Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced during the introduction of 10,000 fellowships under the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship Program (PMRF) at prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) over the next five years aims to significantly increase the quality of R&D in the country.
Until this point, the scheme didn't specify the absolute number of fellowships till now.
As India continues to position itself as a global leader in technology and innovation, the 2025 budget allocates substantial resources towards improving research capabilities. The announcement of 10,000 new fellowships is expected to not only bolster academic research but also contribute to national priorities in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and renewable energy technologies. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy's goal of increasing enrollment in higher education and improving research outputs across disciplines.
The PMRF scheme, originally launched in the 2018-19 budget, is designed to encourage exceptional students to pursue doctoral studies in India. It offers attractive financial support, including a monthly fellowship that starts at ₹70,000 for the first two years and increases progressively to ₹80,000 by the fourth and fifth years. Additionally, each fellow receives an annual research grant of ₹2 lakh to cover academic expenses, travel, and other contingencies.
Since its inception, the PMRF has seen a steady increase in participation. For instance, in 2020, approximately 1,000 fellowships were awarded, focusing on numerous research areas. By 2022, this number had doubled as institutions recognized the need for better funding and support for doctoral candidates. The impact of these fellowships has been evident through notable research outputs, including advancements in sustainable technologies and AI applications that address real-world problems.
