Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) 2021: Online Registration, Objectives, Eligibility & Benefits

• Prime Minister Research Fellowship 2020 admission criteria changed to allow more scholars: HRD
• Now, candidates can apply for the scholarships through two modes – direct and lateral. Further, there is a change in institutes that are eligible to provide these scholarships.

• Recent passport size photograph.
• PDF of Copy of Transcript / Gradesheet / Marksheet till the last completed Semester
• The PDF of Abstract (1000 words)
• PDF of Relevant Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• PDF of SBI Collect E-Receipt

DIRECT ENTRY CHANNEL

To apply for PMRF through this channel, the candidate must satisfy all of the following
criteria:
(1) The applicant should have satisfied one of the following criteria in the preceding three years from the date of submission of the application :

(a) completed or be pursuing the final year of four (or five) year undergraduate or five year integrated M.Tech. or 2 year M.Sc. or five year undergraduate postgraduate dual degree programs in Science and Technology streams from IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERSs/IIEST and centrally funded IIITs. These candidates should have secured a CGPA/CPI of at least 8.0 (on a 10-point scale). For applicants in the five year integrated or dual degree programs, if separate CGPAs/CPIs are awarded for UG and PG parts of the program, the CGPA/CPI of the UG part (first four years) will be considered.

OR

(b) completed or be pursuing the final year of four (or five) year undergraduate or five year integrated M.Tech. or five year integrated M.Sc. or 2 year M.Sc. or five year undergraduate-postgraduate dual degree programs in Science and Technology streams from any other Institute/University recognized in India, not covered in 1(a) above. These candidates should have secured a minimum CGPA of 8 or equivalent apart from a minimum score of 650 in the respective GATE subject.

OR

(c) qualified GATE and be pursuing or have completed M.Tech./MS by research at one of the PMRF Granting Institutions having a minimum CGPA or CPI of 8.0 (on a 10-point scale) at the end of the first semester with a minimum of four courses. For those candidates who are applying after the first semester, the CGPA or CPI requirement of 8.0 will be based on all the courses, labs, thesis that the candidate has completed.

(2) They apply for Ph.D. programme in one the PMRF granting institutes and get selected in the programme.

(3) The PMRF granting institute, which has admitted the student in the Ph.D. programme makes a strong recommendation and uploads the relevant information at the PMRF web-portal. Student can only get admission in those institutes where he/she has got selected and wishes to seek admission (i.e., selection in one institute and availing PMRF from another institute which does not support the student for PMRF will not be allowed).

(4) The metrics on which the candidates will be judged will include (but not restricted to): research exposure, publications, performance in international competitions (like Math. Olympiad, ACM ICPC Programming Contest), grades and recommendation letters.

(5) Within 12-18 months of admission into the PhD programme, the progress of the candidate will be reviewed by the PMRF panel, and continuation of PMRF will be subject to candidate’s satisfactory performance. A strong research proposal is mandatory, and a clear assessment from the host institution in support of continuation of PMRF status. Due weightage would be given to publication in reputed journals/conferences.

LATERAL ENTRY CHANNEL

To apply for PMRF through this channel, the candidate must satisfy all of the following criteria:

(1) The candidate should be pursuing Ph.D. in one of the PMRF granting institutions. Further, he/she should have completed at most 12 months in the PhD programme if he/she joined the programme with a Master’s degree; and should have completed at most 24 months in the PhD programme if he/she joined the PhD programme with a Bachelor’s degree. The relevant period of 12 months or 24 months will be counted from the date of admission in the PhD programme till the date of application for lateral entry. A candidate can be considered at most twice through lateral entry channel PMRF. In case of Integrated M.Tech/MSc and PhD programmes, the candidate will be eligible to apply within 12 months of the date of satisfying the Master’s degree requirement.

(2) The candidate should have completed at least four courses in the PhD programme, each of which should be a full-semester course, and obtained aggregate CGPA of 8.5 (out of 10) or higher.

(3) The PMRF Granting Institute, in which the student is enrolled, makes a strong recommendation for the candidate and uploads the relevant information on the PMRF web-portal. This includes a research proposal and soft copies of publications (which could include those under submission).

(4) Candidate continues work only in the host institute and transfer to another PMRF eligible institute is not allowed. Further, once enrolled in a PhD programme through lateral entry, the candidate cannot be considered for direct entry channel in a subsequent year.

(5) The metrics on which the candidates will be judged include (but not restricted to) a strong research proposal, publications record and grades. Due weightage should be given to publication in reputed journals/conferences.

PMRF Admission criteria changes

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has made several changes in the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF). The aim is to increase the number of students who pursue research in the prestigious national institutes. The PMRF extends the research facilities of IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs and central universities to master’s level students from any Indian institute. Now, candidates can apply for the scholarships through two modes — direct and lateral. The scheme was announced in the Budget 2018-19. The institutes which can offer PMRF include all the IITs, all the IISERs, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and some of the top Central Universities/NITs that offer science and/or technology degrees.

PMRF fellowship stipend

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.

Application Fee

The applicants must compensation Rs. 1000 as PMRF Application Fees through the online mode to State Bank Of India (SBI).

Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Selection Process

The selection will be done by a high –level Apex Council of members from Academics, Industry and government. The council will review the applications first and then select the candidate for the award of PM fellowship.

Candidates are selected for the fellowship through a rigorous selection process.

• For direct entry, applicants are judged on metrics including research exposure, publications, performance in international academic competitions, grades and recommendation letters.
• For lateral entry, the metrics are a strong research proposal, publications record and grades. Due weightage will also be given to publication in reputed journals/conferences.

• The scheme is aimed at attracting the talent pool of the country to doctoral (Ph.D.) programmes for carrying out research in cutting edge science and technology domains, with focus on national priorities.

• The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) Scheme for Doctoral Research supports up to 100 research projects in a financial year.
• 50% of the scholarship amount will come from SERB upto a maximum of INR 6.1 lakhs per annum (including 10% management fees).
• The institutes which can offer PMRF include all the IITs, IISERs, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and some of the top Central Universities/NITs that offer science and/or technology degrees.
• A fellowship of Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs.75,000/- per month for the 3^rd year, and Rs.80,000/- per month in the 4^th and 5^th year is provided under the scheme.
• National Institute of Technologies (NITs) which appear in top 25 institutions in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking can also become PMRF Granting institution.