CSIR SRF Research Fellowship 2026 | Fellowship upto: ₹42,000/- p.m.

CSIR Chemistry Recruitment 2026 | ₹42,000 Direct SRF Research Fellowship

Candidates searching for CSIR chemistry jobs have an important opportunity through the CSIR Direct SRF offered by the Human Resource Development Group of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. This Research Fellowship provides eligible researchers the opportunity to undertake advanced research under expert guidance in universities, laboratories, government research establishments and other recognised institutions. Chemistry candidates can choose relevant chemical science subject codes, provided their education, experience and proposed research area meet the official requirements.

About the Institute:

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through its Human Resource Development Group in New Delhi, provides opportunities to young researchers in the form of direct Senior Research Fellowships. Selected fellows receive training in research methods under the guidance of faculty members and scientists working in universities, laboratories, government institutions and recognised industrial laboratories across different fields of science and technology.

Advertisement No.: 2026/DirectSRF/1

Available Position:

• Position: Direct Senior Research Fellow
• Number of Fellowships/Vacancies: The advertisement does not specify a fixed number of fellowships.
• Application Mode: Online only
• Nationality: Only Indian citizens are eligible.

Job Overview:

The monthly amount is payable during the fellowship tenure or until the date of the Ph.D. viva-voce, whichever occurs earlier.

Chemistry Opportunities Under CSIR Direct SRF:

Candidates interested in CSIR chemistry jobs should carefully select the subject code that directly matches their previous education, research experience and proposed area of study. The chemical science subject codes listed in Appendix I are:

The notification also contains several non-chemistry subject codes because the Research Fellowship is offered across multiple fields of science and technology.

Complete Subject Code List:

• Candidates can apply under only one subject code. The official Appendix I provides the following options:

Employed Candidates:

• The fellowship is held on a full-time basis, so simultaneous employment elsewhere is not permitted.
• Candidates who are currently employed, whether temporarily or permanently, may apply if they submit an undertaking stating that, if selected, they will resign from their existing job before taking up the fellowship.
• An application from an employed candidate will be rejected if the prescribed undertaking is not provided.

Fellowship Amount and Contingent Grant:

• Under the CSIR Direct SRF, the selected fellow will receive: ₹42,000 per month
• The amount is payable during the entire fellowship tenure or until the date of Ph.D. viva-voce, whichever occurs earlier.
• In addition, each fellow will receive a contingent grant of up to: ₹20,000 per annum

Fellowship Tenure:

• The fellowship is initially tenable for a maximum of two years, or according to the fellowship tenure already availed.
• The term may be extended by one year based on assessment of progress by a three-member assessment committee.
• Candidates who have held or currently hold equivalent fellowships awarded under schemes of agencies such as DST, DBT, ICMR, UGC and ICAR may apply provided that the total tenure, including the CSIR fellowship, does not exceed three years.

Candidates who have already availed, or would have availed by 17 September 2026:

• JRF for five years, or
• SRF for three years

from any source need not apply.

• The combined tenure of JRF and SRF cannot exceed five years.
• The fellowship will terminate from the date of Ph.D. viva-voce or completion of tenure, whichever is earlier.
• Candidates already holding an equivalent fellowship must specify the reason for applying. The notification states that an application is likely to be rejected if the reason is not specified.

Age Limit: Maximum Age: 32 years as on the last date of application.

Age Relaxation:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• Physically handicapped candidates: 5 years
• Women candidates: 5 years
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years

Selection Procedure:

• Selection under the CSIR Direct SRF will be made through interviews of shortlisted candidates.

Shortlisting will be based on:

• Academic records
• Experience
• Research publications
• Assessment of proposed research work
• The assessment will be carried out by discipline-wise high-level expert committees.
• Merely fulfilling the essential qualifications does not entitle a candidate to be called for interview. CSIR reserves the right to call or not call a candidate for interview.
• If at any stage of the selection process a candidate is found not to fulfil any eligibility condition, the candidature will be cancelled.

Travel Support for SC/ST Candidates:

• SC/ST candidates called for interview will be paid single second-class rail/bus fare to and fro by the shortest route from the station mentioned in the correspondence address in the application to the interview location within India, subject to production of documentary proof and applicable rules.

Important Dates:

Documents Required:

Candidates should keep the following ready according to the prescribed specifications:

• Photograph
• Signature
• Age proof/DOB certificate
• Combined document containing:
  • Qualifying degree
  • Grade-to-percentage conversion certificate, if applicable
  • Ph.D. registration/submission/award proof, as applicable
• Caste certificate, if applicable
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Experience certificate, including fellowship office memoranda
• For employed candidates, duly signed undertaking to leave the existing job if selected
• Combined document containing:
  • Declaration and undertaking duly signed and stamped by the candidate
  • Supervisor’s endorsement
  • Head of Institution’s endorsement
  • Research proposal
• First page of a maximum of three best research papers in a single PDF, if applicable.

The CSIR Direct SRF is a valuable Research Fellowship for eligible candidates seeking advanced research opportunities across chemical sciences and other scientific disciplines. For candidates specifically exploring CSIR chemistry jobs, the notification offers relevant subject areas in organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, material and environmental sciences. Applicants should pay particular attention to the qualification, SCI publication, research-experience, subject-code and document requirements and complete the online application before 17 September 2026.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION