Simplifying Indian Research Funding: A Guide to the Common Fellowships Portal (CFP)

For researchers across India, finding, tracking, and applying for government fellowships has historically involved navigating dozens of different departmental websites. To address this friction and promote the "Ease of Doing Science," departments under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India launched the Common Fellowships Portal (CFP) at fellowships.gov.in.

Whether you are an aspiring Ph.D. candidate or a seasoned post-doctoral researcher, this centralized digital platform simplifies how research funding is accessed in India.

What is the Common Fellowships Portal (CFP)?

The Common Fellowships Portal (CFP) is a single-window platform bringing together information on Doctoral (Ph.D.) and Post-Doctoral fellowships offered by major Government of India departments and funding bodies, including:

• Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

• Department of Science and Technology (DST)

• Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

• University Grants Commission (UGC)

• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

• Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) & Department of Space (DoS)

• Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) & Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)

Developed and maintained by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the portal eliminates information silos, ensuring scholars do not miss out on opportunities due to fragmented notifications.

Key Features of the Portal

1. Centralized Application & Information Hub: Access official guidelines, notifications, and application portals for major government research funding schemes in one place.

2. Common Fellowship Portal (CFP) ID: Generate a single, unique CFP ID to streamline your applications across different funding programs.

3. Smart Eligibility Check: Includes an integrated tool to filter fellowships based on your personal academic profile and research discipline.

4. Data Analytics for R&D: Serves as a national resource mapping tool for human resource development in science and technology.

Fellowships Covered on CFP

1. Doctoral Fellowships

Doctoral fellowships provide monthly studentships and annual contingency grants for up to 5 years. Popular schemes featured include:

• DBT: DBT-JRF

• CSIR / UGC: CSIR-UGC NET JRF, CSIR SRF Direct

• DST: DST INSPIRE Fellowship, WISE-PhD (for women scientists)

• ICMR: ICMR JRF, ICMR SRF

• AICTE: AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF)

• Social Equity Fellowships: UGC NFSC, NFOBC, MANF, and MoTA Doctoral Fellowships

2. Post-Doctoral Fellowships

Targeted at researchers holding a Ph.D. degree who aim to conduct cutting-edge research in basic or applied sciences:

• DBT: DBT Research Associateship (DBT-RA), M.K. Bhan Research Programme, DBT BioCARe

• DST: DST INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, WISE-PDF

• CSIR / ICMR / UGC: CSIR RA, ICMR RA, UGC Post-Doctoral Fellowships (including specific grants for women, SC/ST candidates)

Why CFP is a Game-Changer for Indian Scholars

• Saves Time: Eliminates the need to constantly monitor multiple ministry websites for application windows.

• Reduces Application Friction: Reusable scholar credentials (CFP ID) streamline registration processes.

• Promotes Equity: Enables scholars from tier-2 and tier-3 institutions to discover specialized schemes (such as WISE for women or targeted social welfare fellowships) they might otherwise miss.

Source: https://fellowships.gov.in/