Prime Minister Research Fellowship

Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship Scheme (PMRF) is an exclusive initiative. The government of India initiated the study to improve the quality of research in higher education institutions. The program seeks to draw exceptional talent by offering appealing fellowships to research scholars.

Introduced in the 2018-19 budget, the program includes students from renowned institutions like IITs, IISCRs, the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, and specific central universities/NITs that provide science or technology degrees. The selected students' performance will be evaluated at a national convention, guaranteeing an all-encompassing review procedure.

The Prime Minister Research Fellowship helps people to complete their PhD studies due to a lack of right funding. You can apply for the fellowship program by visiting the official portal set up by the Government of India to complete all of the requirements. Candidates who apply for this program can access a wide range of advantages.

According to the updated guidelines, candidates can now apply for the fellowship via two pathways: Direct Entry Channel and Lateral Entry Channel. To qualify for the PMRF Scheme, applicants need to meet this criteria:

1. Direct Entry Pathway 

The candidates must comply with the specified eligibility criteria to apply the PMRF via the Direct Entry Channel. 

• They should be in the process of completing or have finished the final year of a Bachelor’s Master’s or dual degree in Science and Technology fields from IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIEST with a CGPA/CPI of 8.0 or higher on a 10-point scale, OR 
• They should either be pursuing or have completed the final year of a Bachelor's or Master's or dual degree in Science and Technology disciplines from any other recognised Indian university/institution (not mentioned above) with a CGPA of 8.0 or its equivalent and a minimum score of 650 in the relevant GATE subject, OR 
• Students are required to have qualified GATE and should either be enrolled in or have finished an M.Tech./M.S. degree by Research at a PMRF Granting Institute with a minimum CGPA or CPI of 8.0 (on a scale of 10) or higher by the end of the first semester, having completed at least four courses. 
• They need to apply and be chosen for the PhD program at one of the institutes offering PMRF. 

2. Lateral Entry Channel

The candidates must comply with the specified eligibility criteria to apply for the PMRF via the Lateral Entry Channel.

• They should be working towards a PhD at one of the institutions that provide PMRF.
• Students who have enrolled in the PhD program after a master’s program should have spent no more than 12 months in the PhD program.
• Students entering the PhD program with a bachelor’s degree should not have spent more than 24 months in the PhD program.
• They must have finished a minimum of four courses in the PhD program (each being a full-semester course) with a CGPA of 8.5 or higher on a 10-point scale.
• A candidate may be considered a maximum of two times for the fellowship via a lateral entry route.

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Applications for this fellowship will be submitted via the relevant PMRF awarding institutions. Applicants must submit their applications for a PhD program via either a direct entry route or a lateral entry route at one of the granting institutions, which will subsequently provide a robust recommendation on the PMRF web portal. 

What steps do you need to take to apply for the fellowship? What procedures should be adhered to for a successful application? Get a detailed, step-by-step overview of the PMRF application procedure below.

Step 1: Go to the official website and carefully read the guidelines before applying.

Step 2: Apply for a conventional PhD program (direct or lateral admission) at one of the PMRF-granting institutes.

Step 3: If selected for direct entry, the institute will nominate additional candidates for the fellowship. However, in the case of lateral entry, individuals would be nominated by the institute where they are doing their PhD.

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To apply for the fellowship, the applicant must have the documentation listed below:

• Passport-sized photograph
• Scanned copies of mark sheets, grade sheets, and transcripts
• Scanned copy of the GATE qualification certificate
• Abstract copy (up to 1,000 words in a PDF file)
• CVs are restricted to two A4 pages and must be sent in PDF format. The CV should focus solely on academic achievements and talents, such as ranks, merit certificates, internships, publications, research-related software skills, etc.

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The process for selecting candidates for the PMRF Scheme is detailed as follows: 

• A council of experts from academia, industry, and government will assess applications and choose applicants for the PM Fellowship.
• The project should be creative and of high scientific worth, with focused R&D rather than exploratory research.
• The proposed research should have great potential for business and commercialisation.
• Strong credibility, the capability of the doctoral candidate and the organisation
• Strong level of business interest, participation, and cooperation from industry.

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The Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) offers numerous benefits, including financial rewards, financial support, research grants, etc.

• Financial incentives are provided to applicants so that they can pursue their research possibilities without difficulty.
• Research applicants will be permitted to continue their Fellowship programs without risk of unemployment.
• The financial prizes will be delivered straight to the beneficiaries' bank accounts, assisting them in combating poverty.
• There will be a better research environment for all of the beneficiaries, allowing them to develop effective research projects.
• This would help India become a better country and offer a safe environment for international scholars. 

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The Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme is associated with several prestigious institutions across India. Some of the key host institutions include:

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

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