ARIES Nainital PhD Admission 2026 (Jan)

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital offers Junior Fellowship program leading to PhD.

About ARIES Nainital

Located on the lap of the lower Himalayas, near the beautiful hill town of Nainital, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is an autonomous research institute funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Astronomy & Astrophysics division of ARIES is engaged in cutting edge research in the fields of Solar Physics, Stellar physics, Interstellar Matter, Transients like Supernova and GRBs, AGN, Galaxy Morphology, Relativistic Astrophysics etc. The Atmospheric division specializes in atmospheric chemistry, trace gases, boundary layer meteorology, atmospheric dynamics, aerosols etc.

The Atmospheric division specializes in atmospheric chemistry, trace gases, boundary layer meteorology, atmospheric dynamics, aerosols etc.

ARIES Nainital PhD Program Details

• Students with M. Sc. in Physics/Astrophysics/Atmospheric Sciences/Earth & Environmental Sciences are invited to apply for the Junior Research Fellowship programme of ARIES, leading to a PhD.
• Students admitted to the PhD programme are initially offered a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Successful completion of the coursework is mandatory for all the JRFs. After completing two years as a Junior Research Fellow, a student is offered a Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) after an assessment.
• The total tenure of the fellowship will not exceed five years, including the coursework.

Eligibility Criteria

• M.Sc. Physics/ Astrophysics/ Atmospheric Sciences/Earth & Environmental Sciences with minimum 55% marks for General/OBC and 50% for SC/ST. Post-graduation degree should be from a UGC-recognized college/University.
• The candidate should have passed M. Sc. on or after June 1, 2023.
• Age limit: 28 years as of 31 Jan 2026.
• Applicants should have a valid JEST -OR- GATE -OR- CSIR/UGC NET (JRF/LS) qualification in Physics. GATE percentile should be 95 or more. CSIR/UGC NET qualification from the most recent exam held in 2025 is only admissible.
• All the applications will be further screened by taking into account marks/ranks in JEST/GATE/NET and M.Sc. and other guidelines decided by ARIES. Fulfilling the minimum qualifications does not guarantee a call for an interview.

Application Process

• Interested candidates have to apply online on website of ARIES.
• Before filling this application form read the instructions carefully.

Selection Process

• Final selection will be made on the basis of an in-person (OFFLINE) interview to be held at ARIES, Nainital.
• The details of the shortlisted candidates will be posted on the ARIES website.

• Portal Open: 11 December, 2025
• Deadline for online application submission: 26 December, 2025 (23:59 Hrs)
• Announcement of shortlisted candidates for Interview: 30 December, 2025
• Date of Interview (Online/Offline): 12 January, 2026 to 13 January, 2026
• Announcement of the selected candidates: 16 January, 2026
• Consent for joining: 21 January, 2026
• Expected date of joining ARIES: 2 February, 2026

• Notification
• Application
• ARIES Website