Question 1

What is the INSA JRF Fellowship and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is a prestigious national fellowship for young scientists pursuing PhD research in Natural Sciences including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Earth Sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. The fellowship is awarded to outstanding MSc graduates who demonstrate exceptional research potential. INSA is India's apex scientific body, and an INSA JRF on a researcher's CV is a mark of distinction that significantly enhances future career prospects in academia and research institutions.

Question 2

What is the INSA JRF fellowship amount and duration?

Accepted Answer

INSA JRF provides a fellowship of Rs. 31,000 per month (revised periodically) plus a contingency grant for research expenses. The fellowship is tenable for 2 years and can be upgraded to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) upon satisfactory performance review, providing Rs. 35,000 per month. The fellowship is portable — it can be used at any recognized research institution across India where the student is pursuing their PhD under an approved supervisor, giving flexibility in choosing the research environment.

Question 3

How is the INSA JRF selection process conducted?

Accepted Answer

INSA JRF selection involves a written test covering Natural Sciences and Research Aptitude, followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates. The written test has 200 questions in 120 minutes covering broad natural science concepts across Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics, plus research methodology and scientific reasoning. The interview assesses research motivation, domain depth, and the candidate's PhD research plan. INSA selects approximately 20–30 JRFs per year, making it one of the more selective science fellowships available.

Question 4

How does INSA JRF compare to CSIR JRF and DST INSPIRE?

Accepted Answer

CSIR JRF (Rs. 37,000/month) and INSA JRF (Rs. 31,000/month) are both highly prestigious but CSIR covers more candidates annually across all science disciplines. DST INSPIRE PhD fellowship (Rs. 31,000/month) is awarded based on BSc/MSc academic merit without a test. INSA JRF is the most selective in absolute numbers — fewer candidates receive it than CSIR JRF. Having any JRF (CSIR, DBT, ICMR, DST INSPIRE, or INSA) significantly strengthens a researcher's profile for PhD admissions and future academic positions.

Question 5

What research areas does INSA support through its fellowship?

Accepted Answer

INSA supports research across all Natural Sciences: Physics (Condensed Matter, Nuclear, Astrophysics, Optics), Chemistry (Organic, Inorganic, Physical, Computational), Biology (Molecular Biology, Ecology, Neuroscience, Plant Sciences), Mathematics (Pure and Applied), Earth Sciences (Geology, Atmospheric Science, Oceanography), and emerging interdisciplinary areas like Biophysics, Materials Science, and Computational Biology. INSA particularly encourages research that addresses fundamental scientific questions and has long-term impact on scientific knowledge.

Year	Questions	Duration	Key Changes
2027	200	120 min	Latest pattern
2026	200	120 min	No major changes
2025	200	120 min	No major changes
2024	200	120 min	No major changes
2023	200	120 min	No major changes
2022	200	120 min	No major changes
2021	200	120 min	No major changes
2020	200	120 min	No major changes

Previous Year Papers & Mock Tests — INSA JRF Fellowship 2017–2027

Available Papers

2027 Mock Test

2026 Mock Test

2025 Mock Test

2024 Mock Test

2023 Mock Test

2022 Mock Test

2021 Mock Test

2020 Mock Test

Paper Pattern Over the Years

How to Use Previous Year Papers Effectively

Subject-wise Coverage Across Papers

Frequently Asked Questions

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