JRF Age Limit: Overview
The Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) scheme of the University Grants Commission (UGC) is open to candidates who qualify in the National Eligibility Testing (NET) of the UGC and the UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) joint test.
Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is a scheme which enables students and teachers to undertake advanced studies and research in science, humanities and social sciences in Indian universities. After completing a postgraduate degree, one of the options is to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy program. These Phd programs cost money and time. To help a scholar there are many Research Fellowship Schemes in India funded by either a government agency or a private one.
JRF Target Group/Eligibility
The key requirements of JRF scheme are:
Read More: JRF Full Form
JRF Age Limit and Relaxation
- Not more than 30 years as on the 01st day of the month in which the examination is concluded i.e. 01.06.2024.
- A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to OBC-NCL (as per the Central list of OBC available on website: www.ncbc.nic.in) /SC/ST/PwD/Third gender categories and to women applicants.
- Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates with research experience, limited to the period spent on research in the relevant / related subject of post-graduation degree, subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from appropriate authority, which should be a recognized Indian university / Institute of National Importance / foreign university which is duly approved / recognized / accredited in its own Country / Public Sector Undertaking of Government of India / State Government in India.
- The research should not have been carried out towards completion of graduation or post-graduation degree(s).
- Three years’ relaxation in age will be permissible to the candidates with L.L.M. degree.
- A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates who have served in the armed forces subject to the length of service in the armed forces upto the first day of the month in which the concerned UGC-NET is conducted, i.e., 01.06.2024.
- Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years under any circumstances.
JRF Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility will be determined in the following manner:
The JRF-qualified candidates are admitted into the Ph.D. programme based on an interview as per the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022.
JRF Financial Assistance
The financial assistance available under the scheme is as follows:
Other types of assistance available under the scheme are house rent allowance, medical and leave.
Application Process for JRF
- Candidates qualifying for the award of JRF will be eligible to receive fellowship of UGC under various schemes, subject to their finding placement in universities/IITs/Institutions.
- The validity period of the offer will be three years w.e.f. the date of issue of the JRF Award Letter.
- However, for those candidates who have already joined Ph.D., the date of commencement of Fellowship shall be from the date of declaration of NET result or date of their joining, whichever is later.
UGC NET 2024 Selection Criteria For JRF
Eligibility for ‘Assistant Professor’ or ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ is based on UGC NET 2024. Candidates who qualify only for Assistant Professor will not be considered for JRF.
Only 1% of the candidates will be eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) certificate. Formula for JRF selection in English subject is as follows:
UGC NET 2024 Reservations
The Indian Government’s Reservation Policy is also applicable to UGC NET 2024. Under this policy, seat reservations will be implemented in Central Universities and institutions recognized as universities. The reservations will be allocated in accordance with the following guidelines: