PM Research Fellowship Scheme: Cabinet clears direct admissions to PhD, stipend up to Rs 80,000

In a major boost for research in the country, the Union cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for students of higher education institutions such as IITs, NITs and IISERs. The move was also aimed at preserving the country’s talent pool.

Under the scheme, graduates or final-year students of B Tech, integrated M Tech or M Sc in the science and technology streams at the IISc, IITs, NITs, IISERs and IIITs will be offered direct admissions to PhD programmes at IITs and the IISc.

Students who fulfil the eligibility criteria and get shortlisted will be offered a fellowship of Rs 70,000 a month in the first two years, Rs 75,000 per month in the third year and Rs 80,000 per month in the fourth and the fifth years. A research grant of Rs 2 lakh each will also be provided to the fellows for a period of five years to cover foreign travel expenses for presenting research papers at international conferences and seminars.

The Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for 1,000 B Tech students for pursuing PhD courses at IITs and IISc will help convert brain drain into brain gain, Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday. “The scheme will go a long way in tapping the talent pool of the country for carrying out research indigenously in cutting edge science and technology domains.”

Research under the scheme will address national priorities as well as shortage of quality faculty members at premier educational institutions in the country, he added.

The scheme will cost Rs 1,650 crore for a period of seven years, beginning 2018-19. Finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced the scheme during his budget speech in Parliament earlier this month.

(With PTI inputs)