Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship for Doctoral Studies 2026
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Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial FundScholarship for Doctoral Studies 2026, the JNMFS is a prestigious fellowship programme offered by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) to support students pursuing Ph.D. research at recognised universities and institutions in India. The scholarship is intended to encourage advanced research and academic excellence among Indian scholars as well as eligible candidates from other Asian countries.
Applicants may pursue doctoral research in any one of the following approved disciplines:
Indian History and Civilisation
Sociology
Comparative Studies in Religion and Culture
Economics
Ecology and Environment
Students selected under this programme will receive a monthly maintenance fellowship of ₹18,000, which includes support towards tuition and related academic expenses. In addition, scholars will be provided an annual contingent grant of ₹15,000 to assist with research-related activities such as study tours within India, the purchase of books, stationery, and other essential academic materials.
Through this initiative, the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund aims to promote high-quality doctoral research and contribute to the development of scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, economics, and environmental studies in India.
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship for Doctoral Studies 2026 Eligibility
To be eligible, an applicant must:-
be below 35 years of age as of 1st October of the year of selection*
be a full-time Ph.D. scholar
be already registered/admitted to a Ph.D. degree at a recognised university/institution in India
hold a first-class postgraduate degree with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate at both graduate and postgraduate level
*Note:-
Age relaxation of up to 5 years will be granted to OBC-NCL/ST/SC/PwD/women/third-gender candidates.
Age relaxation of up to 5 years will be granted to candidates who have served in the armed forces, subject to the length of service in the armed forces up to 1st October of the year of selection.
Under no circumstances will an age relaxation of more than 5 years be allowed.
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship for Doctoral Studies 2026 Benefits
The selected students will receive a maintenance allowance including a tuition fee of ₹18,000 per month and an annual contingent expense for study tours within India, purchase of books, stationery, etc. of ₹15,000.
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship for Doctoral Studies 2026 Documents
A passport-size photograph of the applicant
A synopsis of the proposed project as per the attached format
Doctoral Monitoring Committee’s report or Supervisor’s report/recommendations
Postal order/demand draft of ₹100
Ph.D. registration certificate
Caste/special category certificate issued by a competent authority (if applicable)
Self-attested photocopies of certificates and marksheets as proof of age and educational qualifications
How can you apply?
Eligible candidates can apply for the scholarship by following the below-mentioned steps:-
Step 1: Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button.
Step 2: Click the ‘Register’ button and fill in the required registration details. (Note – If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email ID)
Step 3: Download the application form.
Step 4: Fill in the required details and enclose all the necessary documents.
Step 5: Send the completed application form and documents with a postal order/demand draft of ₹100 drawn in favour of ‘Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund’ before 31st August 2026 to the following address:
Contact Details
For any queries related to the scholarship, applicants may contact:
Administrative Secretary Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF)
Teen Murti House
New Delhi – 110011
The selection of applicants for the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships for Doctoral Studies 2026 will be based on their eligibility, academic credentials, research proposal, and the information provided in the application form. Only candidates who satisfy all eligibility requirements and submit complete applications will be considered for further evaluation.
Reservation Policy
The scholarship follows the Government of India’s reservation norms. The category-wise distribution of seats is as follows:
Category
Reservation
Scheduled Caste (SC)
15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)
7.5%
Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer)
27%
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
10%
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) (40% or more disability, within the above categories)
5%
General Terms and Conditions
Applicants should carefully read the following conditions before applying:
Candidates who are already receiving any scholarship, fellowship, or financial assistance from another organisation are not eligible for this scholarship.
Applicants who have applied for Ph.D. admission but have not yet been officially registered by their university or institution at the time of submitting the application cannot apply.
Only fully completed application forms, accompanied by all required documents and signatures, will be considered.
The decision of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund regarding shortlisting, interviews, and final selection will be final and binding, and no requests for reconsideration will be entertained.
The Fund will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost due to postal or courier services.
Shortlisted candidates are generally invited for personal interviews during January or February.
The scholarship is expected to commence from 1 April each year.
Selected scholars must submit a signed undertaking confirming that they will comply with all scholarship rules and conditions.
If a recipient is found to have violated any scholarship terms, the Fund reserves the right to cancel the award and recover the scholarship amount already disbursed.
Before receiving the scholarship, selected candidates must provide a declaration confirming that they are not receiving any other scholarship or fellowship.
The candidate’s host institution must also furnish a similar undertaking certifying that the scholar is not receiving any parallel financial assistance.
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Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships for Doctoral Studies 2026 FAQs
1. Who is eligible to apply for the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship 2026?
The scholarship is open to Indian nationals and eligible nationals from other Asian countries who are already registered for a Ph.D. at a recognised university or institution in India. Applicants must be pursuing research in one of the approved subject areas specified by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund.
2. What financial assistance is provided under the JNMF Doctoral Scholarship?
Selected scholars will receive a monthly maintenance allowance of ₹18,000, which includes tuition support. In addition, they will be provided an annual contingent grant of ₹15,000 to cover research-related expenses such as books, stationery, and study tours within India.
3. Can students receiving another scholarship apply for the JNMF Scholarship?
No. Candidates who are already receiving any scholarship, fellowship, or financial assistance from another organisation are not eligible to apply. Selected candidates must submit an undertaking confirming they are not availing any other funding.
4. How are candidates selected for the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship?
Applications are screened based on eligibility, academic achievements, research proposal, and supporting documents. Shortlisted applicants are invited for a personal interview, generally held during January or February, after which the final selection is made.
5. What is the reservation policy for the JNMF Doctoral Scholarship 2026?
The scholarship follows the Government of India’s reservation guidelines, with 15% seats for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), 10% for EWS, and 5% reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) within the respective categories.
