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 fromIISc/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.
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the biggest-ever Prime Minister’s Research Fellows scheme (PMRF) is for students of Science & Technology streams from IISC, IITs, NITs, IISERs & IIITs. The minister commented that the scheme will promote large scale innovation. The scheme will help stop brain-drain and promote brain-gain in the country.
The best of best students go abroad because of good research labs, faculty and fellowship. The government will provide all the three in India. Mr Javadekar said that the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi believes in quick decision making. The PMRF scheme was announced in the Budget presented last week and the Cabinet has approved in less than a week’s time.
1000 best students who have completed BTech or Integrated MTech or MSc in Sc. & Tech. streams will be selected after a rigorous process in a year, and offered direct admission in PhD programme in the IITs/IISC.
The scheme will help tapping the talent pool of the country for carrying out research indigenously in cutting edge science & technology domains.
A minimum of 8 CGPA is one of the essential eligibility criteria. Students should have completed the required academic qualification in the last five years.
The minister said that the scheme will be rolled out from the 2018-19 academic session.. . .