Lok Sabha Question No. 2852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Scheme for Indian Origin Researchers and Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2852 ANSWERED ON 17/12/2025

## SCHEME FOR INDIAN ORIGIN RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS

## 2852.  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  scheme  to  encourage Indian-origin  researchers  and  scientists  working  in  foreign  countries  to return and contribute to research and innovation in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such researchers identified or approached under the said initiative, country-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide any special incentives, research  grants  or  institutional  support  to  facilitate  their  return  and reintegration into Indian research institutions and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has made any budgetary allocation for this purpose and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  manner  in  which  this  initiative  aligns  with  the  Government's broader objective of strengthening the country's scientific and technological capabilities and reducing brain drain?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Ministry of Science and Technology has formulated several schemes to encourage Indian-origin researchers and scientists working in foreign countries to return and contribute to research and innovation in India. The Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  implements  a  VAIBHAV (Vaishvik  Bharatiya  Vaigyanik)  Fellowship  Programme  exclusively  for Indian Diaspora [Non-Resident Indian (NRI)/ Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)] to undertake collaborative research in Indian Institutions. The Department of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  through  Ramalingaswami  Re-entry  Fellowship (RRF)  and  Early  Career  and  Intermediate  Fellowships  (ECIF)  provide attractive avenues and opportunities to Indian researchers of high calibre, who are residing in foreign, to work in Indian Institutes/Universities of their respective interest and domain. Ramanujan Fellowship of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is another scheme for brilliant Indian scientists  and  engineers  aiming  to  return  to  India  from  abroad  for

undertaking  competitive  R&D.  The  Council  of  Scientific  &  Industrial Research (CSIR) has created 50 positions of Scientists/Technologists to be filled  laterally  from  eminent  Scientists/Technologists  of  Indian  Origin (STIO) working abroad. The position has been designated as Outstanding Scientist (STIO).

(b) The VAIBHAV Fellowship envisages collaboration between scientists  of  Indian  Diaspora  and  Indian  Higher  Educational  Institutions (HEIs),  Universities  and/  or  public  funded  scientific  institutions.  The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months in a year for maximum 3 years. Since 2023, 3 calls have been announced and 35 fellows from 11 countries such as USA (18),  UK  (5),  Australia  (3),  Canada  (2)  and  one  each  from  Switzerland, Norway,  Sweden,  Finland,  Germany,  Japan  and  Singapore  have  been awarded. Presently the DBT RRF scheme is supporting 166 ongoing fellows who were working across 27 countries such as Australia (2), Belgium (4), Canada (3), Chile (1), China (1), Columbia (1), Czech Republic (1), France (2), Germany (10), Ireland (1), Israel (12), Italy (2), Japan (4), Netherlands (1),  Philippines  (1),  Qatar  (1),  Russia  (1),  Scotland  (1),  Singapore  (4), Slovenia (1), South Korea (2), Spain (4), Sweden (8), Switzerland (5), Taiwan (2), UK (11) and USA (80).

(c) to (d): The schemes like VAIBHAV provide attractive fellowship (₹4 lakh per month, 1-2 months/year, for 3 years), travel support, accommodation support (upto ₹7500 per day), consumables and accessories, contingency, and institutional overhead expenses (₹5 lakh per year)  to  support  the  VAIBHAV  Fellow.  The  DBT  RRF  Program  has  the provision to support up to 75 outstanding Indian scientists from overseas each year. The selected fellows are entitled to a fellowship of ₹1.35 lakh per month, Research and Contingency support of ₹13,00,000 per annum, and institutional  overheads of ₹50,000 per annum, for a period of three years.  Necessary  and  adequate  budgetary  provisions  have  been  made under the plan programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

(e) All the schemes are being implemented to encourage Indian-origin researchers and scientists working in foreign countries to return contributes  to  the  Government's  objective  of  strengthening  national scientific  and  technological  capabilities  by  enabling  the  repatriation  of trained manpower, augmenting research output in cutting-edge domains, and fostering global-standard expertise within the country. The schemes also help reduce brain drain by providing a structured pathway for overseas scientists to re-establish their careers in India, thereby promoting a selfreliant and innovation-driven research landscape. The areas of research involved are all aligned with the different National Missions.

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