The DBT-Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is a research fellowship program run by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. It is designed to support talented candidates pursuing doctoral research (PhD) in biotechnology and allied life-science fields. The fellowship is awarded after candidates clear a national-level exam called the Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET). Based on the BET, two merit categories are created: Category-I (top performers) and Category-II. Category-I candidates are eligible for full DBT-JRF fellowship, tenable when they join a PhD program at a recognized Indian university or research institution. Category-II candidates may be eligible to work in DBT-sponsored research projects, but their fellowship comes from project funds rather than core DBT fellowship funds.
The fellowship provides a monthly stipend (revised recently) and an annual contingency grant; there is also possible House-Rent Allowance (HRA) if the institution qualifies. The DBT-JRF scheme helps build human resource capacity in biotech research by supporting promising researchers to carry out frontier research in areas of molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, bioprocess engineering, and other biotech domains.
The program is administered via the DBT-HRD Project Management Unit at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad. The fellowship award requires candidates to join a PhD within a specified time after the BET result and to maintain good academic and research progress.
Opening Date: 02-Dec-2025 08:09 AM
Closing Date: 02-Dec-2025 08:09 AM
f you fall in Category-II, you may be eligible to join DBT-funded projects (with a fellowship similar to NET/GATE level), but not necessarily a DBT core fellowship.
The Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET), which selects candidates for DBT-JRF, has a defined syllabus and pattern:
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The test is computer-based, with MCQ-type questions.
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Pattern: Two parts:
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Section A: 50 compulsory MCQs from general science topics (biology/chemistry), mathematics, general aptitude, analytical ability, quantitative ability, and “general biotechnology.” Each question carries 3 marks, and one mark is deducted for a wrong answer.
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Section B: 150 MCQs focused on biotechnology-specific areas. However, candidates attempt only 50 out of those 150. Each question in Section B also carries 3 marks, with the same negative marking scheme.
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Syllabus Domains: According to the DBT information bulletin, the syllabus includes topics like molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, bioprocessing, and allied biotechnology areas.
Guidelines
- All questions are mandatory and there is no negative marking.
- Duration: minutes
- Total Questions:
- Question Type: MCQ
Disclaimer
- Read the question carefully.
- Select the best answer from the provided options.
- Ensure you have a stable Internet connection.
- After selecting your answer, click on the "Submit" button.