The government on Thursday relaxed the eligibility rules for the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, cutting the required Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) score to 650 from 750.

Several academics suggested the move would dilute the quality of the fellows.

Final-year students or holders of bachelor’s or master’s degrees in science or technology can apply for the fellowship if they have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 8 or above and a GATE score of 650 or above.

“Students with GATE scores of 650 now fail to secure admission to MTech courses in computer science or electrical engineering in the older IITs. Making them eligible for the fellowship will compromise standards,” said an IIT Kanpur professor who did not wish to be quoted.

A PTI report quoted HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal as saying: “There will be two channels of entries, one direct entry and lateral entry. In lateral entry, the students who are pursuing PhD in PMRF-granting institutions (completed 12 months or 24 months as per certain requirements) can also apply to become fellow under the scheme as per new guidelines.”

The five-year scheme provides for a fellowship of Rs 70,000 a month for the first two years, Rs 75,000 a month for the third year, and Rs 80,000 a month for the last two years. Besides, each researcher gets a research grant of Rs 2 lakh a year.

In comparison, the Junior Research Fellowship provides for Rs 31,000 a month for the first two years and Rs 35,000 a month for the next three years.

Former IIT Kharagpur professor Rajeev Kumar said that research students are attracted by the research environment, not high fellowship stipends. “The PMRF was intended to attract bright students. The idea of attracting bright students by paying high sums of money is faulty,” he said.