Cabinet approves 1650 Cr under PM Research Fellows Scheme, 1000 to get direct admission in PhD

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved implementation of Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme for students of Science & Technology streams from IISC, IITs, NITs, IISERs & IIITs at a total cost of Rs.1650 crore for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19.

More than 1000 best students who have completed B.Tech or Integrated M.Tech or MSc in Sc. & Tech. streams will be selected after a rigorous process and offered direct admission to Ph.D. programme in the IITs/IISC. As per the government, this fellowship scheme is key to realizing his vision of development through innovation. The scheme has been announced in the Budget Speech 2018–19.

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javdekar tweeted by saying, “The best of best students go abroad because of good research labs, faculty and fellowship, Govt will provide all the three in India. Already through HEFA Govt is fast-tracking upgradation of research infrastructure. This innovative initiative will promote large scale innovation. The scheme will help stop brain-drain and promote brain-gain in the country.”

A maximum of 3000 fellows would be selected in a three year period beginning 2018-19.

Under this scheme, the best students who have completed or are in the final year of B. Tech or Integrated M.Tech or M.Sc. in Science and Technology streams from IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIITs will be offered direct admission in a Ph.D. programme in the IITs/IISc. Such students, who fulfill the eligibility criteria, and shortlisted through a selection process, as laid down in the PMRF Guidelines, will be offered a fellowship of Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs.75,000/- per month for the 3rd year, and Rs.80,000/- per month in the 4th and 5th years.

Apart from this, a research grant of Rs.2.00 lakh will be provided to each of the Fellows for a period of 5 years to cover their foreign travel expenses for presenting research papers in international conferences and seminars.

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. The research under the Scheme will address our national priorities on the one hand and the shortage of quality faculty in the premier educational institutions of the country, on the other.