ICMR JRF Examination — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducts the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) examination to select candidates for pursuing research in the field of biomedical and health sciences. This fellowship is a prestigious opportunity for students to work in ICMR institutes and other recognized research centers across India. The selection process is based on a single-stage Computer-Based Test (CBT) that evaluates a candidate's general aptitude and subject-specific knowledge in either Life Sciences or Social Sciences.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit
The upper age limit is 28 years as of the specified date in the notification. A relaxation of up to 5 years is given for SC/ST/PwBD/female candidates, and 3 years for OBC candidates.
Educational Qualification
- A candidate must have an M.Sc. (Master of Science) or M.A. (Master of Arts) or an equivalent degree with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- The degree should be in a relevant discipline, including Life Sciences (like microbiology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, etc.) or Social Sciences (like sociology, psychology, social work, etc.).
✍️ Exam Syllabus & Pattern
The ICMR JRF is a single-paper, computer-based test (CBT) with a duration of 2 hours. The paper has three sections.
| Section | Subject | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Marks per Question | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | General Aptitude | 50 | 50 | +1 | -0.25 |
| Section B | Life Sciences | 100 | 75 | +1 | -0.25 |
| Section C | Social Sciences | 100 | 75 | +1 | -0.25 |
Syllabus for Sections
- Section A: General Aptitude: This section is common for all and assesses general scientific knowledge. Topics include scientific phenomena in everyday life, general knowledge in science, common statistics, logical reasoning, and analytical ability.
- Section B: Life Sciences: This section covers topics from various fields of life and biomedical sciences, including Microbiology, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Immunology, and Biotechnology.
- Section C: Social Sciences: This section covers topics from various fields of social sciences, including Psychology, Sociology, Home Sciences, Statistics, Anthropology, Social Work, and Public Health/Health Economics.
👉 Note
- The final selection for the fellowship is based on the aggregate marks obtained in the single-stage computer-based test.
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to ICMR official website .
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.