Important Dates: 2026 Cycle
For the 2026 session, the ICMR-BRET follows a strict timeline. Candidates must monitor the NTA and ICMR portals closely during the spring months.
Event
Tentative Date (2026)
Official Notification
March / April 2026
Online Registration
April – May 2026
CBT Examination
1st or 2nd Week of July 2026
Result Declaration
August 2026
What is BRET?
The Biomedical Research Eligibility Test (BRET) is the unified gateway for Junior Research Fellowships under the Department of Health Research (DHR) and ICMR. While the exam core remains scientific, the BRET format emphasizes cross-disciplinary biomedical knowledge more than the previous JRF-only version.
Seat Matrix: 120 fellowships are reserved for Life Sciences/Biomedical areas, and 30 are reserved for Social Sciences.
Eligibility Criteria (Current)
Academic qualifications must be completed by the time of fellowship activation:
• Qualification: M.Sc., M.A., or equivalent degree with 55% marks (General/EWS/OBC) or 50% (SC/ST/PwBD).
• Age Limit: Maximum 28 years (as of notification date).
• Relaxations: 5 years for SC/ST, PwBD, and Female candidates; 3 years for OBC-NCL.
Fellowship Emoluments 2026
The fellowship rates have been revised to support rising research costs:
1. JRF (Years 1-2): ₹37,000 per month + HRA as per city category (8%, 16%, or 24%).
2. SRF (Years 3-5): ₹42,000 per month + HRA after successful assessment.
3. Contingency: A fixed grant of ₹20,000 per annum for books, stationery, and travel.
2026 Exam Structure
The CBT consists of 150 total questions, but you only need to attempt 125:
• Section A (General Aptitude): 50 compulsory questions (Maths, Stats, GK, Scientific Phenomena).
• Section B (Fundamental Science): 50 questions on cross-disciplinary biomedical knowledge.
• Section C (Specialization): 50 questions based on your chosen subject (Life Sciences or Social Sciences).
Marking: Each correct answer gives +1 mark. Each incorrect answer deducts 0.25 marks.
Qualifying Cut-offs
Merit lists are prepared separately for Life Sciences and Social Sciences. To be considered for the merit list, you must achieve:
• General/EWS/OBC: 55% aggregate marks.
• SC/ST/PwBD: 50% aggregate marks.
Placement: Awardees must find a placement in a medical college, university, or National Laboratory within 6 months of the award letter.
Important Links & Helpdesk
For technical issues and official application, use only these verified links:
- 9 topic tests for ICMR, one topic at a time
- Every answer explained in full
- A full report on every attempt — what went wrong and what to revise
- Unlimited retakes — one payment, yours for good
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