ICMR Nursing JRF Registration Fee 2026: Full Breakdown

ICMR Nursing JRF registration fee 2026

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducts the Junior Research Fellowship (Nursing Stream) exam to select M.Sc. Nursing graduates for Ph.D. research fellowships. Understanding the fee structure is a crucial first step in your application process. Always confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official notification before applying.

For the 2026 cycle, the standard application fee is ₹1500.0 as per the latest available information. However, candidates must verify the exact amount on the official ICMR website (https://www.icmr.gov.in/) when the notification is released, as fees may be revised. The fee is non-refundable in most cases, except where explicitly stated in the refund policy.

Fee for general category

General category candidates (including OBC-NCL creamy layer) are required to pay the full application fee of ₹1500.0. This fee covers the cost of processing your application, conducting the Computer-Based Test (CBT), and evaluation. Payment must be made online through the designated portal during the application window. No offline payment is accepted.

Fee for reserved categories

Reserved category candidates benefit from reduced fees, reflecting the government's commitment to equitable access. Based on previous years, the fee structure is expected to be:

• SC/ST/PwD: Approximately ₹750.0 (50% of the general fee)
• OBC-NCL (non-creamy layer): Approximately ₹1200.0 (varies; check official notification)
• Female candidates (all categories): Often eligible for a concession, typically around ₹750.0 or even full waiver in some cycles. Confirm the exact amount in the official brochure.

These figures are indicative. The final fee for each reserved category will be published in the official notification. Candidates must ensure they select the correct category during registration to avail the concession.

International candidate fee

ICMR Nursing JRF is primarily a national fellowship for Indian citizens. International candidates are generally not eligible to apply. If any special provision exists for foreign nationals or NRIs, the fee would likely be higher (approximately ₹3000–₹5000), but this is speculative. Always refer to the official notification for eligibility and fee details for non-Indian applicants. As of now, no separate international fee structure has been officially published.

Payment methods accepted

ICMR accepts only online payment modes for the application fee. The following methods are typically supported:

• Net banking (all major Indian banks)
• Debit card (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay)
• Credit card (Visa, Mastercard)
• UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM)

Payment is processed through a secure gateway integrated with the ICMR application portal. Candidates should keep a screenshot or printout of the payment confirmation for future reference. The transaction ID and application number will be generated upon successful payment.

Late fee and refund policy

ICMR generally does not levy a separate late fee; however, applications submitted after the deadline are summarily rejected. No refund is provided for applications rejected due to ineligibility, incomplete documentation, or incorrect category selection. Refunds are only issued in rare cases such as:

• Duplicate payment (same candidate pays twice)
• Technical glitch resulting in double deduction
• Exam cancellation by ICMR

In such cases, the refund is processed within 4–6 weeks after the exam date, directly to the original payment source. Candidates must raise a refund request through the official helpdesk within 15 days of the incident.

Comparison with similar exams

To help you budget, here is how the ICMR Nursing JRF fee compares with other nursing research fellowships:

| Exam | General Fee | SC/ST Fee | Female Concession | |------|-------------|-----------|-------------------| | ICMR Nursing JRF | ₹1500 | ~₹750 | Yes (often 50%) | | DST-INSPIRE Fellowship | No fee | No fee | No | | UGC-NET (for JRF) | ₹1100 | ₹550 | No | | CSIR-UGC NET | ₹1100 | ₹550 | No |

Note: Fees for other exams are as per 2025 notifications and may change.

Preparation tip

Once you have paid the fee and registered, shift focus to preparation. Use mock tests on PractiseExam.com to simulate the CBT environment, practice time management, and master the marking scheme (+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect). Visit our ICMR Nursing JRF exam pattern page for a detailed breakdown of the 100-question paper. For a structured study plan, check ICMR Nursing JRF preparation strategy.

Final checklist before payment

1. 1Verify eligibility (M.Sc. Nursing with 55% aggregate, age ≤32 years with relaxation).
2. 2Keep scanned documents ready (photo, signature, category certificate).
3. 3Use a stable internet connection for payment.
4. 4Save the payment receipt and application number.

For the most accurate and updated fee details, always refer to the official ICMR notification at https://www.icmr.gov.in/.