To encourage more students for research studies, the HRD Ministry has announced amendments in the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme. The amendments include reduction in the required GATE score and introduction of a lateral entry option. Of the 1,000 seats that were created under the scheme, most go vacant every year. There will be two channels of entries – direct and lateral. As per the new guidelines, in lateral entry, the students pursuing PhD in PMRF granting institutions like IITs and NITs, can also apply for the fellowship under the scheme.

The Ministry now hopes that the modifications to the scheme will help fill up more seats in the coming years. The Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said, “To boost research in India, various amendments have been done in Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Scheme. For the students from any recognised institute or university (other than IISc, IITs, NITs, IISERs, IIEST and IIITs), the requirement of GATE Score is reduced to 650 from 750 apart from minimum CGPA of 8 or equivalent.” 

The scheme announced in the 2018-19 budget aims at improving the quality of research in several educational institutions in the country to help realise the vision of development through innovation. The HRD Ministry is also creating a dedicated ‘Research and Innovation Division’ to boost the field of research. It will be headed by a director who will coordinate research work of all institutions under the HRD Ministry. Some of the top central universities and NITs that offer science or technology degrees and all the IITs, the IISERs, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru can offer PMRF.

Nishank said that the candidates will be shortlisted through a rigorous process by reviewing their performance through a national convention. “Starting Academic Year 2020-21, candidates can apply for PMRF through either direct entry channel or lateral entry channel,” he said.

Source: Hindustan Times