Lok Sabha Question No. 115 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: INSPIRE Faculty
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.115 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/6/2019

## INSPIRE FACULTY

- *115.  SHRIMATI RAKSHANIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to take up the matter with the authorities concerned regarding  INSPIRE  Faculty's  (IFs)  knowledge  particularly  for  their  independent  faculty position, their performance and for stringent guidelines in selection process to address the issues faced by the IFs from the host institutions;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to create new positions for the IFs after the completion of their five year tenure they are unable to get regular or permanent position; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ; वान और ौयोगक मंी ; और पृ वी वान मंी (bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) to (d):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.115 ON 28/6/2019 REGARDING INSPIRE FACULTY

(a)  &  (b):  The  Innovation  in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)  Faculty Fellowship Scheme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (GOI), offers an attractive fellowship amount and an independent research grant for 5 years to meritorious  Ph.D.  holders  so  that  they  are  able  to  pursue  high-quality  post-doctoral  research, establish  themselves  as  independent  researchers  and  become  competitive  for  regular  positions that  may  come  up  in  the  academic  and  research  institutions  of  the  country.  With  effect  from October  2018, the fellowship amount  has  been increased by 56%  from  Rs.80,000/to Rs.1,25,000/- p.m. and the amount of research grant is Rs.7 lakh peryear. The Scheme does not offer any guarantee for regular employment after the 5-year duration of Fellowship. However, given their meritorious record, their domain knowledge and the stringent guidelines followed for their selection, DST has already requested the institutions where the INSPIRE Faculty Fellows pursue  their  post-doctoral  research  to  consider  them  as  potential  candidates  for  their  regular positions  when  such  positions  become  available,  subject  to  their  fulfilling  the  institutional criteria. DST has also requested the institutions to provide them conducive atmosphere for work. (c)  &  (d):  DST  has  already  created  a  new  fellowship  under  its  autonomous  body,  Science  and Engineering Research Board (SERB), called the SERB Research Scientist Scheme, which offers another two-year support, possibly extendable by one more year, to INSPIRE Faculty Fellows who  are  unable  to  get  regular  or  permanent  position  at  the  end  of  the  5-year  term  of  their INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship. This support is for further sustaining their post-doctoral research and is granted on very selective and competitive basis.

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