The Ministry of Human Resource and Development has announced to carry out several modifications in the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship scheme to boost research in India. As per the amendments made by HRD Ministry, the GATE score requirement for the PMRF scheme has been reduced from 750 to 650 and the minimum CGPA required is 8 or equivalent, for the students of all recognized universities other than IISc/ IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIEST/CF IIITs.
HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal said that there will be two means to apply for the fellowship- Direct and Lateral.
According to the Lateral entry scheme, students pursuing a PhD in PMRF conferring institutions (completed 12 0r 24 months as required) can apply to become a researcher.
He said that according to the NIRF ranking, the top 25 NITs can also become PMRF granting institutions. He said that MHRD will also establish a “Reasearch and Innovation Division” to encourage research and will be led by the Director supervising research of various organisations under MHRD.
The HRD Minister further added that candidates for the PMRF scheme will be selected through a rigorous selection process and their performance will be properly reviewed through a national convention.
Starting from the 2020-21 academic year, candidates will be able to apply for the PMRF scheme through direct or lateral admission.
The scheme was launched in 2018 to improve the quality of research in the country. Institutes eligible to provide PMRF include IITS/ IISC, Bengaluru/ IISERs, and certain selected NITs and Central Universities.
