National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREFS) 2026-27 – Full Details
The National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREFS) 2026-27 is a central government fellowship initiative associated with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The programme is intended to support students and researchers pursuing higher education and advanced research in the field of Renewable Energy (RE) and related technologies.
The scheme focuses on academic and research talent working in areas such as solar energy, wind energy, bioenergy, green hydrogen, energy storage, smart grids, and other renewable-energy technologies. For the 2026-27 academic cycle, the application and verification process is managed online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) according to the prescribed timeline.
📅 Important Dates
| Activity | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Student Application Window | 1 June 2026 to 31 October 2026 |
| Defective Application Correction | 15 November 2026 |
| Institute-Level Verification (INO) | 15 November 2026 |
| DNO/SNO/MNO Verification | 30 November 2026 |
| Academic Year | 2026-27 |
Applicants should submit their applications before the student deadline so that sufficient time remains for correction and institutional verification.
💰 Fellowship Benefits & Stipend Structure
Financial assistance under the National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme varies according to the applicant's academic or research level.
M.Sc. in Renewable Energy
₹4,000 per month
Fellowship period: 24 months
M.Tech / M.E. / M.S.
₹12,400 per month
Fellowship period: approximately 20 to 24 months
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)
₹31,000 to ₹37,000 per month
Applicable House Rent Allowance (HRA) according to the relevant rules
₹20,000 per year contingency grant
Fellowship period: generally up to 2 years
Senior Research Fellow (SRF)
₹35,000 to ₹42,000 per month
Applicable HRA
₹20,000 per year contingency grant
Fellowship period: up to 3 years
Post-Doctoral Fellow / Research Associate (RA)
₹47,000 to ₹67,000 per month
Stipend level may vary according to the fellow's experience and applicable classification
Applicable HRA
Contingency support as prescribed
The precise stipend, HRA, contingency amount, and fellowship duration are subject to the applicable MNRE rules and the approved fellowship category.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the academic, nationality, course, qualifying-examination, and institutional requirements applicable to their fellowship category.
Nationality
The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
Renewable Energy Course Requirement
The applicant should be pursuing an eligible programme or research area specifically related to Renewable Energy.
Relevant areas may include:
Solar energy
Wind energy
Bioenergy
Green hydrogen
Energy storage
Smart grids
Renewable energy systems
Other approved renewable-energy technologies
Academic & Qualifying Examination
Depending on the level of study, applicants may be required to hold a valid qualifying examination or research score.
The stated requirements include:
M.Tech / Ph.D. / JRF / SRF: Applicable candidates may require a valid GATE or CSIR-NET qualification.
M.Sc. level: Applicants may be required to have qualified the relevant national-level NET examination.
Candidates should verify the exact qualifying-examination requirement for their particular fellowship category before applying.
Institutional Requirement
The fellowship is intended for students and researchers studying at eligible host institutions.
The host institution must satisfy the applicable MNRE requirements, which may include:
A qualifying position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), or
Recognition/designation as an MNRE-approved research laboratory, university, or institution, or
An institution that has been allocated fellowship slots under the applicable annual MNRE programme.
Applicants should confirm that their institution and course are included in the current approved framework.
Income & Reservation
According to the stated scheme framework:
Selection is primarily based on academic and research merit.
The programme does not generally use a family-income ceiling as the principal eligibility criterion.
The scheme is not described as a caste-based income-linked scholarship.
Applicants should nevertheless follow the exact category and selection provisions published for their fellowship year.
📚 Eligible Research Areas
The fellowship supports advanced study and research in renewable-energy disciplines.
Potential subject areas include:
Solar Energy
Solar photovoltaic systems
Solar thermal technologies
Solar energy conversion
Solar materials and devices
Wind Energy
Wind-energy systems
Turbine technology
Wind-resource assessment
Renewable power integration
Bioenergy
Biomass energy
Biofuels
Waste-to-energy
Biogas systems
Green Hydrogen
Hydrogen production
Electrolysis
Hydrogen storage
Hydrogen-based energy systems
Energy Storage
Battery technology
Advanced energy-storage systems
Grid-scale storage
Energy-management technologies
Smart Grids & Renewable Integration
Smart-grid technologies
Grid integration
Power electronics
Renewable-energy forecasting
Distributed energy systems
The specific programme or research topic must satisfy the applicable MNRE definition of renewable-energy research.
📝 Institute-Based Fellowship Allocation
The NREFS allocation process involves participating institutions as well as the Ministry.
1. Institute Sanction
MNRE may issue an annual notification inviting eligible universities, institutions, or research organisations to seek fellowship slots.
2. Institutional Selection
Once an institution receives an approved fellowship allocation, its relevant academic or research committee evaluates eligible students or researchers.
The institution may consider:
Academic performance
GATE/NET or other qualifying examination performance
Research background
Relevance of the proposed work
Eligibility under the approved fellowship category
3. Candidate Recommendation
The institution identifies eligible candidates against its sanctioned fellowship slots.
4. NSP Submission & Verification
The institution uploads or verifies the selected candidates' information through the National Scholarship Portal, after which the applications move through the prescribed verification and approval process.
📂 Documents Required
Applicants should keep clear and valid copies of the documents relevant to their fellowship category.
Identity Proof
Aadhaar Card
Aadhaar-linked bank account details for scholarship disbursement
Academic Documents
Class 10 marksheet
Class 12 marksheet
Graduation marksheets and certificate
Postgraduation marksheets and certificate, where applicable
Qualifying Examination
Valid GATE scorecard, where applicable
CSIR-NET/NET certificate or scorecard, where applicable
Other qualifying examination evidence required for the particular fellowship
Admission & Institutional Documents
Admission or joining letter
Current institutional enrolment proof
Fee receipt, where applicable
Bonafide or institutional certificate
Research Documents
For Ph.D., JRF, SRF, and post-doctoral applicants, where required:
Research Proposal
Research plan or project description
Updated academic/research CV
Letters of recommendation or references, where required
Applicants should upload only the documents requested for their specific fellowship category.
💻 How to Apply
Applications for the National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme 2026-27 are processed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) under the applicable scheme framework.
Visit the official National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Complete One Time Registration (OTR) if required.
Log in to the student/researcher dashboard.
Locate the applicable National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme.
Select the relevant academic or research category.
Enter your personal, academic, institutional, and fellowship information.
Upload the required academic, qualifying-examination, admission, and research documents.
Enter and verify your Aadhaar-linked bank account details.
Carefully review the completed application.
Submit the application before 31 October 2026.
Save the application number or acknowledgement for future reference.
Applicants should also coordinate with their institution because fellowship allocations and institutional verification may form part of the overall process.
🔍 Selection & Allocation Process
The NREFS selection process combines Ministry-level fellowship allocation with institutional assessment.
The process may include:
MNRE Fellowship Allocation: Eligible institutions receive sanctioned fellowship slots under the annual programme.
Institutional Screening: The university or research institution reviews its eligible student/researcher pool.
Merit Assessment: Academic and qualifying-examination performance is considered.
Candidate Selection: The institution recommends candidates against its approved fellowship slots.
NSP Verification: Candidate information and supporting documents are uploaded and verified through the National Scholarship Portal.
Administrative Verification: Applications proceed through the designated verification levels.
Final Approval: Eligible applicants are approved according to the applicable fellowship rules.
DBT Disbursement: Scholarship/fellowship payments are transferred through the prescribed DBT mechanism.
🗓️ Verification Timeline
For AY 2026-27, the stated deadlines are:
Student Application: 31 October 2026
Defective Application Verification: 15 November 2026
Institute Verification: 15 November 2026
DNO/SNO/MNO Verification: 30 November 2026
Applicants should regularly monitor their NSP dashboard and maintain communication with their host institution regarding verification status.
📌 Important Points to Remember
The National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREFS) 2026-27 supports higher education and research in renewable-energy technologies.
The programme is associated with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Fellowship benefits vary significantly by academic and research level.
The stated monthly support ranges from ₹4,000 for M.Sc. Renewable Energy to ₹67,000 for eligible post-doctoral/research categories, depending on the fellowship level and experience.
JRF and SRF categories may also receive HRA and contingency grants according to the applicable rules.
Applicants must generally be Indian citizens.
The selected course or research project must be focused on an eligible renewable-energy subject.
Qualifying examinations such as GATE, CSIR-NET, or NET may be required depending on the fellowship category.
The host institution must satisfy the applicable MNRE eligibility and fellowship-slot requirements.
Selection is primarily based on academic/research merit and institutional allocation, rather than a conventional family-income-based scholarship model.
Applicants should verify that their institution has an approved fellowship allocation before relying on their eligibility.
Ph.D. and post-doctoral applicants may need a detailed research proposal and CV.
Applications for the 2026-27 cycle are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal.
The student application deadline is 31 October 2026.
🔗 Official Application Portal
National Scholarship Portal (NSP):
https://scholarships.gov.in/All-Scholarships
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE):
https://mnre.gov.in/
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme?
The National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREFS) is a government-supported fellowship framework intended to provide financial assistance to students and researchers pursuing advanced education and research in renewable-energy technologies.
Who can apply?
Eligible Indian citizens pursuing approved renewable-energy-related programmes at participating or eligible institutions can apply, subject to the requirements of their specific fellowship category.
How much stipend is provided?
The amount depends on the study/research level. The stated support includes:
M.Sc. Renewable Energy: ₹4,000 per month
M.Tech/M.E./M.S.: ₹12,400 per month
JRF: ₹31,000–₹37,000 per month
SRF: ₹35,000–₹42,000 per month
Post-Doctoral Fellow/RA: ₹47,000–₹67,000 per month
Additional HRA and contingency support may apply to research categories.
Which research areas are supported?
Potential areas include solar, wind, bioenergy, green hydrogen, energy storage, smart grids, and other renewable-energy technologies covered under the applicable MNRE framework.
Is there a family income limit?
The stated scheme framework does not generally use a family-income ceiling as the principal eligibility criterion. Applicants are primarily assessed according to academic/research merit and the applicable institutional and fellowship requirements.
Are GATE or NET scores required?
The qualifying examination requirement depends on the fellowship category. GATE, CSIR-NET, or NET may be required for certain M.Tech, Ph.D., JRF, SRF, or M.Sc. categories.
Are all colleges eligible?
No. Fellowship support is linked to eligible institutions and approved fellowship allocations. Applicants should confirm the status of their host institution before applying.
How are candidates selected?
Selection may involve institutional merit assessment, academic/qualifying-examination performance, and verification through the National Scholarship Portal after fellowship slots are allocated to eligible institutions.
What is the application deadline for 2026-27?
The student application deadline is 31 October 2026.
Where can I apply?
Applications are submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Conclusion
The National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme (NREFS) 2026-27 provides financial support for students and researchers pursuing advanced education and research in renewable-energy technologies. With different stipend levels for M.Sc., M.Tech/M.E./M.S., JRF, SRF, and post-doctoral/research categories, the scheme supports a broad range of academic and research careers in India's renewable-energy sector. Eligible candidates should verify their course, qualifying examination, host-institution eligibility, and fellowship allocation, and submit the required application through the National Scholarship Portal by 31 October 2026.
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