R-CF
Raman-Charpak Fellowship
6.6/10The Raman-Charpak Fellowship Programme honors the contributions of Nobel Laureates Prof. C.V. Raman from India and Prof. Georges Charpak from France, fostering research collaboration between the two countries. Launched during the State visit of the President of France to India in February 2013, this fellowship supports PhD students from both nations. Indian fellows receive a monthly stipend of 1500 Euros, while French fellows get ₹40,000, along with coverage for travel expenses, accommodation, and administrative costs. The program aims to enhance scientific exchange and innovation by allowing students to conduct part of their research in each other's countries. Eligibility includes being an Indian citizen or a French resident registered for a PhD or Master's degree, with a maximum age limit of 30 years. The fellowship duration ranges from two to six months, providing an excellent opportunity for cultural and academic enrichment.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Science And Technology
Scheme for: Individual
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): No
Scheme open date: 2013-02-01
Categories: Science, IT & Communications
Sub-categories: Research & Development
Target beneficiaries: Individual
Tags: Fellowship, Raman, Charpak, France, Student
Details
The “Raman-Charpak Fellowship Programme” is in honour of two Nobel Laureates in Physics, Prof C.V. Raman, Indian Nobel Laureate (1930) and Prof Georges Charpak, French Nobel Laureate (1992). The Fellowship was launched during the State visit of the President of France to India in February 2013. The aim is to facilitate the exchange of doctoral students between the two countries, in order to broaden the scope and depth of future engagements in Science, Technology and Innovation.
This programme implemented by the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research/ Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la Recherche Avancée (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA) aims at improving the doctoral skills of Indian and French students by providing them with an opportunity to carry out part of their research work in a University / Research & Development Institute based in France or India respectively. This programme is now also open to French Master Students, who wish to spend some time in India following their curriculum. It aims at improving the Master's skills of French students by providing them an opportunity to carry out internship work in a University/Research Institute based in India.
Target Group:
This fellowship programme is dedicated to highly qualified PhD students registered in an Indian or French Research Institute/University and Master Students from France. The programme offers them an excellent opportunity to carry out a part of their respective PhD/Masters’ research project in each other countries and to further establish professional relationships, promote new S&T cooperation, and experience another cultural context.
Duration of Fellowship:
The duration of the Fellowship will be for a period of two to six months.
Areas covered under the Fellowship:
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences
• Materials Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Chemical Sciences
• Engineering Sciences
• Biological Sciences
• Life and Medical Sciences
• Mathematical and Computational Sciences
Benefits
- 1. To and fro air ticket in economy class between India and France. 1. Insurance coverage (travel & health) wherever is required & Carte de Sejour (if any). 1. Any administrative costs for Visa and Registration (if any). 1. Support for attending conferences/seminars/workshops during the stay. Value of Fellowship for Indian Fellow: 1. Fellowship Support of 1500 Euros per month for daily expenses local travel accommodation charges plus Social Security charges. Value of Fellowship for French Fellow: 1. Fellowship support ₹40 000/- per month for daily expenses local travel etc. plus accommodation charges not exceeding ₹45 000/- per month
- To and fro air ticket in economy class between India and France.
- Insurance coverage (travel & health) wherever is required & Carte de Sejour (if any).
- Any administrative costs for Visa and Registration (if any).
- Support for attending conferences/seminars/workshops during the stay.
Value of Fellowship for Indian Fellow:
- Fellowship Support of 1500 Euros per month for daily expenses, local travel, accommodation charges plus Social Security charges.
Value of Fellowship for French Fellow:
- Fellowship support ₹40,000/- per month for daily expenses, local travel, etc. plus accommodation charges not exceeding ₹45,000/- per month.
Eligibility
- Applicants from India must be Indian citizens residing in India and have registered for a PhD in a recognized university or research institution in India.
- Applicants from France must be residing in France and have registered for a PhD/Master’s Degree in a recognized university or research institution in France.
- Maximum age 30 years as of 1st April of the call year.
- Students once supported by CEFIPRA and students who have a permanent position in institutions/universities are not eligible.
- Pre-authorization or prior consent from his/her Institute/University to apply for a foreign fellowship program.
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility5.0
- Financial impact8.0
- Rural utility5.0
- Awareness7.5
- Simplicity7.0
- Inclusivity6.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The Raman-Charpak Fellowship provides significant opportunities for research collaboration between India and France, particularly for PhD and Master's students.
Key challenges addressed
- Facilitates international research collaboration
- Enhances academic and cultural exchange
Most beneficial for
- PhD students
- Master's students from France
Likely challenges
- Limited awareness among potential applicants
- Eligibility restrictions may exclude some candidates
Practical insights for citizens
The fellowship is practical for eligible students but may not reach those in rural areas effectively.
Rural challenges
- Limited internet access in rural areas
- Lack of awareness about the fellowship
Digital challenges
- High digital dependency may exclude non-digital users
Implementation bottlenecks
- Eligibility criteria may limit applicant pool
Awareness challenges
- Low visibility in rural and semi-urban areas
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Online portal
- Documents burden
- Minimal, primarily online registration
- Verification complexity
- Moderate, requires institutional approval
- Office dependency
- None, fully online
- DBT dependency
- None
- CSC support
- Limited, primarily online
- Estimated citizen effort
- Moderate effort required for application
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- Composite
- Benefit frequency
- Monthly stipend during fellowship duration
- Benefit practicality
- High, as it covers essential expenses
- Financial meaningfulness
- Moderate, as it provides substantial support but may not cover all costs
- Long-term impact
- Positive, fostering international collaboration and enhancing research capabilities
Plain-language guidance
The Raman-Charpak Fellowship allows Indian and French students to conduct research in each other's countries. It provides financial support for living expenses and travel.
- Who should apply
- PhD and Master's students from India and France.
- Who may struggle
- Students from rural areas with limited internet access.
- Best application route
- Apply directly through the online portal.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Online
The eligible candidates need to register and apply at: https://mob.cefipra.org/Default.aspx and http://www.cefipra.org/.
Note 01: The application opens during April/May and closes during June/July.
Note 02: If the application is successfully submitted, the candidate should not apply again.
Note 03: Applications received through post or submitted after the deadline will not be considered for evaluation.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- What is the “Raman-Charpak Fellowship Programme”?
The programme offers them an excellent opportunity to carry out a part of their respective PhD/Masters' research project in each other countries and to further establish professional relationships, promote new S&T cooperation, and experience another cultural context.
- What is the aim of Programme?
The aim is to facilitate the exchange of doctoral students between the two countries, in order to broaden the scope and depth of future engagements in Science, Technology and Innovation. This programme is now also open to French Master Students, who wish to spend some time in India following their curriculum. It aims at improving the Master's skills of French students by providing them an opportunity to carry out internship work in a University/Research Institute based in India.
- Which is the implementing agency of this Programme?
Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research/ Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la Recherche Avancee
- When was this Programme launched?
The Fellowship was launched during the State visit of the President of France to India in February 2013.
- What are the eligibility criteria for applying/availing the Fellowship?
- Applicants from India must be Indian citizens residing in India and have registered for a PhD in a recognized university or research institution in India. * Applicants from France must be residing in France and have registered for a PhD/Master's Degree in a recognized university or research institution in France. * Maximum age 30 years as of 1st April of the call year. * Students once supported by CEFIPRA and students who have a permanent position in institutions/universities are not eligible.
- What are the areas covered under this Fellowship?
Areas covered under the Fellowship: * Atmospheric Sciences * Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences * Materials Sciences * Physical Sciences * Chemical Sciences * Engineering Sciences * Biological Sciences * Life and Medical Sciences * Mathematical and Computational Sciences
- What is the amount of Fellowships?
- For Indian Fellow: Fellowship Support of 1500 Euros per month for daily expenses, local travel, accommodation charges plus Social Security charges. * For French Fellow: Fellowship support ₹40,000/- per month for daily expenses, local travel, etc. plus accommodation charges not exceeding ₹45,000/- per month.
- What are the additional supports provided to Fellows?
- To and fro air ticket in economy class between India and France. * Insurance coverage (travel & health) wherever is required & Carte de Sejour (if any). * Any administrative costs for Visa and Registration (if any). * Support for attending conferences/seminars/workshops during the stay.
- What is the duration of fellowship?
The duration of the Fellowship will be for a period of two to six months.
- How to apply for the fellowship?
The eligible candidates need to register and apply at www.cefipra.org or log on to: http://www.cefipra.org/proposal/index.aspx
Official links
- https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/r-cf
- https://www.cefipra.org/Docs/RCF-GLine-2025.pdf
- https://www.cefipra.org/PgmMF.aspx?p=RC
- https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/nurturing-minds/scholarships/post-graduation-phd/raman-charpak-fellowship
- https://www.csir.res.in/en/News/Call-for-proposals/Announcements/raman-charpak-fellowship-rcf-2025-last-date-10122025
References
- Guidelines
- https://www.cefipra.org/Docs/RCF-GLine-2025.pdf
- Guidelines (CEFIPRA)
- https://www.cefipra.org/PgmMF.aspx?p=RC
- India Science, Technology & Innovation Website
- https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/nurturing-minds/scholarships/post-graduation-phd/raman-charpak-fellowship
- Call For Nomination
- https://www.csir.res.in/en/News/Call-for-proposals/Announcements/raman-charpak-fellowship-rcf-2025-last-date-10122025
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Eligibility for Raman-Charpak Fellowship may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Benefits under Raman-Charpak Fellowship may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship is managed by Ministry Of Science And Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Raman-Charpak Fellowship through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Applications for Raman-Charpak Fellowship may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is income certificate required for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Raman-Charpak Fellowship.
- Is Raman-Charpak Fellowship a central government scheme?
- Yes, Raman-Charpak Fellowship is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Can students apply for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Raman-Charpak Fellowship depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
- Is scholarship amount provided under Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Are there deadlines for applying to Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for Raman-Charpak Fellowship?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for Raman-Charpak Fellowship in All India?
- Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with Raman-Charpak Fellowship applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.