Honorees:

• Prof C.V. Raman, Indian Nobel Laureate (1930)
• Prof Georges Charpak, French Nobel Laureate (1992)

Launch Date: February 2013, during the State visit of the President of France to India

The Raman-Charpak Fellowship program aims to facilitate the exchange of doctoral students and, more recently, Master's students between India and France. The program aims to broaden the scope and depth of future Science, Technology, and Innovation engagements.

This is the only Indo-French bilateral Fellowship program jointly funded by:

• Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India
• French Institute in India (IFI), French Embassy in India, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Government of France

Implementing Body:

Indo French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA)

• Improve the doctoral and Master's skills of Indian and French students
• Provide an opportunity for students to carry out part of their research work in a University or Research & Development Institute in France or India, respectively
• Promote professional relationships
• Foster new Science and Technology cooperation
• Allow students to experience a different cultural context
• Exposure to current research methods and trends in France/India

Highly qualified PhD students registered in an Indian or French Research Institute/University

Master's Students from France

Minimum: 2 months

Maximum: 6 months

The Raman-Charpak Fellowship program covers various fields of research, including but not limited to:

1. Atmospheric Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Environmental Sciences
2. Materials Sciences
3. Physical Sciences
4. Chemical Sciences
5. Engineering Sciences
6. Biological Sciences, Life, and Medical Sciences
7. Mathematical and Computational Sciences
8. Agricultural Sciences

Applicants must have a pre-determined project proposal discussed and agreed upon by the student and the two supervisors (Indian and French) before applying.

For Indian Fellow:

• Fellowship Support: 1500 Euros per month for daily expenses, local travel, accommodation charges, plus Social Security charges

For French Fellow:

• Fellowship Support: Rs. 40,000 per month for daily expenses, local travel, etc., plus accommodation charges not exceeding Rs. 45,000 per month

Both Indian and French Fellows receive the following support:

• To and fro air ticket in economy class between India and France
• Insurance coverage (travel & health) wherever required
• Any administrative costs for Visa and Registration (if any)
• Carte de Sejour (if any)

Additionally, a Fellow may receive additional support (up to Euro 500 for Indian Fellows and equivalent support in Indian Rupees for French Fellows) for participating in a Seminar/Workshop during their fellowship term and staying in their host countries. This support is limited to registration fees (if any), bus/train tickets for travel (if any), and accommodation charges (if any). Such claims will be provided on actual receipts, proof of participation/acceptance of the paper, and after the completion of the fellowship duration by the awarded student (at the time of TA/DA settlement). Please note that no support will be provided for family members during the fellowship period.

• Applicants from India must be Indian citizens residing in India and have registered for a PhD in a recognised 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 recognised university or research institution in France.
• The maximum age limit is 30 years as of April 1, 2023.
• Students previously supported by CEFIPRA or who have a permanent position in institutions/universities are not eligible.
• Pre-authorization or prior consent from their Institute/University is required to apply for a foreign fellowship program.
• Eligibility also requires compliance with traveling and local sanitary regulations as well as the university or institute's sanitary rules.

• Applicants must be residing in France and must be registered in the Master 1 program and must be able to plan their visit during the time of Master 2.
• Applicants in the Master 2 program are also eligible to apply.
• The maximum age limit is 30 years as of April 1, 2023.
• Students who are part of CEFIPRA projects or have a permanent position in institutions/universities are not eligible.
• Similar to PhD applicants, eligibility requires compliance with traveling and local sanitary regulations as well as the university or institute's sanitary rules.

1. Only online submissions will be considered. Candidates need to register and apply at www.cefipra.org.
2. Detailed description of the Research Plan/Proposal/Educational Proposal (maximum up to 5 pages) in the prescribed format, including the title and research work plan, an explanation of the expected benefit from the stay in the proposed Research Institute/University in France/India, etc.
3. A CV (maximum up to 2 pages) in the prescribed format with a recent photograph, including a summary of achievements and research interests, list of relevant publications (maximum 5 most important ones), etc.
4. A letter of recommendation from the Ph.D. supervisor.
5. A letter of agreement from the proposed host supervisor in the fellowship lab (Foreign Research Institute/University); French host supervisors for Indian applications are requested to seek prior approval for access to the lab in cases of any limitations (ZRR for instance).
6. PhD synopsis or short summary of PhD work with title (up to 2 pages only).
7. Research experience letter or publications, if any (first author or co-author); kindly combine the first page of all the publications and enclose as a single PDF file.
8. No Objection Certificate from the Head of the Institution (Only for Indian students).
9. A scan copy of VALID passport (both front and back).
10. A recent photograph

• Only online submission will be considered; candidates need to register and apply at www.cefipra.org.
• Copy of highest diploma obtained (Licence - i.e. Bachelor - or Master 1).
• Proof of registration in License or Master 1 for 2022-2023.
• Proof of submission/acceptance in Master 1 or Master 2 for 2023-2024 (candidates are required to update the documents of acceptance/registration in Master asap and at the latest by the end of September 2023; documents have to be shared by email to kunal@cefipra.org).
• Detailed description of the Research Plan (maximum up to 3 pages) in the prescribed format, which notably asks for: the title and the research work plan, an explanation of the expected benefit from his/her stay in the proposed Research Institute/University in India, etc.
• A CV (maximum up to 2 pages) in the prescribed format with a recent photograph including a summary of achievements and research interests, list of relevant publications (maximum 5 most important ones), etc.
• A letter of recommendation from the French Faculty Supervisor/head of the Master Program.
• A letter of agreement from the proposed host supervisor in the fellowship lab (Foreign Research Institute/University).
• Research experience letter or publications, if any (first author or co-author); (kindly combine the first page of all the publications and enclose as a single PDF file).
• A scan copy of VALID passport (both front and back).
• A recent photograph.

The documents enclosed must respect the lengths indicated above. It is strongly encouraged to apply early for timely processing rather than towards the end of the deadline. Please ensure that you completely fill the application form and then submit with all the requested documents/attachments. Only complete applications will be considered.

The candidate should not apply again if the application is successfully submitted.

Applications received through post or submitted after the deadline will not be considered for evaluation.

Applicants must name the documents as follows (in red text) before uploading:

• Research Proposal: Proposal “Your Name”
• CV: CV “Your Name”
• Letter of Recommendation from PhD supervisor: LoR1 “Your Name”
• Letter of Recommendation from Host supervisor: LoR2 “Your Name”
• No objection Certificate: NOC “Your Name”
• PhD synopsis: Synopsis “Your Name”
• Summary of the internships [only for Masters’ students]: Internships “Your Name”
• Passport: Passport “Your Name”

Applicants must follow the prescribed format:

• For Indian & French Ph.D. students:
• Download the format for Research Proposal
• Download the format for CV
• For French Masters’ Students:
• Download the format for Research Proposal
• Download the format for CV

The following other documents are to be on the official letterhead of the institute/supervisor, signed, and stamped:

• NoC from parent Institute for applying to RCF
• Recommendation letter from Ph.D. supervisor/Faculty Supervisor [for Masters’ students]
• Letter of agreement/hosting under RCF from host supervisor
• Please note candidates must submit their Research Proposal and CV in the prescribed formats.

Indian and French PhD Students & French Masters Students:

• Launching: 17th July 2023
• End of Deadline: 30th September 2023 (For Indian & French PhD students)
• End of Deadline: 30th September 2023 (Only for French Masters students)
• Evaluations: Oct to Nov. 2023 (Tentative)
• Declaration of Result: End Dec, 2023 (Tentative)
• Starting date of fellowship: Dec 2023 to 31st March 2024
• Awarded students are expected to start their fellowship no later than 31st March 2024 preferably.
• In case of awarded French Masters students, their visit duration after 31st March 2024, can be considered only based on request and the timeline of their Masters’ curricula.

• Awarded fellows shall be invited to submit a valid travel itinerary according to their proposed duration of fellowship and travel details, as per the rules, and after the Government of India's advisory. No change will be accepted once the travel itinerary is submitted. Please note that all international travel regulations and protocols in place at the time of the award must be followed.
• Do not send any hard copies of your documents. Only soft copies uploaded online will be accepted.
• Applicants must ensure that they fulfill all the prescribed eligibility conditions and other terms and conditions specified in the advertisement. If at any stage, it is found that the information furnished by the applicant is false or the applicant does not fulfill the eligibility conditions, the fellowship is liable to be canceled.
• Applicants must clearly indicate their preference for one of the Raman-Charpak Fellowships in their research proposal. There is no need to make a separate application for a particular fellowship.
• The award of the Raman-Charpak Fellowship will be subject to the successful completion of all the necessary documentation and paperwork as per the respective guidelines of CEFIPRA, and the fellow's home institution.
• The French applicants are requested to indicate in their project a direct scientific interest in the area of the Indo-French cooperation.
• The names of the selected students will be announced on the CEFIPRA website and through an official letter via email.
• Students are required to inform CEFIPRA immediately of any change in their contact information (email, phone number, etc.) during the selection process.
• All candidates are requested to follow the advice of their own country’s travel advisory (For Indian students: https://www.mea.gov.in/covid-19-advisories.htm; For French students: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/) and to consult the Indian and French consulates or embassies in their home country for the latest updates on visa and travel requirements.
• The fellow must ensure compliance with the traveling and local sanitary regulations as well as the university or institute's sanitary rules. In case of violation of these regulations, CEFIPRA reserves the right to cancel the fellowship, and the fellow must bear the consequences, including repatriation if needed.
• Applications not fully filled in and not accompanied by copies of all required documents and incomplete/incorrect application forms will be summarily rejected.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered for evaluation.

If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact our representatives: