PMRF 2023, Apply for Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme at pmrf.in

The HRD Ministry has announced some changes in the PMRF 2023, Prime Minister Research Fellowship Scheme 2023. The aim of the step is to increase the number of students or applicants to pursue researches in India’s prestigious institutes.

The research processes extend up to facilities of IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs and many other central universities in the country. The candidates pursuing master’s level courses from any Indian institute can apply for the research programme.

Now the candidates have a choice to apply for the scholarships through direct or lateral mode. The GATE scores have been revised for the PMRF programme, reduced from 750 to 650. The changes would be effective from the academic session of 2021-22.

PMRF Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for PM Fellowships, Research Grant for Fellows: In a major boost for research in the country, the Union Cabinet approved the Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for students of higher education institutions such as IITs, NITs and IISERs.

The move was also aimed at preserving the country’s talent pool.  Implementation of ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF)’ scheme at a total cost of Rs.1650 crore for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19.

The Government has announced the Prime Minister’s Fellowship to guide students to research. The scheme intends to provide a strong educational system for the overall development of the country and to encourage talented students.

This will reduce the country’s requirements in the field of science and technology and reduce the faculty shortage of prestigious institutions. The Prime Minister’s Fellowship has been finalized with many such inconsistencies. It starts from 2018-19 academic year.

A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in a three year period. From Rs 70 thousand to Rs 80 thousand per month, financial services is provided. Another Rs 2 lakh is given in the form of research grant annually.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has invited applications for the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF). Interested and eligible candidates can apply at the official website: pmrf.in.

Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme aimed at ‘attracting talent pool of the country to doctoral (PhD) programmes of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and Central Universities (which are among the top 100 National Institutional Ranking Framework, NIRF ranked universities) for conducting research in cutting edge science and technology domains, with focus on national priorities’ has invited applications.

Selected candidates will get a fellowship of Rs 70,000 per month for the first two years, Rs 75,000 per month for the third year, and Rs 80,000 per month in the fourth and fifth year. Additionally, a research grant of Rs 2 lakh per year each will be provided for a period of five years to cover their academic contingency expenses and for foreign/national travel expenses.

The PMRF scheme enables students to study PhD programmes in Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and NIRF top 100 Central universities. The research, as per MHRD, needs to be in ‘cutting edge science and technology domains, with a focus on national priorities’.

Students who have completed have completed or pursuing the final year of four (or five) year undergraduate or five-year integrated M.Tech or five-year integrated MSc or two-year MSc or five-year undergraduate-postgraduate dual degree programs in science and technology streams with 8 CGPA can apply. Those who have cleared GATE can also apply.

Candidates will have to undergo a written test and interview to be able to eligible for the fellowship. A discussion can also take place. Along with the application, candidates will have to submit their research abstract consisting of research problem and approach.

For PMRF students who have completed or are pursuing, the final year of four-year undergraduate or five years integrated MTech or five years integrated MSc or five-year undergraduate-postgraduate dual degree programmes or two year MSc programmes in Science and

Technology streams from IIEST/IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs and centrally funded IIITs or any other Institute / University recognized in India, are eligible for admission to the full-time PhD programme in IISc, IISERs, IITs, and a select group of Central Universities provided they fulfil prescribed eligibility criteria and finally get selected after shortlisting/written test/interview, said the official notification.

– Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Studies (Ph.D.) in IITs and IISc aimed at attracting the best talent.
– PMRF for Promoting research in cutting-edge technology & science areas
– PMRF For Promoting research with focus on national priorities 

What to do? Candidates should be informed what research should be done in advance. Its interest in the topic / subject should explain why you want to research. Candidate analyzing ability and research skills should be given through the proposed project.

And that’s why research is needed in that aspect, and how to analyze how it serves national interests. The selected item should be relevant to current domestic needs, technology and science. Two experts in the proposal should refer to the names of the experts.

The recruitment committee will take feedback from these specialists if required. There is a limit of seats per section / subjects. If they do not have the necessary PhDs in any aspect, they will be preferred.

Screening: Candidates should apply online with the Statement of Purpose (SOP) or Project Abstract for their project within a fixed period of time. Projects uploaded to the central portal will automatically reach nodal institutes.

The SOP informs why the proposed project is useful, how it should be, how to do it, and how the candidate is appropriate. Nodal institutes will examine candidates’ project proposals with expertise. Candidates are called interviews by selecting better ones. Video conferencing will also be performed if necessary.

After joining: The relevant department directs certain targets per year to the selected candidates. Everyone needs to get them. These goals are determined based on the topic / content they choose.

Each year the progress of the candidates will be considered. Fellowship continues the next year if it meets a specific goal. If the goals are not met, the candidates will be transferred to the general fellowship. Or completely removed.

The Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of innovation and technology for the progress and development of the nation. This fellowship scheme is key to realizing his vision of development through innovation.

The scheme has been announced in the Budget Speech 2018-19.  ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF)’ scheme in improving the quality of research by attracting the best talents across the country.

PMRF Eligibility

Important requirements for Lateral Entry Channel:

• The candidates must be pursuing a PhD in one of the PMRF granting institutes. He/she must also have completed 12 months in their PhD programme they have joined along with the master’s degree.
• The PhD programme must be completed in 24 months had he/she joined it along with the Bachelor’s programme. He/ she also must have completed 4 courses in PhD programme with CGPA of more than 8.5.
• If the PMRF granting institute makes a strong recommendation for the candidate ad uploads it on the PMRF portal
• The candidates have to make a strong research proposal, publication and grades would also be given weightage.

Important requirements for Direct Entry Channel:

• The candidate must have either completed or must be pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Science and Technology with a CGPA of 8.0. He also must have a GATE score of 650 or above in his respective subject.
• He could also be pursuing Mtech or MS in one of the PMRF institutes.
• The candidates can apply and get selected for the PhD programme in the PMRF institutes
• If the PMRF institute makes a strong recommendation for the candidate to award PMRF against his/her merit.

PMRF: List of PMRF granting institutes

• IISc Bengaluru
• Indian Institute of Technologies
• IISER
• Benaras Hindu University, BHU
• Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Hyderabad University
• Jamia Milia Islamia
• Delhi University
• NIT Tiruchirapalli

Eligibility: Under this scheme, the best students who have completed 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 will be offered direct admission in PhD programme in the IITs/IISc.

No. of Fellows: (1). A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in a three year period, beginning 2018-19. (2). The Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for 1,000 B Tech students for pursuing PhD courses at IITs and IISc will help convert brain drain into brain gain.

• Fellowship: Fellowship amount per month:
• Rs.70,000/- for 1st, 2nd years
• Rs.75,000/- for 3rd year
• Rs.80,000/- for 4th, 5th years.
• Such students, who fulfill the eligibility criteria, and shortlisted through a selection process, as laid down in the PMRF Guidelines, will be offered a fellowship of Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs.75,000/- per month for the 3rd year, and Rs.80,000/- per month in the 4th and 5th years.

Research Grant: 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 in international conferences and seminars.

The scheme will go a long way in tapping the talent pool of the country for carrying out research  indigenously in  cutting  edge  science  and  technology domains.

The research under the Scheme will address our national priorities at the one hand and shortage of quality faculty in the premier educational institutions of the country, on the other. Research under the scheme will address national priorities as well as shortage of quality faculty members at premier educational institutions in the country. The scheme will cost Rs 1,650 crore for a period of seven years, beginning 2018-19.