Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship: Eligibility, Selection Process And More

The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF), one of the most prestigious research fellowships in the nation, was established in the academic year 2018–19 with the goal of enhancing the standard of science and technology research across the nation's higher education institutions and achieving the goal of innovation-driven development. A national convention is in charge of evaluating the performance of candidates to choose those who will be awarded the fellowship. Read the article to know more about Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship…

PMRF: Introduction

The Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) programme strives to attract top talent from across the nation to the doctoral programmes at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and Central Universities in order to conduct research in fields of cutting-edge science and technology with a focus on national priorities.

PMRF is a wonderful chance for people to start in reputable institutes in India if they are interested in pursuing Ph.D. studies in science and technology. The fellowship is awarded by the Government of India's Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

PMRF: Eligibility Criteria

The official authorities of PMRF have changed the eligibility criteria for the fellowship from the year 2022. Interested candidates can apply to the fellowship via either of two channels: Direct and Lateral Entry.

PMRF: Eligibility Criteria For Direct Entry Channel

• Candidates must be pursuing or have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s or dual degree in Science & Technology from the IITs, IISc, NITs, IIEST, IISERs, or any other recognized Indian university/institution with a CGPA/CPI of 8.0 or above
• Candidates must have qualified GATE and be pursuing/ have completed an M.Tech/MS by Research at one of the PMRF Granting Institutions and have a minimum CGPA/CPI of 8.0

PMRF: Eligibility Criteria for Lateral Entry Channel

• Candidates must be pursuing a Ph.D. from one of PMRF Granting Institutions
• Candidates who have joined the Ph.D. programme while pursuing a Master’s must have completed at least 12 months of the Ph.D. before applying for the PMRF
• Candidates who have joined the Ph.D. programme while pursuing Bachelor’s must have completed at least 24 months of the Ph.D. before applying to PMRF
• It is important to note that candidates are required to complete at least 4 courses in the Ph.D. programme with a CGPA of 8.5 or above
• Via Lateral Entry Channel, candidates would be considered twice for the fellowship.

PMRF: Discipline Covered in the programme

19 broad disciplines are covered under the PMRF. The admissions process for each discipline is managed by the IIT or IISc Nodal Institute for that broad discipline..

Here is the list of disciplines:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Agriculture and Food Engineering
• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Design
• Interdisciplinary programmes in Science and Engineering
• Material Science and Metallurgical Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mining, Mineral, Coal and Energy Sector
• Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture
• Textile Engineering
• Physics

PMRF: List of Institutions

Here is the list of institutions in India that hosts candidates for the PMRF programme :

• IISc, Bangalore
• All IITs
• All IISERs
• NIT, Tiruchirappalli
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
• Benaras Hindu University (BHU)
• The University of Hyderabad
• Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
• Jamia Millia Islamia
• Delhi University (DU)

PMRF: Steps To Apply

Applicants should submit their applications through the individual PMRF issuing institutes. This involves submitting an application for a Ph.D. programme through a lateral entry or direct entrance channel at one of the granting institutions. The institutions, in turn, also strongly recommend the candidates on the PMRF web portal. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the official website of PMRF

Step 2: Apply for a regular Ph.D. programme via a direct or lateral entry in one of the PMRF granting institutions.

Step 3: In case of direct entry, the institute you apply to will nominate you for the fellowship; for lateral entry, you will be nominated by the institute you are pursuing a Ph.D. from.

Important Note: The institutes submit all relevant information to the PMRF website on behalf of the candidates and make the recommendation.

PMRF: Selection Process

The selection process has also undergone a small change as a result of the change in eligibility requirements. Starting in 2020–21, both the Direct Entry Channel and the Lateral Entry Channel will be used for the selection process.

Under the direct entry pathway, the institution that granted the candidate admission will strongly propose candidates based on their merit. The final selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Research Exposure
• Publications
• Performance in International Academic Competitions
• Grades
• Recommendation Letters

Under the lateral entrance channel, the institution that granted the candidate admission will highly suggest the candidate based on the merits that they have shown during the first 12 to 24 months (as applicable) of the programme. The following criteria will be used to make the selection:

• Strength of the Research Proposal
• Publications Record
• Grades

PMRF: Fellowship Award

Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements of PMRF and are selected through the specified selection process i.e, direct or lateral, will be offered admission to the Ph.D. programme in one of the following: IISc/IISERs/IITs/NITs/Central Universities. Each Fellow is eligible for a research grant of INR 2,00,000 per year.

Selected candidates will also receive financial assistance for the fellowship in the following order:

• Year 1: INR 70,000
• Year 2: INR 70,000
• Year 3: INR 75,000
• Year 4: INR 80,000
• Year 5: INR 80,000

Financial assistance will be available to students from integrated courses until the end of their 4th year of doctoral study, and to students with a B.Tech. (or equivalent) degree until the end of their 5th year of doctoral study.