Call for Applications: Government of India – Department of Biotechnology Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (DBT BioCARe) Programme for Women Researchers 2026-27

Application Deadline: September 23, 2026

About the Programme

Applications are currently being accepted for the DBT BioCARe Programme for Women Researchers 2026-27. The Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe) Programme provides research grants and fellowship support to Indian women researchers seeking to establish their first independent research projects in biotechnology and allied fields. The programme, implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, supports unemployed or temporarily employed women researchers who have not previously received extramural research funding as a Principal Investigator.

Benefits of DBT BioCARe Programme for Women Researchers 2026-27

• Category I (PhD/MD/MDS/M.V.Sc. holders): Up to ₹60 lakh, plus ₹75,000/month fellowship
• Category II (M.Tech/M.Pharma/equivalent degree holders): Up to ₹40 lakh, plus ₹58,000/month fellowship
• Consolidated grant: Covers non-recurring and recurring project expenses for a project duration of up to 3 years

DBT BioCARe Programme for Women Researchers Requirements

The programme is specifically targeted at Indian women researchers seeking to establish their first independent research careers. Applicants must generally meet the following requirements:

• Be an Indian woman researcher
• Be up to 55 years of age
• Be unemployed or temporarily employed/not in a regular position as on the closing date of the application
• Be seeking their first independent research grant as Principal Investigator
• Hold the required doctoral or postgraduate qualification by the application deadline
• Identify a suitable mentor and host institution
• Submit the required endorsement from the host institution
• Propose research in biotechnology or an allied field

Eligible Categories

Applications can be submitted under two categories:

• Category I: Women researchers who have completed Ph.D. in any discipline of Biotechnology/Life Sciences or allied areas/interdisciplinary sciences/MD/MDS/M.V.Sc.
• Category II: Women researchers who have completed M.Tech. in Biotechnology or in allied areas/M.Pharma/equivalent Degree holders

Note: Candidates who are registered or enrolled in higher studies/Ph.D. and/or receiving any fellowships are not eligible to apply. Women researchers who have received any earlier grant from any Government Funding Agency as Principal Investigator are not eligible.

Eligible Research Areas

Proposals can cover areas including:

• Animal and Marine Biotechnology or allied areas
• Bioengineering and Biomaterials or allied areas
• Medical Biotechnology or allied areas
• Environmental Biotechnology and Bioenergy or allied areas
• Plant and Agriculture Biotechnology or allied areas

Programme Details

• Project duration: Up to 3 years
• Fellowship is co-terminus with the duration of the project

How to Apply

Interested candidates may submit the online application through the Common Fellowship Portal of the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. The Terms & Conditions of the BioCARe programme are available at the Department of Biotechnology website

Documents required for Application:

• Aadhar card
• Academic Marksheet
• Research proposal
• Endorsement letter from the mentor

Click here to Apply

For More Information: View details of DBT BioCARe Programme for Women Researchers 2026-

27 On the Official Website