Rajasthan Chief Minister Fellowship Program (CMFP)

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Rajasthan Chief Minister Fellowship Program (CMFP)
Benefits	₹65,000 monthly fellowship and exposure
Beneficiary	Eligible highly qualified young candidates
Nodal Agency	Directorate of Economics & Statistics
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Online through the Rajasthan SSO Portal

Rajasthan Chief Minister Fellowship Program (CMFP): A Paid Year Inside State Government for Young Graduates

Most young graduates who care about public policy never get to see how a government actually works. The Rajasthan Chief Minister Fellowship Program (CMFP) offers a chance to find out, by placing 50 highly qualified young people in the Chief Minister’s Office or in state departments for a year, with a monthly payment of ₹65,000. The Planning Department is the administrative department, and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Jaipur, runs it.

Is it open right now?

This is unclear, so I will be straightforward. The source says the application process “started” on the Rajasthan SSO portal, but it gives no application dates and no deadline. Its FAQ asks whether CMFP-2026 is open without an answer. The guidelines described are CMFP-2025, and the age cut-off is set as of 1 January 2026. The source also says Fellows are selected through campus placement from universities and institutions chosen by the Program Implementation Committee. So, many candidates may only reach the process through their institution. Call the DES helpline or check the SSO portal and the CMFP portal to find out whether and when applications are open before you plan around it.

What a Fellow receives

1. A stipend of ₹60,000 a month, plus ₹5,000 a month for connectivity and mobility, so ₹65,000 in total
2. Payment within 15 days after the month ends, based on attendance and the Monthly Progress Report (MPR)
3. Income tax deducted at source, with a TDS certificate issued
4. A one-week state-level orientation
5. 12 days of leave a calendar year, accruing one day per completed month, with no carry-forward and no half-day leave
6. A Fellowship Completion Certificate from the Planning Department after finishing and getting the final report approved
7. An Experience Certificate after at least 6 months
8. First-hand experience of policy work, programme implementation and public administration

The fellowship lasts one year and can be extended, six months at a time, to a maximum of two years in total.

What it does not offer

This list deserves careful reading before you apply:

1. It is not a government job and does not promise temporary or permanent employment. Fellows are not employees of the CMO, DES or any department.
2. No travel or daily allowance for the interview or during the fellowship.
3. No medical insurance, reimbursement or RGHS coverage, and no liability for costs from accidents or illness.
4. No extra pay for overtime or work on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
5. No stipend if you leave within the first month.
6. You must bring your own laptop and data card or internet connection.

What Fellows do

Fellows work in the CMO or in the department allotted by the CMO, doing the work assigned by the CMO or the department’s ACS, Principal Secretary or Secretary. They submit a Monthly Progress Report, follow regular office hours and attendance rules, and submit a final project report in the last quarter. The aims of the program include bringing fresh ideas into government schemes, getting independent critical analysis of programmes, and building interest in public service among young people.

Who is eligible

1. Age no more than 28 years as on 1 January 2026 (not born before 1 January 1998)
2. A postgraduate degree with at least 65% marks or CGPA 7, or a bachelor’s degree in a professional course such as Engineering, Medical, CA, CS or Law
3. Good command of English and Hindi (reading, speaking, writing, understanding)
4. Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal and soft skills
5. Good command of ICT, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and AI tools
6. Full-time commitment, with no remuneration from any other agency during the fellowship

How selection works

1. Fellows are picked through campus placement at selected universities and institutions.
2. The Program Implementation Committee decides the institutions, the process and the interview board.
3. Candidates are assessed on eligibility documents, a Group Discussion and a Personal Interview, covering personality, attitude, communication and subject knowledge.
4. A composite merit list of 1.5 times the requirement is declared, and 25 candidates are kept on a waiting list that lapses after 6 months.
5. The CMO decides where each Fellow is deployed. The Fellow joins within one month of the grant and signs an Undertaking (Annexure-A).

Documents

At the Group Discussion and Personal Interview, bring proof of age, proof of educational qualification and proof of experience where applicable. Selected Fellows sign the Undertaking (Annexure-A) at joining.

How to apply

1. Visit the Rajasthan SSO Portal and log in with your SSO ID and password.
2. Go to Citizen Apps (G2C) and select the Chief Minister Fellowship Program.
3. Fill in the online application carefully, check it, and submit it before the deadline.

When a fellowship can end

The government can end it for unauthorised absence of 7 continuous days (after a 7-working-day notice), for misconduct or unsatisfactory performance at any time without notice, if you receive pay from another source (immediately), or at any time without giving a reason. You can leave with one month’s notice, but you must submit a resignation and a detailed work report within that month.

The last point means the fellowship is less secure than a normal job, and you should plan for that.

Related scheme

The source also mentions the Mukhyamantri Yuva Sambal Yojana, which pays an unemployment allowance of ₹4,000 a month to eligible male graduates and ₹4,500 to female, transgender and differently-abled graduates for up to two years, subject to employment exchange registration, family income below ₹2 lakh and other conditions.

Where to get help

1. Directorate of Economics and Statistics helpline: 0141-2850229
2. Email: cmfp.des@rajasthan.gov.in