Applications Invited for ANRF-CII Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research

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About the Organization

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) - established through an  Act of Parliament: ANRF Act, 2023, to provide high-level strategic directions for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences, including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences.

The Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research is a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), established under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The ANRF was established through an act of Act of Parliament: ANRF Act, 2023, Government of India subsuming the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) to provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across various scientific disciplines.

About the Fellowship

Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) for human resource capacity building for industrial R&D has been recognised as one of the main deliverables by a Sub-committee of Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry. One of the key recommendations that emerged from the Private Sector is to design, develop and implement a Doctoral Research Scheme under PPP for enhancing trust level in academia, research outfits and industry.

A special scheme for 100 'Doctoral Research Fellowships' every year was announced during the Inception Ceremony of the Indian Science Congress Association, in June 2012 in Kolkata. Vide Prime Minister’s Office ID No–3646245/2012-ES-II dated 2 November 2012; the Prime Minister’s Office approved the proposal of naming the ‘SERB-CII Doctoral Fellowship Scheme’ as Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research. Subsequently, the Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research was formally launched at the ‘AICTE-CII University- Industry Congress & 4th Global Higher Education Summit’ held in New Delhi.

This scheme is aimed at encouraging young, talented, enthusiastic, and result-oriented scholars to take up industry-relevant research. Under this scheme, full-time PhD scholars receive double the amount they would otherwise get for conducting research. The average government fellowship in India at any academic or research institute is approximately ₹25,000 per month, including house rent allowance (HRA). Under the Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research, scholars receive double the JRF/SRF as a scholarship, which is approximately ₹1,00,000 per month. While one-half of this scholarship comes from the government, the second half is contributed by a partner company, which also collaborates closely with the candidate on the research project. The first batch commenced in 2013. Since September 2014, the scheme has been open-ended, allowing aspirants to apply anytime within 14 months from their PhD registration.

Fellowships have been conferred to more than 350 PM Fellows since 2012 with more than 130 institutes and 300 companies coming together to support the scheme. It is envisaged that this scheme would eventually attract a large number of talented students into pursuing PhD and on changing industry’s mind-set in investing in R&D and recruiting more PhDs.

Framework:

• Up to 100 new Fellowships are provided every year
• 50% of the scholarship comes from ANRF [being equivalent to the prevailing Government norms for Junior Research Fellow Senior Research Fellow (inclusive of HRA)], which can be revised as per the JRF/SRF norms from time to time
• The remaining 50% (matching equivalent of ANRF component) comes from the partner company
• Duration of the Fellowship is four years
• If selected to receive the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research, the candidate ceases to receive any other scholarship/salary from any other organisation, which he/she may be receiving at the time of enrolling into the scheme

Eligibility

• One PhD scholar and one industry partner will apply jointly. The application has to be filled out by the doctoral fellow.
• Research scholar should have taken admission in a full-time PhD program within the last 14 months from the date of submission of applications in any recognized Indian University/Institute/Research Laboratory. In case of a different admission/enrollment date and registration date, the first date of PhD admission will be considered.
• Research scholar should obtain ‘No Objection’ from his/her Institution before applying
• Research scholar should have identified (before applying) an industry partner/co-applicant who should be ready to support the research project financially and also lend technical and intellectual support.
• Areas of research should be in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture or Medicine.
• The topic of research should have practical relevance and industrial application.
• The candidate and the proposed research topic should qualify on the criteria of excellence and relevance and be of technical and scientific merit.
• The selected Research scholar should be willing to work with/in industry as and when required by the industry partner during the project period.
• The research duration should not be more than four years, leading to the award of a PhD degree to the doctoral fellow.

How to Apply

Applications have to be submitted online.

For applying, log on to: www.primeministerfellowshipscheme.in

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Research Post Doctorate / PhD Others