Lok Sabha Question No. 2602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Schemes for NRI Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## (a) Yes, Madam.

- (b) The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  through  Ramanujan  Fellowship  Scheme  and  the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) through Ramalingaswami re-entry Fellowship provide attractive avenues and opportunities to Non Resident Indian  scientists  of  high  caliber  to  work  in  Indian  Institutes/Universities  of  their  respective  interest  and  domain. Indian  citizens  including  NRI  in  the  age  group  of  27-32  years  with  PhD  in  science,  mathematics,  engineering, pharmacy,  medicine,  and  agriculture  related  subjects  from  any  recognized  university  in  the  world  are  eligible  to apply under the INSPIRE Faculty Scheme. The Faculty is eligible to receive a consolidated amount equivalent to the scale of the Assistant Professor of an IIT and a Research Grant of Rs 7 lakh per year for 5 years. The applicant under the  Ramanujan  &  Ramalingaswami  Re-entry  Fellowships  should  possess  a  Ph.D.,  M.D.,  M.  Tech,  M.VSc.  or equivalent degree with professional experience. The upper age limit is 45 years. Both the Fellowship schemes provide a consolidated monthly remuneration of Rs. 85,000/- p.m for 5 years. In addition, a research grant of Rs. 10.00 lakhs for  the  1st  year;  Rs.  7.50  lakhs  for  the  2nd  year;  Rs.  5.00  lakhs  for  subsequent  3  years  is  provided  under  the Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship and Rs. Rs.7.00 lakh  per  annum under Ramanujan Fellowship Scheme for consumables, travel, research manpower & contingencies etc. In addition to assured fellowship and research grant for a period of five years for the scientists, provisions to seek for other competitive research grant of Government made these schemes more attractive and popular. VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme is a recent initiative of DST to bring overseas scientists and academicians including NRI and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)  to  India  to  work  as  adjunct  /  visiting  faculty  for  a  specific  period  of  time  in  public  funded  academic  and research institutions. The residency period of VAJRA Faculty in the host institution would be for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months every year. VAJRA Faculty is provided US Dollars 15000 in the first month of
- residence and US Dollars 10000 in each of the subsequent month. (c) & (d): The VAJRA scheme was launched recently on pilot basis for initial 3-4 years with a target of enrolling 5075  VAJRA  Faculty  per  year.  In  the  first  round  of  selection  Call  for  applications  has  been  opened  to  from  the prospective researchers, against which close to 250 foreign faculty members from top ranking institutions from 39 countries have expressed their willingness to work with the Indian Institutions. A total of 43 distinguished foreign faculties  including  NRIs from  various institutions  spread  across  13  countries have  been  selected.  Since  it  is  a new scheme, considerable time is required to know the research output.
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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2602 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3/1/2018

## SCHEMES FOR NRI SCIENTISTS

## 2602. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)

whether the Government has facilitated schemes for the NRI scientists to work in the country; if so, the details of the schemes to attract scientists from abroad therein; the response on the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme therefor; and the result and research output of the schemes so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)