Bhubaneswar, July 7 (UDN): The Odisha Government has invited applications for the Mukhyamantri Research Fellowship (MRF) 2026–27 under the Mukhyamantri Research Incentive Programme (MRIP), reaffirming its commitment to promoting quality research and strengthening the State’s higher education ecosystem.
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The Higher Education Department has called upon eligible PhD scholars enrolled in State Public Universities under the department, as well as universities functioning under other State Government departments, to apply for the fellowship through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal.
According to the official notification, the online application window opened on July 7 at 4:00 pm and will remain active until July 30, 2026, at 11:45 pm. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to edit their submitted application forms on July 31, between 11:00 am and 11:45 pm.
The applications will subsequently be forwarded to the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) on August 5 for further processing, while the schedule for document verification of shortlisted candidates will be announced separately on the SAMS portal.
As per the revised eligibility guidelines issued by OSHEC, applicants must be permanent residents of Odisha and should have registered for a PhD programme between April 1, 2024, and July 19, 2026, under a recognised research supervisor. Candidates must also satisfy all other conditions prescribed under the revised fellowship guidelines.
The department clarified that research scholars who have already been selected for fellowship assistance under MRIP-2025 and are not registered through the SAMS platform will not be eligible to submit fresh applications under the current cycle.
The Mukhyamantri Research Fellowship is designed to provide financial assistance to doctoral scholars, enabling them to undertake high-quality research across various disciplines while contributing to academic excellence, innovation and evidence-based policy development in Odisha.
The Higher Education Department has advised aspiring candidates to carefully read the revised guidelines available on the SAMS portal before submitting the Common Application Form (CAF). It further stated that any revision to the application schedule or additional instructions will be notified through the official website and public announcements.
The fellowship initiative is expected to encourage research-driven solutions to developmental challenges and nurture a new generation of scholars contributing to Odisha’s knowledge economy.
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