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Short answer: the Ramanujan Fellowship is an Indian government fellowship, administered through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), that brings Indian or Indian-origin scientists and engineers working abroad back to a research position in India. As described on the official ANRF page (read 2026-11-08), it pays a consolidated fellowship of Rs 1,35,000 per month plus a research grant of Rs 7.00 lakh a year for up to five years, and the candidate must be nominated by an Indian host institution rather than applying alone.
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Suggested question: “What is the Ramanujan Fellowship?”
What it is and who runs it
The programme is aimed at reversing the outflow of research talent: it offers selected scientists working abroad a fixed-term fellowship in India and, as the official page puts it, makes fellows eligible for regular extramural research grants from Indian science and technology agencies through their host. It was historically run by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB); SERB’s functions now sit within ANRF, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, and applications run through the ANRF portal (see how SERB credentials work on anrfonline.in). The governing source is the ANRF page at anrfonline.in/ANRF/Ramanujan_fellowship.
Older pages, including a Department of Science and Technology portal page and many third-party scholarship listings, still show an age limit of 45 and a fellowship of Rs 85,000 per month. Those figures conflict with the current ANRF page (age below 40, Rs 1,35,000 per month). Use the ANRF page as the reference and treat older figures as superseded.
Eligibility (summary, with the official source)
As described on the official ANRF page on 2026-11-08:
- Age: below 40 years.
- Qualification: a higher degree such as a PhD in science or engineering, or an equivalent such as an ME/MTech or MD, plus adequate professional experience.
- Track record: the page calls the fellowship very selective and says only candidates with a proven, outstanding record of publications and recognition are eligible.
- Location: the nominee must be working abroad at the time of nomination and be an Indian or Indian-origin scientist. Scientists already employed in India cannot be nominated.
- Existing posts: a fellow who takes a permanent, tenure-track or contractual position in an Indian institute becomes ineligible for the fellowship, research grant and overheads.
- Host: the host institution must differ from the institution that awarded the PhD. Nominations from the PhD guide or the PhD institute are not accepted.
What it funds
| Component | As stated on the ANRF page |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Rs 1,35,000 per month, consolidated, including house rent allowance |
| Research grant | Rs 7.00 lakh per year, for consumables, travel, research personnel and contingencies |
| Overheads | Rs 60,000 per year, paid to the host institution |
| Duration | 5 years, not extendable; capped at 60 months from the start |
| Travel | TA/DA at the Scientist-D equivalent |
Fellows may also apply, through the host, for other government research grants, and are encouraged to supervise MPhil and PhD scholars. The host provides administrative support and research infrastructure.
Application and nomination steps
The route is two-sided: the nominee prepares the case, and an authorised officer at the Indian host submits it.
- The nominee registers on the ANRF portal (anrfonline.in) and completes the profile.
- The nominee fills in the nomination form and uploads a research proposal of up to five pages as a single PDF.
- The nominee uses “Send to Nominator”. The nominator, who is the head of the host organisation or an authorised officer, either submits the nomination to ANRF or returns it for changes.
- Email confirmations are sent at each step.
The documents the page lists as uploads include a nomination letter (on letterhead, signed and stamped), the CV, a plagiarism undertaking and any other technical document. Portal problems go to the support address given on the ANRF page.
Typical timeline phases
The ANRF page lists no application deadline or call dates, and says an empowered Selection Committee considers nominations periodically. In practice the phases are: host and nominee agree on the nomination; the nomination is prepared and submitted through the portal; the Selection Committee reviews; selected candidates receive intimation; the fellow must join the host within six months of that intimation or the award is cancelled; in the later years, continuing grants require a Statement of Expenditure, a Utilization Certificate and an annual progress report.
Common mistakes
- Relying on an aggregator listing with the superseded age limit (45) or amount (Rs 85,000) instead of the current ANRF page.
- Choosing the PhD institution, or having the PhD guide nominate, which the page says is not accepted.
- Treating the process as a self-application: without the nominator’s submission from the host, the nomination does not reach ANRF.
- Taking up a tenure-track or contractual post in India before the award, which ends eligibility.
- Assuming the five years can be extended; the page says they cannot.
- Missing the six-month joining window.
Related programmes
| Programme | Where covered | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| DST INSPIRE Fellowship | DST INSPIRE Fellowship guide | DST fellowship scheme for PhD-stage researchers, a different career stage from the Ramanujan Fellowship |
| SERB VAJRA and OVDF | VAJRA and OVDF guide | Other Indian schemes involving researchers based abroad |
| DST | DST overview | The parent department for the broader scheme family |
FAQ
What is the Ramanujan Fellowship?
A fixed-term Indian government fellowship for outstanding Indian or Indian-origin scientists and engineers working abroad who wish to take up research in India, administered through ANRF.
What is the Ramanujan Fellowship age limit?
Below 40 years on the current ANRF page (read 2026-11-08). Older listings that say 45 are out of date.
How much is the Ramanujan Fellowship?
Rs 1,35,000 per month consolidated, plus Rs 7.00 lakh a year in research grant and Rs 60,000 a year overheads to the host.
Can I apply directly?
No. The candidate registers and prepares the nomination, but the head of the host organisation or an authorised officer submits it to ANRF.
How long does it last?
Five years, not extendable.
Sources
- ANRF, Ramanujan Fellowship: anrfonline.in/ANRF/Ramanujan_fellowship (read 2026-11-08). Programmes change, so confirm current terms there before nominating.
- Department of Science and Technology, India Science and Technology portal, Ramanujan Fellowship page (read 2026-11-08), which lists older figures and refers applicants to anrfonline.in.
