Applications are invited by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India from eligible non-AYUSH, non-medical candidates for PhD fellowship in research related to Ayurveda and Yoga & Naturopathy. There are 16 tentative fellowships under CCRAS for Ayurveda and four under Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), as per the advertisement. Candidates having relevant post graduate qualifications and eligible credentials of national level research examination can avail this opportunity to pursue PhD at a recognised university or institution of their choice while undergoing research on AYUSH related projects. Application has to be submitted online through CCRAS PhD portal.
The notification, Advertisement No. 05/2026/Ph.D., pertains to research in a number of disciplines including life sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, selected social sciences and biostatistics. The fellowship numbers listed are preliminary and may change. The program is designed to promote research in Ayurveda and Yoga & Naturopathy by researchers having non-AYUSH academic backgrounds. The proposed allocation of fellowship as per advertisement is:
CCRAS – Ayurveda: 16 Fellowships.
CCRYN – Yoga & Naturopathy: 4 Fellowships
The research fields
The research fields span a number of scientific and interdisciplinary areas. Life-sciences subjects include microbiology, physiology, genetics, human biology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, immunology, zoology, environmental science, botany, veterinary sciences and pharmacy. The chemical science areas include biochemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, phytochemistry, medicinal chemistry and natural product chemistry.
Biophysics and other branches of physical science are also included. The advertisement mentions social science applications, such as psychology for mental diseases, sociology for demographic surveys, and biostatistics.
This range may be applicable to graduates who wish to use their existing scientific training to research questions associated with traditional systems of healthcare. The specific project and PhD subject will depend on the research proposal, the university or institution selected and the requirements of the relevant research council.
Eligibility criteria for non-AYUSH candidates
The applicant must possess a post graduate qualification in one of the disciplines listed in the advertisement (biomedical sciences with emphasis on life sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, social sciences or biostatistics).
Candidates also need to have an examination certificate of national level with eligible validity as mentioned in the notification. The examinations and credentials listed are:
– Common CSIR-UGC NET examination for JRF & LS. – Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) and DBT-Junior Research Fellowship in Biotechnology – ICAR AICE-SRF (PGS). – Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) from ICMR.
Candidates should carefully check whether their own exam qualification and certificate validity meet the requirements of the notice before applying. Just having a postgraduate degree does not make you eligible.
Age limit & relaxation
The maximum age is **28 years** as on the date of issue of the advertisement in Employment News.
The notification gives relaxation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, candidates with prescribed lower limb locomotor disability and female candidates to the maximum of five years. Candidates are advised to see the official advertisement for exact applicability of these provisions.
Duration of Fellowship and financial support
Fellowship support will be provided to selected candidates pursuing PhD under a recognised university or institution of their choice, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.
The advertisement states monthly fellowship amounts as follows:
– Junior Research Fellow (JRF): ₹ 37,000 p.m.** – **Senior Research Fellow (SRF):** Rs. 42,000/- p.m. The fellowship is initially for two years as JRF and can be extended further for two to three years as SRF. The highest mentioned period is five years.
House Rent Allowance (HRA) is also mentioned and an annual contingency provision of Rs. 20,000 is for the university or institution. The notification also says that the fellowship amount can be increased as per Department of Science and Technology norms, if approved.
Fellows can also avail of a **one-time research contingency grant of up to ₹1 lakh** by submitting a project proposal within three months of joining. It is not an automatic award and approval is at the discretion of the relevant research council.
Only the shortlisted candidates will be communicated and called for an interview by the respective research councils, as per the notification. It is therefore advisable for applicants to prepare a research proposal relevant to the stream of choice and to ensure that their academic qualifications and examination credentials meet the advertized conditions. The notice does not set out a detailed interview scoring system or a complete selection timetable in the advertisement.
AYUSH PhD Fellowship Application Process
Applications must be submitted online only. The advertisement says that hard copy applications and email applications will not be entertained. Candidates desirous of applying for more than one stream of AYUSH has to submit separate online applications for the respective streams as mentioned in the advertisement.
It has been specified in the notification that applications can be submitted for **60 days from the date of advertisement in Employment News**. The CCRAS webpage has the notice dated 19 October 2026, but the date of posting on the webpage does not, by itself, confirm the date of publication in the Employment News.
Official application link: https://phd.ccras.org.in/
**Official CCRAS website:** https://ccras.nic.in/ *Prospective Applicants are advised to read the official admission notification carefully and check all the eligibility conditions, dates, fellowship provisions and application procedures before applying. AyurWorld News is not an admitting authority. Admission information is provided for public awareness purposes only.*
