‘I personally apologise’: Presidency University researcher flags fellowship delay; ANRF chief responds

A Presidency University, Kolkata researcher flagged delays in Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) fellowship payments and a pending travel grant on social media. ANRF chief Shivkumar Kalyanaraman responded to the researcher’s public appeal and said "I personally apologise for this. We will revamp our processes around grantee service."

According to the researcher’s appeal, payment for March to June 2026 remained pending despite repeated follow-ups and submission of documents by the university.

“My advisor has repeatedly contacted the ANRF officials handling these payments. The pattern has been exhausting: a request for documents, our submission, followed by silence or another request for different documents. Presidency University has provided all the documents and information requested. Yet we still have no clear explanation for the delay or a date by which the payments will be released,” the researcher wrote on her post on Facebook.

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Other PhD scholars flag delay in ANRF disbursement

Emphasising on the financial difficulties due to the ANRF fellowship payment delay, the researcher said that she was the sole earner in the family. She has taken over multiple side jobs to meet the family expenses. 

Responding to the appeal, ANRF chief intervened and the issue was reportedly resolved. However, the appeal has drawn attention to wider concerns among research scholars over delays in fellowship disbursement and research funding.

Another PhD scholar highlighted delay in the disbursement of DST and DBT fellowships, and said that it has become a persistent concern for research scholars. 

“While UGC and CSIR fellowships appear to be relatively more regular, DBT and DST continue to launch new programmes without adequately addressing the implementation issues affecting existing ones,” the post read.

He further stated that over the past few years, they have raised multiple complaints through the PM Grievance Portal and emails to nodal officers, secretaries, and other authorities. Despite repeated assurances, the situation remains largely unchanged.