The ICMR JRF 2026 exam will be conducted at the following 12 cities across India:
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Bhubaneswar
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- Srinagar (J&K)
- Varanasi
ICMR JRF 2026 Selection & Cut-off
The final ICMR JRF 2026 result will be prepared based on the aggregate marks obtained by the candidate in both attempted sections (Section A + Section B or Section C). The selection criteria are:
- General Category: Minimum 55% aggregate marks across both sections.
- SC / ST / PwD: Minimum 50% aggregate marks across both sections.
Two separate merit lists will be prepared – one for Life Sciences candidates and another for Social Sciences candidates – based on performance in the respective section combined with Section A scores.
ICMR JRF 2026 Number of Fellowships
| Category | Number of Fellowships |
|---|---|
| Life Sciences (Biomedical Sciences) | 120 |
| Social Sciences | 30 |
| Total Direct Fellowships | 150 |
| Additional (ICMR-funded research projects) | 100 |
ICMR JRF 2026 Stipend Details
Successful candidates of ICMR JRF 2026 will receive the following stipend:
| Period | Designation | Stipend (Per Month) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st & 2nd Year | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | Rs. 31,000 + HRA (as applicable) |
| 3rd to 5th Year | Senior Research Fellow (SRF) | Rs. 35,000 + HRA (as applicable) |
| Contingency | Per Annum | Rs. 20,000 |
Note: JRF is upgraded to SRF after 22 months from commencement of work, subject to successful assessment by the Review Committee.
ICMR JRF 2026 Fellowship Validity
- Direct ICMR JRF Award: Validity of 6 months to secure placement in a recognised institute.
- ICMR-Funded Research Projects: Validity of 2 years for placement.
- Total JRF + SRF Tenure: 5 years (2 years JRF + 3 years SRF, or until Ph.D. submission, whichever is earlier).
ICMR JRF 2026 Admit Card
The ICMR JRF 2026 admit card will be released approximately 7-10 days before the exam date at icmr.gov.in. Candidates can download the admit card by logging in with their Registration Number / Application Number and Date of Birth or Password.
ICMR JRF 2026 Answer Key
ICMR will release the provisional ICMR JRF 2026 answer key within 2 weeks of the exam at icmr.gov.in. Candidates can match their responses with the official key and calculate their probable score. An objection window will be provided to challenge any answers, after which the final answer key will be released along with the ICMR JRF 2026 result.
ICMR JRF 2026 Result
The ICMR JRF 2026 result will be declared approximately 3-4 weeks after the exam at icmr.gov.in. Two separate merit lists (Life Sciences and Social Sciences) will be released. Selected candidates can secure placement in any UGC/MCI-recognised university or ICMR institute for their Ph.D. programme.
ICMR JRF 2026 FAQs
The ICMR JRF 2026 entrance examination is tentatively expected to be held in the first or second week of July 2026 (on a Sunday), with the official notification typically released in March/April. Exact dates will be announced by ICMR at icmr.gov.in.
ICMR JRF 2026 is conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. The official portal is icmr.gov.in.
Candidates must be Indian citizens with an M.Sc. / M.A. or equivalent Postgraduate degree in Basic Sciences (Life Sciences or Social Sciences) with at least 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD). The upper age limit is 28 years (General), with relaxation up to 33 years for reserved categories and female candidates.
ICMR awards a total of 150 fellowships through ICMR JRF 2026 – 120 in Life Sciences (Biomedical Sciences) and 30 in Social Sciences. Additionally, 100 candidates may be considered for placement in ICMR-funded research projects.
ICMR JRF 2026 is a 2-hour CBT consisting of 150 questions for 150 marks. Section A (Aptitude) has 50 compulsory questions for 50 marks, and candidates choose between Section B (Life Sciences) or Section C (Social Sciences), each carrying 100 questions for 100 marks. Each correct answer carries +1 mark.
Selected candidates receive Rs. 31,000 per month as JRF (1st & 2nd year) and Rs. 35,000 per month as SRF (3rd-5th year), along with HRA (as applicable) and a contingency of Rs. 20,000 per annum.
The direct ICMR JRF 2026 award is valid for 6 months for securing placement in a UGC/MCI-recognised institute. For candidates selected for ICMR-funded research projects, the validity is 2 years. The total JRF + SRF tenure is 5 years.
ICMR JRF 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | ICMR JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) Entrance Examination 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with PGIMER, Chandigarh |
| Exam Level | National |
| Purpose | Award of JRF for Ph.D. / Research Programme |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Total Questions / Marks | 150 / 150 |
| Sections | 3 (A compulsory + one of B or C) |
| Total Fellowships | 150 (+ 100 for ICMR projects) |
| Exam Centres | 12 cities across India |
| Tentative Exam Date | First / Second week of July 2026 |
| Stipend (JRF) | Rs. 31,000 per month |
| Official Website | icmr.gov.in |
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