National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) has released the official advertisement for admission to the PhD (Biotechnology) Program for the January 2026 session. Eligible candidates can check seat details, eligibility criteria, fellowship information, and the application process from this article.
NABI PhD Admission Notification 2026
National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali – an autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India – is inviting applications for admission to its PhD (Biotechnology) Program. The program is conducted at NABI and the degree is awarded by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad. Interested candidates can apply online through the official portal.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizing Institute | National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali |
| Degree Awarding Institute | Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad |
| Program Name | PhD in Biotechnology |
| Advertisement No. | NABI/Admin/5(1)/2022-23/ACAD-07 RCB-NABI |
| Total Seats | 36 |
| Program Duration | 5 years (Maximum 7 years) |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Official Website | www.nabi.res.in |
| Application Portal | http://recruitment.nabi.res.in/nabiPhd/login |
| Last Date to Apply | 20th February 2026 (5:30 PM) |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start Date for Online Application | 3rd February 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 20th February 2026 (5:30 PM) |
| Interview Date | To be announced on website |
NABI PhD Seats 2026
Total Seats: 36
Reservation Details:
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 27%
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- PwD (Persons with Disability): 5%
- EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10%
Note: PwD reservation is horizontal as per GOI guidelines
Eligibility Criteria
Essential Qualifications:
- Educational Qualification: MSc/MTech in any area of Life Sciences, MPharma/MVSc/MBBS or equivalent degree.
- Minimum Marks: 55% aggregate marks in qualifying degree (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD candidates as per GOI norms).
- National Level Test: Must have qualified a national-level test such as:
- UGC/CSIR/ICMR/DST/DBT Fellowship/Admission Eligibility Test
- GATE
- NABI Fellowship
- Any other government-recognized agency test
Note: Final year students awaiting results can apply, but admission is subject to fulfilling criteria at the time of joining.
Also Read: JNCASR POBE 2026: Apply for Project Oriented Biology Education Fellowship
Research Areas
- Agricultural Biotechnology
- Food Biotechnology
- Nutrition Biotechnology
- Bioprocessing
- Secondary agriculture and valorization
- Biomanufacturing
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
- Nanobiosciences
- Post-harvest technology
- Functional foods
- Genomics and Computational Biology
Fellowship Details
- Students must have their own fellowship from recognized granting agencies.
- Limited number of NABI-Core fellowships may be offered to selected candidates (without own fellowship but with GATE/National exam qualification) based on merit.
Also Read:IITM Summer Fellowship Programme 2026
Application Fee
- Application Fee: Details available on the online portal during payment.
- Payment Mode: Online payment through the application portal.
Steps for Online Payment:
- Complete registration on the portal
- Click “Make Payment” button
- Search ‘National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute’
- Select category and make payment
Selection Process
- Screening: Based on academic credentials, fellowship status, and other criteria.
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview.
- Final Selection: Based on interview performance and overall merit.
Note: Mere possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee call for interview.
How to Apply for NABI PhD Admission 2026?
- Visit the official application portal: http://recruitment.nabi.res.in/nabiPhd/login
- Register with valid email and mobile number
- Fill the online application form with all required details
- Upload scanned documents in prescribed format
- Pay application fee online
- Submit application and take printout for future reference
Documents Required
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Date of birth proof
- Educational qualification certificates (10th onwards)
- Fellowship certificate (GATE/National level test)
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- EWS certificate (if applicable) – as per Annexure A format
- Any other relevant documents
Important Links
- Official Notification: NABI PhD Admission 2026
- Apply Online Link: Active from 03.02.2026
- NABI Website: www.nabi.res.in
- RCB Website: www.rcb.res.in
FAQs
Q1. What is the last date to apply for NABI PhD Admission 2026?
Last date is 20th February 2026 (5:30 PM).
Q2. How many seats are available in NABI PhD Program?
Total 36 seats with reservations as per GOI norms.
Q3. Is GATE qualification mandatory for application?
No, candidates can have any national-level test qualification (UGC/CSIR/DBT/ICMR etc.) or GATE qualification.
Q4. What is the duration of the PhD program?
Minimum 5 years, maximum 7 years.
Q5. Will NABI provide fellowship to selected candidates?
Students should have their own fellowship. Limited NABI-Core fellowships may be offered based on merit to candidates without fellowship but with GATE/National exam qualification.
Q6. Where will the degree be awarded from?
The degree will be awarded by Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad.
