-
- The Union Cabinet on 7 February 2018, approved implementation of ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF)’ scheme at a total cost of Rs.1650 crore for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19.
- The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in Union Budget 2018-19 had announced the ‘Prime Minister’s Research fellowship (PMRF)’ scheme.
- The Budget has earmarked Rs 1,800 crore for the scheme.
- The scheme will start from this academic year.
- 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 PhD 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. Currently such scholars in IITs and IISc earn Rs 25,000 per month which is increased to Rs 28,000 after two years and a qualifying exam.
- 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. A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in a three year period, beginning 2018-19.
- According to the Union Ministry of HRD, under this scheme , students will selected for pursuing research in frontier areas of science and technologies in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology IITs and the Indian Institute of Science. They will now teach in nearby ITIs as a part of the programme.
- overnment’s this move will promote quality research in IITs and ensure students opt for higher education.
