Amendments brought in the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Scheme
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Education;
In News:
Recently various amendments have beenbrought in the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Scheme by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development to boost research in the country.
Key takeaways:
Now, students from any recognized university can apply for the Fellowship. Earlier it was open only for students from Central Universities, IITs, IISc, NITs, IISERs, IIEST and IIITs.
The requirement of GATE score has also been reduced from 750 to 600.
There will be two channels of entries i.e direct entry and lateral entry.
National Institute of Technologies (NITs) can also become PMRF Granting institution. NITs appear in top 25 institutions in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF).
A dedicated division “Research and Innovation Division” will be formed in the MHRD to boost research.
Important value additions:
Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) Scheme
It was launched to attract meritorious students into research in 2018.
It offers direct admission to such students in the Ph.D programmes in various higher educational institutions in the country.
The research under PMRF will be carried in cutting edge science and technology domains.
The institutes which can offer PMRF include all the IITs, IISERs, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and some of the top Central Universities/NITs.
A research grant of Rs. 2 lakh per year is provided to each of the Fellows for a period of 5 years to cover their academic contingency expenses and for foreign/national travel expenses along with monthly stipend.
