ICMR-JRF

ICMR-JRF was a national eligibility examination for an ICMR-supported Ph.D./research fellowship. For new cycles, applicants should treat DHR-BRET—not the legacy ICMR-JRF examination—as the relevant examination route: ICMR explicitly says the JRF programme was revised as BRET from 2024 onward.

DHR describes BRET as part of its biomedical-research fellowships for scholars with non-medical backgrounds. The route is intended to support postgraduate science applicants pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, with the research topic falling within the DHR–ICMR mandate.

• Passing the examination establishes eligibility; it does not by itself secure admission, a supervisor, a host institution, or fellowship activation.
• The 2025 BRET notice described two placement routes: a Ph.D. at a UGC-recognized university/research institution or Institute of National Importance, or a Ph.D. at an ICMR institute/centre under the AcSIR–ICMR Faculty of Medical Research.
• Because notices, administering agencies, and allocations can change by session, applicants should use the current DHR/AIIMS notice rather than historic ICMR-JRF schedules.

The latest detailed official examination notice located, DHR-BRET 2025, required an M.Sc. or equivalent postgraduate qualification (including M.Tech/M.Pharm) in listed life-science, biomedical, health, and related disciplines. It specified minimum PG marks of 55% for General/EWS/OBC candidates and 50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.

That notice also permitted final-year postgraduate candidates to apply as result-awaited applicants, but made JRF eligibility conditional on later producing proof of the qualifying Master’s degree with the required marks. It set a base age limit of 35 years as on the application deadline, with non-cumulative relaxation provisions listed for SC/ST, PwBD, female, and OBC applicants.

Eligibility to sit the test is distinct from eligibility to activate the fellowship. DHR’s scheme guidelines require the proposed Ph.D. work to be biomedical/health-research related and require host-institution, guide, doctoral-registration, synopsis, and other joining documentation.

• Verify the discipline list in the notice for the particular cycle; do not infer eligibility solely from the older ICMR-JRF rules.
• Check both the examination notice and the fellowship/HRD guidelines before applying, especially if you are result-awaited, near the age limit, already employed, or receiving another stipend.
• Reservation and relaxation are governed by the applicable Government of India policy and the cycle-specific notice.

In the DHR-BRET 2025 notification, the examination was an English-only computer-based test of 150 objective MCQs in 180 minutes. The published marking rule was one mark for a correct response, minus 0.25 for an incorrect response, and zero for an unanswered question.

The paper was divided into three roughly equal components: Section A, aptitude and analytical skills; Section B, general/interdisciplinary biomedical and life-science knowledge; and Section C, a chosen discipline-specific domain. The 2025 notice stated that candidates choose one Section C discipline during application, including options such as microbiology, biochemistry, biostatistics, public health, nursing, biotechnology, social and behavioural sciences, nutrition, pharmacology, and biological sciences.

The stated standard was the qualifying-degree level, appropriate for higher study and research. The official notice, not older ICMR-JRF papers, should be the primary specification for the active BRET cycle.

• Section A: reading comprehension, reasoning, data interpretation, analytical and quantitative skills.
• Section B: cross-disciplinary foundations such as cell biology, physiology, genetics/genomics, biotechnology, biosafety/bioethics, immunology, and infectious diseases.
• Section C: approximately 50 questions from the selected subject domain.

For the 2025 BRET session, applications were online through the AIIMS examinations website; physical application documents were not to be sent. The official notice instructed applicants to retain their registration slip and payment proof and to monitor the portal for notices, corrections, city/centre information, admit card, and results. The actual portal, dates, document specifications, and correction window must be taken from the next live notice.

As dated 2025 fee context only, the notice listed ₹2,000 for General/OBC, ₹1,600 for SC/ST/EWS, and an exemption for PwBD applicants; online payment processing charges could also apply. Fees and categories may change, so this is not a current fee quote.

After selection, the fellowship has further steps beyond the exam: the DHR guidelines require a willingness letter, ePMS registration, a research synopsis routed through the guide and host institution, joining documents, Ph.D. registration/enrolment evidence, and relevant ethics approvals for human or animal research.

• Before the application opens: confirm degree/marks/age eligibility and select the most appropriate Section C subject domain.
• During application: follow the live notice precisely for photograph/signature, category certificates, payment, state/centre preferences, and correction dates.
• After qualification: secure an eligible host institution and guide, then meet the fellowship activation and research-proposal requirements within the timelines in the award letter and guidelines.

Build preparation from the current BRET notice’s three components rather than relying only on the old ICMR-JRF pattern. Allocate study time across aptitude/analytical work, common biomedical foundations, and the selected domain because the 2025 format assigned approximately 50 questions to each.

For Section A, practise reading comprehension, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, data interpretation, logical/deductive reasoning, numerical analysis, and graphical interpretation. For Section B, revise the published cross-disciplinary topics at postgraduate depth. For Section C, map your postgraduate coursework to the selected domain’s official syllabus topics.

Use timed CBT-style practice to accommodate the 150-question, 180-minute format and the published negative marking. Before finalising a study plan, download the current notice because the syllabus, domain choices, scoring, and examination agency may be revised for a later session.

• Prioritise accuracy as well as speed: the latest published pattern imposed a −0.25 deduction for an incorrect response.
• Choose the Section C domain that best matches both your qualifying discipline and intended biomedical Ph.D. research direction.
• Maintain a separate checklist for exam eligibility and fellowship placement requirements; a strong test score does not replace the need for an eligible host, guide, and research proposal.

A successful BRET candidate may pursue doctoral research in a biomedical or health-research subject through an eligible UGC/Institute of National Importance route or, for the designated ICMR–AcSIR route, at one of the ICMR institutes/centres. Placement remains a condition of award, and the precise number and allocation of fellowships is subject to the notified cycle and budget.

DHR’s guidelines describe a five-year overall tenure or completion of the Ph.D., whichever is earlier. JRF is generally for the first two years; after a satisfactory progress assessment and institutional recommendation, the fellow may be upgraded to SRF after 22 months. The rules provide for exceptional no-cost extension only within the stated outer limit.

Financial support is variable policy context, not an employment salary. The current guideline lists ₹37,000/month plus HRA for JRF years one and two, ₹42,000/month plus HRA after approved SRF upgradation in years three to five, and ₹20,000 annual contingency; applicants should verify the award letter and active scheme rules before relying on these figures.

• The 2025 notice described selection on BRET performance and a tentative 250 selected candidates, subject to budgetary provisions and DHR guidelines.
• DHR guidelines describe a combined merit threshold of 50% for General-UR/OBC/PwBD/EWS and 45% for SC/ST; the final merit and fellowship offer remain governed by the applicable notification.
• Fellowship activation entails compliance duties, including a defined research plan, institutional support, progress review, and ethics clearance where applicable.