3000 students of premier institutions to get PM fellowship for PhD in IITs and IISc

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved implementation of the 'Prime Minister's Research Fellows (PMRF)' scheme - meant to offer fellowship for PhD programme in IITs and IISc - at a total cost of Rs 1,650 crore for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19 financial year.
The 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 premier institutions such as IISc, IITs, NITs, IISERs and IIITs will be offered direct admission in PhD programme in the IITs and IISc under the Scheme which was announced in the Budget on February 1.
Such students, who fulfill eligibility criteria, and short-listed through a selection process 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 lakh will be provided to each of the fellows for a period of five years to cover their foreign travel expenses for presenting research papers in international conferences and seminars. A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in a three year period, beginning 2018-19,” said a government statement, announcing the Cabinet decision.
It said, “The scheme will go a long way in tapping 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 at the one hand and shortage of quality faculty in the premier educational institutions of the country, on the other.”