JRF Full Form: Overview, Exams, Eligibility Criteria, Selection Process, Scheme and Striped

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JRF Full Form: Eligibility Criteria and Complete Selection Process

Shihij Kaul

Updated on 26th July, 2024 , 4 min read

JRF stands for Junior Research Fellowship. A JRF is a desired scholarship only permitted to extraordinary candidates passionate about research and meeting the eligibility criteria. This course covers science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and technology. They could achieve an “MPhil/Ph.D.” degree in their allocated subjects, such as humanities, science, or language subjects. It provides the applicants practical training as well as enhances their knowledge in a broader aspect and examines their acknowledged learnings.
 

JRF Full Form: Overview 

The full form of JRF is the Junior Research Fellowship, a renowned scholarship program created to support and encourage aspiring researchers in various fields. It is mainly offered to candidates, who hold outstanding academic qualifications and are interested in pursuing a research career. JRF is generally associated with opportunities for pursuing advanced degrees like MPhil/PhD and entails a stipend to promote research facilities. The details are mentioned below:
 

Particular

Event

Conducting Body

Department of Biotechnology Under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India

DBT JRF Full Form

Department of Biotechnology Junior Research Fellowship

Exam Level

National

Exam Frequency

Annually

Mode of Application

Online

Mode of Exam

Online (CBT)

Exam Duration

03 Hours

Total Fellowships

Category 1: 275

                                 Category 2: 100

Official Website

dbtjrf.gov.in

JRF Full Form: Exam Details 2024 
 

The details for the JRF Exam 2024 are mentioned below:
 

  • The National Testing Agency conducts CSIR NET twice on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). This exam plays a significant role in the selection of aspiring candidates for Junior Research Fellowships and Assistant Professor positions in several scientific fields, providing Science students with a great opportunity to enter the realm of advanced academia.
  • DBT JRF, including BET & GAT-B, is an annual examination administered by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science &           DBT JRF, and BET&GAT-B is a yearly examination monitored by the     Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. The main aim is to select candidates for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) appointments.
  • ICMR JRF is managed by PGIMR, Chandigarh, planning to choose suitable candidates for the Medical Research Junior Research Fellowship.
  • CSIR JRF GATE is a national-level exam especially created for individuals who are aspiring to pursue a research a research-based career through CSIR. It is an attentive selection process to identify the most qualified aspirants.
  • The National Testing Agency conducts ICAR JRF to facilitate candidates in pursuing a Master’s Degree Programme from certified Agricultural Universities.
  • The NTA is also operated by the UGC NET, designed to carefully select aspirants for the positions of ‘Assistant Professor’ and Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges.

 

JRF Full Form: Objectives of Junior Research Fellowship

The objectives of the JRF are detailed below:

  • The JRF  provides financial help to extraordinary students and researchers, making them commit themselves to academic attempts and focused research.
    Encouraging the development of innovative ideas and information in certain fields.
  • Smoothing teamwork between junior researchers and experienced advisers, encouraging a vital learning environment.
  • Encouraging a strong groundwork for research capabilities and practical experience for junior researchers assured benefit their future professional ambit. 
  • Cultivating the professional growth of junior researchers through channels like conferences, workshops, and diverse professional development initiatives, enhancing their skill set and network.


JRF Full Form: Eligibility Criteria 


The UGC has launched the Junior Research Fellowship to provide opportunities to extraordinary students who have passed the NET and CSIR eligibility exams with a great score. 

  • Under JRF, candidates who have passed the UGC NET and CSIR NET joint examinations become eligible for further aptitude tests based on certain criteria defined by their respective colleges. Further eligibility criteria is mentioned below:
  • For applying for the NET and CSIR eligibility test, the candidate must have completed a Master’s Degree on their specific subject and need to score a minimum of 55% in master’s. 
  • There is an age limitation followed in the tenure such as, for applying for a junior research fellowship, the candidate must be under 28 years, though age relaxation for SC/ST or physically disabled persons including female candidatures.  
     

JRF Full Form: Age Limit 

 

The ideal age limit for JRF applications is generally from 28 to 30 years. 

Note: Although there are facilities for age relaxation for candidates who belong to reserved categories or those exhibiting exceptional qualifications.

 

JRF Full Form: Selection Process in JRF 

  • There are two stages in the JRF selection process. In the beginning, aspirants must clear an eligibility test such as the UGC NET or CSIR NET Exam. 
  • The candidates must score minimum qualifying marks in both in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
  • After meeting these criteria, aspirants can apply for the JRF. The timeline of this fellowship is generally two years.
  •  After this interval, a detailed evaluation of the candidate’s research work takes place. If it is satisfactory, the candidate can extend their fellowship period for an additional three years as a Senior Research Fellowship with increased benefits. 
  • Although the initial research works do not score a good impression, an additional year is granted for necessary changes before the final submission.

 

JRF Full Form: JRF Stipend 

JRF stipends are arranged as stipends to support research-firmed activities The stipend offered by the NET JRF is planned to cover basic living costs throughout the study duration. Junior Research Fellow in India gain an average of 3.8 lakhs annually ( Rs. 31.7k per month).

 

  • A monthly stipend of around Rs. 31,000 is awarded to a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) who is selected via the CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) during the first two years of the fellowship. 
  • Apart from the salary, the University or Institution offering the JRF fellowship gets a yearly grant of Rs. 20,000 per fellow.
  • The NET program upgrades a fellow's fellowship to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) if they choose to pursue a PhD after serving as a JRF for two years. 
  • At this point, the monthly stipend is raised to Rs. 35,000 for the third and later years. 
  • An Expert Committee interview is used to evaluate the research accomplishments and progress of the JRF fellow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary of a JRF?

The salary for a Junior Research Fellow in India varies between ₹1.3 Lakhs to ₹5.0 Lakhs annually, with an average of ₹4.0 Lakhs.

How many attempts are allowed for a Junior Research Fellowship?

Per University Grants Commission regulations, candidates applying for a Junior Research Fellowship can attempt the NET exam up to three times.

What are the advantages of qualifying UGC NET

The fellow would get great professional opportunities after passing the UGC NET exam. They become eligible for the post of junior research fellowship. In addition, after completing JRF successfully, they could proceed for Ph.D. or MPhil easily without appearing in the entrance exam.

Could the applicants choose multiple subjects while filling the online application form of UGC NET

It is not possible to choose multiple subjects while filling out the UGC NET exam form. Therefore, they could proceed with one subject, in which they have completed their Master’s Degree according to the norms.

What are the allowances provided to JRF awardees?

JRF awardees may be eligible for additional allowances depending on the funding agency and the university/institution. This may include House Rent Allowance (HRA) and annual contingent grants for research-related expenses such as conference participation, books, or lab consumables.

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