Central Universities Join IITs, IISc as Host Institutes for PMRF Scheme

MHRD has made a decision to include Central Universities as well in the list of host institutes to conduct research in Science and Technology field under the Prime Minister's Research Fellow Scheme (PMRF).

MHRD has approved the inclusion of Central Universities as host institutes to conduct research under the PMRF scheme. However, only those Central Universities are eligible to be the host which feature in the top 100 in the NIRF ranking list of universities.

National Institutional Ranking Framework is popularly known as NIRF is India's own ranking system of higher education institutes. In NIRF Ranking, institutes are ranked in nine categories which include- Overall Universities, Management, Law, Engineering, Medical, Architecture, Pharmacy, Law, and College.

Also Read: Ashoka University Young India Fellowship

Narendra Modi government approved the Prime Minister's Research Fellows- PMRF in its previous term. Under the PMRF scheme, 1000 meritorious students who have completed or are in the final year of B.Tech/ integrated M.Tech / M.Sc ( Science and Technology) from IITs/ NITs / IISc/ IISERS/ IIITs were selected for direct admission in the Ph.D. course either in IITs or IISc

The PMRF scheme will offer a fellowship of Rs.70,000 per month to selected students for the first two years and Rs.75,000 for the third year and in the 4th and 5th year, they will be offered Rs.80,000.

Also Read: RajyaSabha Establishes Fellowships and Chair

The main aim of thePrime Minister's Research Fellows- PMRF is to reverse the brain drain and to provide relevant opportunities to the youth. Also, there were fewer takers among the IITians in its 1st year. Most of the applications received for the scheme were from students who completed their degree from NITs. The scheme will help the research flourish.