NABI Ph.D. Admission January 2026: Doctoral Program in Biotechnology

The National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), has invited applications for its Ph.D. (Biotechnology) Program for the January 2026 session. NABI is a recognized center of the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, which will award the degree.

This program is designed for highly motivated students looking to pursue advanced research in the intersection of agriculture, food science, and biotechnology.

Program Details & Research Areas

Duration: 5 to 7 years.
Total Seats: 36 (Reservation applicable as per Govt. of India norms).
Research Disciplines:
- Agricultural & Food Biotechnology
- Nutrition Biotechnology & Functional Foods
- Bioprocessing & Biomanufacturing
- Nanobiosciences & Bioinformatics
- Plant Molecular Biology & Genomics
- Post-harvest Technology & Valorization

Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualifications

M.Sc / M.Tech in any area of Life Sciences.
M.Pharma / MVSc / MBBS or equivalent degree.
Minimum 55% total marks (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD candidates).
Candidates in their final year/semester are also eligible to apply.

2. National-Level Examination (Mandatory)

Applicants must have qualified for a national-level fellowship or admission test, such as:

UGC/CSIR-NET, ICMR, DST-INSPIRE, or DBT-JRF.
Candidates with a valid GATE score or other national-level exam qualifications will also be considered under the NABI core grant.

Fellowship & Support

External Fellowship: Most admitted students are expected to have their own fellowship from agencies like CSIR, UGC, or DBT.
NABI-Core Fellowship: A limited number of fellowships may be awarded to merit-listed candidates who have qualified GATE or other national exams but do not possess their own external funding.

Selection & Application Process

Selection is based on academic merit followed by a personal interview.

Important Dates:

Online Application Starts: 03 February 2026
Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee: 20 February 2026 (05:30 PM)
Interview Date: To be notified on the NABI website.

How to Apply:

Applications are accepted ONLINE ONLY via: recruitment.nabi.res.in/nabiPhd/login.
Documents Needed: Scanned copies of Photo, Signature, DOB proof, Educational Certificates, Fellowship Award Letter, and Category Certificate (if applicable).