Lok Sabha Question No. 1502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: IIT, IISER, NIT
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SANTOSH AHLAWAT, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne, PRATHAP SIMHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1502 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## IIT, IISER, NIT

## 1502.  SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)       whether the Government has approved the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) for students of Higher Educational Institutions like the IITs, IISERs and NITs and if so, the details and salient features thereof along with the number of meritorious students of B.Tech. and M.Tech. who have availed PMRF;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  limitation  in  terms  of  number  of  candidates  in  a  year  for  the applicant for getting the scholarship and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)       the eligibility criteria fixed for selection of B.Tech. graduates for PMRF and there is any reservation quota fixed for SC/ST/OBC and General candidates;
- (d)      the  monthly  Fellowships/ Scholarships and annual research grants likely to be provided under PMRF;
- (e)       whether there is any proposal to upgrade the research facilities at IITs and IIScs and if so, the details thereof along with the funds earmarked for implementation of PMRF; and
- (f)        the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  stop  India's  best  brains  from  taking  up scholarships for frontier research abroad?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (f) : The Government approved the Scheme 'Prime Minister's Research Fellows (PMRF)' at  a  total  cost  of  Rs.1650  crore  for  a  period  of  seven  years  beginning  2018-19.   Under  this Scheme, the best students who have completed (in last 5 years) 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,  with  atleast  8.0  CGPA,  will  be  offered  direct  admission  in  Ph.D programme in the IITs / IISc,  after going through the selection process.  Such  students  will be offered a fellowship of Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs.75,000/- per month for the 3 rd year, and Rs.80,000/- per month in the 4 th and 5 th years.  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. A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected  in  a  three  year  period.  Government  provides  necessary  budgetary  support  to  all Institutions including IITs and IISc, inter-alia for up-gradation of research.

For  attracting  highly  skilled  researchers  and scientists to pursue  their R&D interests in Indian Institutions, several initiatives have been launched such as: Faculty Recharge Programme, CV  Raman  Post-Doctoral  Fellowship  Scheme  by  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC), Ramanujan Fellowship, JC Bose Fellowship, Swarnjayanti Fellowship, Young Scientist Project Award,  Women  Scientist  Scheme  by  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  (DST),  and Ramalinga Swami Re-entry Fellowship by Department of Biotechnology.  Ministry of Human Resource Development have launched Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) which seeks to tap the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs from abroad, including those of Indian origin to augment the country's existing academic resources.

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