DAE Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (DDFS) Programme Admissions 2025 – Apply Online

Section-1: Introduction

Human Resource Development Division (HRDD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) invites applications from Engineering post-graduates (Equivalent Engineering PG Degree) for admission to DAE Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (DDFS) for pursuing Ph.D. under the aegis of Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) a Deemed to be University, commencing from August, 2024. The selected students will be admitted to one of the following Constituent Institutions of HBNI:

(1) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai;
(2) Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam;
(3) Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar;
(4) Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata.

These centres have been at the forefront of research in various branches of engineering viz. chemical, computer, electrical, electronics, instrumentation, mechanical, metallurgical or materials, and nuclear. Several state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities are unique to these institutions. The Ph.D. Programme in Engineering Sciences is extremely challenging in view of the expanding Nuclear Power Programme of the Department of Atomic Energy. For the motivated candidates, it offers considerable scope to realize

their potential while simultaneously contributing to the important task of nation building in this highly specialized area. Several state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities required for the Nuclear Power Programme of the Department of Atomic Energy are unique to these institutions.

It provides a rewarding research career in Nuclear Science, Engineering, and Technology and:

• Who would relish challenges in frontier areas of Science & Technology,
• Who would like to be part of an expanding program of Nuclear Power / Research Reactors, Accelerators and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies, and
• Who would enjoy pursuing innovative research in frontier areas of Engineering.

DAE strives to have a workforce that reflects gender balance, and women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Section-2: Fellowship and Allowance during DDFS PhD Programme

The amount of fellowship payable under the scheme is Rs. 80,000/- per month (Rupees Eighty Thousand Only) and an annual contingency grant of Rs. 60,000/- to meet the PhD-related expenses. The fellowship will be provided initially for a period of four years. Continuation of the fellowship is subject to satisfactory performance and review at the end of each year. On satisfactory performance, the tenure of the fellowship will be further extended by one more year on the recommendation of the competent authority. The total period of the fellowship shall in no case exceed five years. Medical benefits under the Contributory Health Services Scheme are available for the DDFS student. Hostel accommodation is mandatory during the PhD program.

Section-3: Eligibility Criteria for DDFS-2025 Programme Admissions

a) Qualifying Degree and other academic qualifications: Candidates should possess M.E. /M. Tech./ M.Sc.(Engg)/ Integrated M. Tech degree or equivalent engineering postgraduate (PG) degree under the major discipline of Chemical, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Mechanical, Metallurgy/Material Science & Civil Engineering discipline with minimum 60%* marks.

b) In addition, applicants must have one of the undergraduate (UG) – B. Tech/ B.E./ B. Sc. (Engg) degree or required equivalent engineering degree, as mentioned in Table-1, for the respective DDFS screening discipline in which they want to appear for the Online Screening Examination, with minimum 60%* marks.

c) The qualifying 60%* marks should be as per the ordinances of the respective degree-awarding university.

d) Candidates awaiting final results and/or appearing in the qualifying exam in the academic year 2024-2025 and their CGPA up to the 2nd semester will be considered for deciding the DDFS screening marks. Candidates appearing in the final semester examination of the qualifying degree in the academic year 2024-25 must have first two semester marksheets for evaluating the weighted average screening score as mentioned in the para (a) of point no- (iv) of Section-3.

*A minimum of 60% aggregate marks (or minimum of 6.0 CGPA# on the scale of 10.0 or equivalent) means the marks as per the ordinances of the respective university. Applicants who have been awarded with LETTER grades should convert them into percentage as per the ordinances of the respective university.

#Conversion of CGPA marks to the percentage should be as per the ordinances of the respective university, if available.

a. Maximum Age Limit: The candidates (general class) desirous of availing DDFS fellowship should have been born on or after August 1, 1997 (Maximum age Limit-28 years for General Category). Age relaxation is applicable up to 3 years in case of Non-Creamy Other Backward Class applicants, 5 years in case of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe applicants. Max. Age limit for a person who is a faculty member in Engineering Colleges is 40 years. In case of applicants with disabilities, an additional 10 years of age relaxation, on and over the maximum age limit for the category to which the applicants belong, will be provided. A person with physical disability with an extent of disability 40% or more will be considered for age relaxation and may be permitted a scribe.

b. Nationality: Applicant must be an Indian citizen.

c. Application Fee: A non-refundable Application Fee of ₹ 500/- is chargeable from male applicants belonging to General and OBC categories. Women candidates, candidates belonging to SC/ST, candidates belonging to transgender, and Physically Challenged candidates with an extent of disability of 40% or more are exempted from payment of the Application Fee.

d. Candidates awaiting final results and/or appearing in the qualifying exam in the academic year 2024-2025 may also apply, provided they must have results up to the second semester of the PG degree on the day of their online application for evaluating the weighted average screening score as mentioned in point no-‘c’ of Section-4.

e. If selected, candidates who are eligible in all other respects but are graduating in the academic year 2024-25 and awaiting final results will be allowed to join the academic programme. However, retention of these candidates in DDFS programmes is subject to the marksheet of their final result, which meets the eligibility requirements of the DDFS-2025 programme. Candidates must submit their final marksheet/final certificates of the qualifying degree by December 31, 2025, otherwise, their candidature will be cancelled. It may also be noted that all the academic requirements for the award of the qualifying degree must be completed before July 15, 2025. All the candidates whose final result of the qualifying degree is awaited need to bring the certificate issued by a competent authority about their completion of academic requirements for the award of the qualifying degree on the date of joining the training programme.

Section-4: Selection Process for DDFS-2025 Programme Admissions

Selection for the DDFS academic programme is a two-step process:

1. Screening to shortlist candidates followed by
2. Selection interview.

(a) Online Screening Examination

I. Online screening examination will be conducted in eight DDFS disciplines at more than fifty cities spread across India. The Online Screening Exam for DDFS-2025 will be held in March 2025.

II. Applicants who fulfill the above-mentioned eligibility criteria as mentioned in Section-3 will appear in an online computer-based test (CBT) Screening Exam to be held at multiple centers across India (Table 4) in March 2025 (tentative).

III. Travel Allowance will not be provided for appearing in the CBT screening examination.

IV. Candidates will be shortlisted for Selection Interview based on performance in the DDFS screening test as well as the previous academic record of the qualifying degree. There will be equal weightage for marks obtained in M. Tech. (average of Semester-I and Semester-

II) and for the marks obtained in the DDFS Screening Examination (CBT). Candidates awaiting final results and/or appearing in the qualifying exam in the academic year 2024-2025 must have results of Semester-1 and Semester-2 of the qualifying degree; otherwise, they will not be considered for this academic programme.

V. All candidates appearing for the DDFS Online Examination will be awarded a DDFS Screening Examination Score based on the above screening criteria, for shortlisting to the Selection Interview.

VI. The syllabus for the Screening Test will be the same as that of BE/B Tech/ B. Sc (Engg) of the concerned DDFS screening discipline.

(b) Selection Interviews for DDFS-2025 Programme Admissions

I. The list of candidates shortlisted for Selection Interview will be posted on the Online Application Portal in April 2025. Selection Interviews of shortlisted candidates in all disciplines will be conducted at the BARC Training School, Mumbai.

II. Outstation applicants will be paid two-way normal AC-III tier train fare to attend the Selection Interview, from their registered residential (either permanent or communication) address, by the shortest route or actual fare, whichever is less.

III. Selection Interviews will be conducted in June 2025. Short-listed candidates will be able to choose an Interview slot, based on availability, in April 2025. Alerts by email as well as SMS will be sent to all candidates who have been shortlisted for Selection Interview on their registered email address and mobile number, as well as announced on this website, prior to the commencement of the Interview slot booking process. Candidates are advised to visit this website https://www.barcocesexam.in regularly for the latest updates.

IV. The candidates will give a presentation of 10 minutes as per their M. Tech. project during the Selection Interview.

V. Final Selection for the DDFS-2025 programme will be based solely on performance in the Selection Interview, subject to medical fitness.

VI. A list of provisionally (subject to medical fitness) selected candidates will be displayed on this website in the last week of June 2025. The selected candidates will also be informed about their selection by email and SMS.

5. How to Apply for DDFS-2025 Programme Admissions

Human Resource Development Division (HRDD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) conducts the CBT online exams for DDFS. Only Online Applications will be accepted. Candidates must visit the website https://barcphdexam.com and fill the Online Application form in the period 1st January 2025 to 26th January 2025. Candidates are required to visit the website ‘https://www.barcocesexam.in’ in the period specified and submit an Online Application by following the instructions therein. Candidates are advised to read the ‘Information Brochure’ before applying.

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Candidate can apply for only one DDFS screening examination discipline.

• Candidates have to fill up the Online Application form provided on this website.
• Candidates need to register through the “Click here for New Registration” link by providing essential information like name, salutation (Gender), mobile number, e-mail ID (Registered email ID of the candidate is the default User ID for the online exam registration portal), DDFS screening discipline, etc., for preliminary registration. It may be noted that the details provided at this stage (preliminary registration stage) cannot be modified later on, and hence the candidates are advised to be careful in entering the details.
• Upon successful preliminary registration, the Candidates have to verify the registered mobile & registered email ID. The registered mobile no. will be verified using OTP sent to the registered mobile no., and entering the OTP on the verification page. Similarly, a verification link will also be sent to the registered email ID provided during preliminary registration, and the link will be clicked for completion of the verification process. Login credentials will also be sent to the registered mobile and email ID.
• Once the candidate’s account is activated, he/she can subsequently log in multiple times through the “Candidate’s Login” link to fill in the Online Application form.
• While filling the form, the candidates are required to upload their recent passport-sized photograph (4.5 x 3.5cm) in JPG/JPEG format (of size between 20-50 kb) and a scanned copy of their signature (2 x 4.5 cm, in JPG/JPEG format with size not exceeding 20 kb but greater than 10 kb), Sem-1 & Sem-2 Mark-sheets of the qualifying degree in JPEG/PDF format with size not exceeding 300 kb but greater than 200 kb) & relevant certificates for availing the fee exemption (in JPEG/PDF format with size not exceeding 200 kb but greater than 100 kb).
• Candidates availing the application fees exemption should provide the detail of valid ID card/category/PWD certificates as per their eligibility and also upload the valid supporting documents.
• Candidates should fill up their SSC/H.S.C./B.Sc./BE/B.Tech./Integrated M Tech Marks while applying online. Candidates must upload their valid mark sheets/Examination Score Cards of the qualifying degree and Caste certificate (if applicable), while applying online. The online applications without the attachment of these documents shall be disqualified.
• Candidates must choose three (3) cities in the order of their preferences, for appearing in the screening online examination (CBT).
• They will also have to upload the required valid documents; without that, the application will be rejected.
• Subsequently, the application process will proceed to the preview page of the application, where candidates can review the filled application, and in case of any error/mistake in the preview of the application, they can visit the concerned step/stage of the application process for the required correction. Finally, the candidates need to submit the filled form. Please note that NO modifications/alterations would be permitted in the application form after final submission. Hence, the candidates are advised to verify the correctness and adequacy of the information filled by them before the final submission. It is to be noted that only applications where ‘Final Submission’ process has been completed before the last date will be considered valid applications.
• After final submission, the candidates who are required to pay the Application Fee (₹500 plus applicable bank charges), if applicable, may make Online payment using net banking/debit card/credit card. On clicking on the “Make Payment” button on the payment page, the candidate is directed to the SBI Payment Gateway through which they can pay the application fee using any of the payment modes listed above. If the payment is successful, the candidates can proceed to the final submission stage and complete their application.
• The candidates must make the payment of non-refundable Application Fee, if applicable, only once, and no requests for a refund of Application Fee will be entertained from any candidate due to multiple payments.
• In case confirmation of the application fee does not get corroborated even after deduction of money from the account, it is advisable to wait for at least 24 hours after the payment of the application and also contact the helpline no. or raise a complaint on the application portal before initiating the repeat payment for the application fee.
• A unique Registration Number will be generated for every candidate who has paid the application fee, if applicable, successfully, and the registration number must be used for all future correspondence.
• The candidates awaiting final results and/or appearing in the qualifying exam in the academic year 2024-2025 are required to register their application with the latest available semester marksheet during the application process. A link will be provided in the 2nd week of April 2025 to the registered email ID of those candidates, who are awaiting final results and/or appearing in the qualifying exam in the academic year 2024-2025, to upload their latest marksheet (2nd Semester of the qualifying degree) on this portal for a limited period of time, if they have not uploaded the 2nd semester marksheets of the qualifying degree. As mentioned earlier under the Section-3 (Eligibility criterion), submission of 1st and 2nd semester marksheets of the qualifying degree is compulsory to evaluate the weighted average screening score for the candidates who are awaiting final results and/or appearing in the qualifying exam in the academic year 2024-2025. Otherwise, the application of those candidates will NOT be considered for the DDFS-2025 programme. Candidates are requested to see the “Important Events/Dates” part of the online application portal (https://www.barcocesexam.in) for the latest updates on important dates.

Note:

i. Candidates need not send any documents such as proof of age, proof of category, proof of application fee payment, supporting documentary proof for availing fee exemption, etc., or a hard copy of the application.

ii. A valid e-mail ID and mobile number are mandatory for submitting the application online, and the e-mail ID should be kept active till the declaration of results. BARC will send a call letter for the interview to the registered/given e-mail ID, or candidates may be required to download it from the website of BARC. No correspondence will be sent through post/courier.

iii. In case of any difficulty in applying online or uploading the document, please raise your complaints through the complaint module provided on the online application portal or contact the helpline contact no./email ID.

iv. Record of applicants for the BARC DDFS-2025 programme will not be preserved beyond 4 months from the date of publication of the final selection result.

Event	Date
Publishing Print Media Advertisement in Employment Newspaper / Daily Newspaper	1st January 2025
Commencement of Online Application Process for DDFS-2025	2nd January 2025
Last date for Registration for Online Application	26th January 2025
Correction window for Online Application	7th February – 14th February 2025
Allocation/confirmation of participation in CBT (online exam) at allotted venue	15th February – 22nd February 2025
Download of Admit Card/Hall Ticket for candidates confirming participation in Online Examination	25th February 2025 onwards
Online Examination	8th & 9th March 2025
Upload of CGPA score up to 2nd Semester for appearing in the academic year 2024-25	17th March – 24th March 2025
Display of List of Candidates Short-listed for Selection Interview on Online Application Portal	First week of April 2025
Availability of option on Online Application Portal to select Interview Slot for shortlisted candidates	17th April – 24th April 2025
Selection Interviews	18th June – 20th June 2025
Declaration of List of Applicants Selected for DDFS-2025 on Online Application Portal	Last week of June 2025
Medical Test for Selected Candidates	18th July 2025
Commencement of DDFS-2025 Academic Programme	3rd week of July 2025