Lok Sabha Question No. 65 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: PMRF for Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 65 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## PMRF for Students

65. SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

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  education  institutions  like  the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education  and  Research  (IISERs)  and  National  Institutes  of  Technology (NITs);
- (b) if so, the eligibility criteria fixed for selection of B.Tech graduates for PMRF and the monthly scholarships and annual research grants will be provided under the PMRF to each scholar;
- (c) whether there is any proposal to upgrade the research facilities at IITs and IISc  and  if  so,  the  plan  prepared  therefor  and  the  funds  earmarked  for implementation of PMRF; and
- (d) 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 (d): The Government has approved the 'Prime Minister's Research Fellows (PMRF)' Scheme under which the best students from all recognized institutions in  India  are  selected  as  per  PMRF  guidelines  for  admission  in  the  Ph.D programmes in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc)  and  Indian  Institutes  of  Science  Education  and  Research  (IISERs).   The selected  students  are  offered  a  monthly  fellowship  of  Rs.70,000/-  for  the  first two years, Rs.75,000/- for the 3 rd  year, and Rs.80,000/- in the 4 th  and 5 th  year, along with a research grant of Rs.2.00 lakh to each Fellow for a period of 5 years to  cover  foreign  travel  expenses  for  presenting  research  papers.  During  the current fiscal an amount of Rs.15.00 crore has been allocated for the scheme, out of  which  a  sum  of  Rs.12.38  crore  has  been  released.    The  Government  is committed to not only retain the students passing out of the premier educational institutions in the country, but also attract the non-resident Indians back to the Country. For attracting highly skilled researchers and scientists to pursue their R&D  interests  in  Indian  Institutions,  initiatives  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 have been launched. Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) scheme launched by this Ministry seeks to tap the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs abroad, including those of Indian origin to augment the country's existing academic resources.

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