FM Nirmala Sitharaman declared during the budget presentation that 10,000 fellowships for technological research at IITs and IISc would be awarded under the PM Research Fellowship program during the following five years. Here’s all you need to know about the plan.
The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, or PMRF, program offers competitive fellowships to India’s top PhD researchers. FM Nirmala Sitharaman revealed the plan in the 2018–19 Budget and recently declared that 10,000 fellowships would be awarded under this programme. Examine the highlights, advantages, fellowship amount, eligibility, and other details of the Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme.
Highlights of the Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme
With an alluring fellowship of Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 80,000 per month, the Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme provides direct admission to a limited number of students enrolled in PhD programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
- Year 1: 70,000 monthly
- Year 2: 70,000 monthly
- Year 3: 75,000 monthly
- Year 4: 80,000 monthly
- Year 5: 80,000 monthly
Each individual is also eligible for a research grant of Rs. 2 lakhs per year (up to Rs. 10 lakhs for five years).
The program was recently made available to qualified students from all of the nation’s accredited colleges and universities.
A monthly fellowship of Rs. 12,400 is available to all students enrolled in M.Tech. Programs at Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) and those connected to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
PMRF Encourages International and Multidisciplinary Research: PM Modi
In his January speech on the GenomeIndia initiative, PM Modi previously stated that the PM Research Fellowship Scheme is being launched to promote research throughout PhD courses. The Prime Minister also stated that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation will assist fields including science, engineering, environment, and health, emphasising that the National Research Fund was established to encourage multidisciplinary and international research.
Eligibility for Direct Entry Channel Entry
(a) completed, or are in the last year of, four- or five-year undergraduate, five-year integrated M.Tech., two-year M.Sc., or five-year undergraduate, postgraduate dual degree programs in Science and Technology streams from centrally sponsored IITs, IISc, IITs, NITs, IIEST, and IISERS. On a 10-point scale, these applicants should have obtained a CGPA/CPI of at least 8.0. The CGPA/CPI of the UG portion (first four years) shall be considered for applicants in five-year integrated or dual degree programs if separate CGPAs/CPIs are given for the UG and PG portions of the program.
OR
(b) completed, or are enrolled in the last year of a four- or five-year undergraduate program, a five-year integrated M.Tech program, a five-year integrated M.Sc. program, a two-year M.Sc. program, or a five-year undergraduate-postgraduate dual degree program in Science and Technology streams from any other Indian institution or university that is not listed in 1(a) above. In addition to having a minimum GATE score of 650, these candidates should have earned a minimum CGPA of 8 or above, a UGC/CSIR JRF rank of 100 or lower, or an NBHM fellowship.
OR
(c) be enrolled in or have already finished an M.Tech. or MS by research program at one of the PMRF Granting Institutions, be a qualified GATE, and have a minimum CGPA or CPI of 8.0 (on a 10-point scale) with at least four courses taken at the time of application.
(2) They apply to and are accepted into a Ph.D. program at one of the PMRF-granting institutions.
(3) After admitting the student to the PhD program, the PMRF granting institution strongly recommends them and uploads the necessary data to the PMRF online portal. Students are only permitted to enrol in the institutions where they have been accepted and choose to do so (i.e., being picked at one institution and using PMRF from another that does not assist the student with PMRF will not be allowed).
(4) Research exposure, publications, performance in international competitions (such as the MIT Olympiad and the ACM ICPC Programming Contest), grades, and recommendation letters are some of the criteria that will be used to evaluate the candidates.
(5) The PMRF panel will evaluate the candidate’s development within 12 to 18 months following their entrance to the PhD program, and their continued participation in the PMRF will depend on their performance. To maintain PMRF status, a compelling research proposal and a clear evaluation from the host university are required. Publication in reputable journals and conferences would be given the weight it deserves.
Eligibility for Entry Through a Lateral Entry Channel
The following requirements must be met for the candidate to apply for PMRF via this channel:
(1) The applicant should be enrolled in a Ph.D. program at an institution that grants PMRFs. Additionally, if the individual entered the PhD program with a Master’s degree, they should have finished no more than 12 months; if they entered the program with a Bachelor’s degree, they should have finished no more than 24 months. From the date of acceptance to the PhD program until the date of application for lateral entry, the pertinent 12- or 24-month period shall be counted. Through the lateral entrance channel PMRF, a candidate may be evaluated no more than twice. The candidate can apply for integrated M.Tech/MSc and PhD programs within a year of completing the Master’s degree requirement.
(2) The candidate should have earned an overall CGPA of 8.5 (out of 10) or above after completing at least four full-semester courses in the PhD program. General courses like seminars, communication skills, research methodology, etc. are not considered full subjects; only complete subjects are.
(3) The candidate receives a strong recommendation from the PMRF Granting Institute, where the student is enrolled. The pertinent data is uploaded to the PMRF web page. A study proposal and soft copies of publications—including those that are currently being submitted—are included in this.
(4) The candidate is only permitted to continue working at the host institution; they are not permitted to transfer to another PMRF-eligible institution. Furthermore, a candidate cannot be evaluated for a direct admission route the following year after enrolling in a PhD program through lateral entry.
(5) A solid research proposal, publication history, and grades are only a few of the criteria for evaluating the candidates. Publication in reputable journals and conferences should be given the weight it deserves.
