SPPU Replaces Stipend System with Fellowship for Research Scholars

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is converting the stipend system for its research scholars (M.Phil and Ph.D.) into a fellowship. As per the new system, students aspiring for the fellowship must apply separately and appear for an interview. Students must clear the interview to be eligible for the fellowship. SPPU offers JRD Ratan Tata Fellowship for Research, and the idea to convert the stipend system into a fellowship is to monitor the beneficiaries’ progress with their work.

Earlier, SPPU offered a stipend to M.Phil and Ph.D. scholars. The monthly stipend paid to M.Phil scholars was Rs. 5,000, while the same for Ph.D. scholars was Rs. 8,000. Two years back, UGC stopped the support of funding stipend for research scholars. However, SPPU continued the stipend system, as many students requested for the continuation of stipend scheme. Now, SPPU has scrapped the stipend system and replaced it with the fellowship scheme.

SPPU Vice Chancellor, Nitin Karmalkar revealed that the idea to introduce the fellowship system is to monitor the progress of research scholars with their work. The stipend amount should only reach those students who need to fund their research and are evincing time-bound progress in their work.

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The idea of SPPU to replace stipend system with fellowship did not receive a good response from students. Many students hardly received any stipend in the last eight months. SPPU has continued with the stipend, as all students proved their merit by clearing the admission process for Ph.D. courses. The idea to introduce a merit system as per the new system does not make sense, students opined.

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