Science & Engineering Research Board Department of Science & Technology Government of India

Prime Ministers Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research

Jointly Promoted by Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) & Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Guidelines Selection Process Applications received from already registered PhD Fellows for academic year 2012--who have identified an industry partner who is willing to support their research through a grant and have chosen a broad topic of research in consultation with that industry partner--will be vetted, screened and finalised by an Apex Council comprising nominees of SERB and CII. Prospective candidates are advised to themselves proactively interact with / approach relevant industry partners in their area of research. If the number of applications received goes beyond the scope of the Apex Council to manage, it will be assisted by Subject Sub-committees which will do the first level of screening. Final decision on approvals will be taken by the Apex Council. Eligibility Already registered PhD Fellows for academic year 2012-13 in Science / Technology / Engineering / Agriculture / Medicine of any recognized Indian university or institute or research laboratory in India are eligible to apply. The registered PhD Fellows should have already identified a broad area of research which has practical relevance and industrial application. They should also have identified an industry partner who is willing to support their research. The candidate and the proposed research topic should qualify on criteria of excellence and relevance. The candidate should have proven outstanding track record. The candidate should be willing to work in / with industry on specific projects. Terms and Conditions 1. The recipient of Prime Ministers Fellowship for Doctoral Research shall be available for pursuing full-time PhD programme in any recognized Indian university / institution / research laboratory in the country. 2. Candidates coming from industry to do research will have to follow the academic rules and norms of the institute with which they will be attached for necessary course work. 3. The Junior Research Fellow (JRF) or Senior Research Fellow (SRF) under this scheme shall be termed as Prime Ministers Fellow.

4. If selected to receive the Prime Ministers Fellowship for Doctoral Research, the candidate will cease to receive any other scholarship which he / she may be receiving at that time. 5. Continuation of the Fellowship for once selected candidates will be based on satisfactory performance certified jointly by industry and institutions on an annual basis. 6. The Fellowship shall be liable to be revised from time to time as per Government orders. 7. The Fellowship shall be tenable for a maximum period of four years or completion of the PhD programme (i.e. till the final defend of the PhD Thesis), whichever is earlier. 8. The Fellowship for students, who have already been enrolled in PhD programme, shall be effective from the date of acceptance / joining / switching over to the Prime Ministers Fellowship from any other fellowship available with the student at that time. Otherwise, the date of Advertisement in the Newspaper seeking applications from the eligible candidates shall be considered as the effective date for Fellowship. 9. Under no circumstances will the Prime Ministers Fellow be allowed to avail Fellowships from two different sources at any given time. For `Provisionally selected candidate, the effective date shall be only after the date of issuing provisional selection offer. 10. The Fellow or the host institution / university will be required to inform SERB and CII about the effective date of joining of the Prime Ministers Fellow in that institution / university in the prescribed format available on the website www.cii.in/jointfellowshipscheme. 11. Once accepted, the offer for implementing the Prime Ministers Fellowship at a particular university/ institute/ laboratory in the country, will not be allowed to be transferred to any other university/ institute / laboratory in the country at any point during the four-year tenure of the Fellowship. 12. However, in unavoidable circumstances for continuation of PhD work, the Fellow must seek prior permission from concerned officials in SERB and CII who will be administering the Prime Ministers Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research for transferring / shifting of Host institute through written applications with following documents: No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from Host institutes, Research Supervisors, industry mentor / Co-supervisor / Co-guide

Detailed justifications for changing / shifting of the Host institute for implementation of Fellowship Area of PhD work with an up-to-date technical progress report CV of the Research Supervisor at the new Host institute CV of the industry mentor / Co-supervisor / Co-guide in case he / she is changed Up-to-date financial statement from the old Host institute

13. In case of shifting / change of Host institute without prior approval from SERB and CII, the Fellowship may be called for withdrawn. 14. Shifting / change of Host institute may be allowed only once in the four-year period of Fellowship tenure and within one year of implementation of Fellowship at that host institute. 15. The Prime Ministers Fellow will not be allowed to avail any other short-term Research Internship during the tenure of the Fellowship. However, in exceptional cases, the Fellow may be allowed to take necessary permissions from SERB and CII along with the recommendation of the PhD Research Supervisor and industry mentor / Co-supervisor / Co-guide as well as confirmation from Research Internship provider for obtaining prior permission. In the event that the Fellow receives full financial support from the overseas institution, the Prime Ministers Fellowship for the period of overseas stay will not be remitted. 16. The fund with respect to Prime Ministers Fellow(s) shall be made available with the host institution by CII out of the funds received from SERB and companies which provide grant for payment of the Fellowship. No other Contingency Grant will be paid to the Fellow(s). 17. While the host institute / university shall submit the financial year-wise Statement of Expenditure & Utilization Certificate for each Prime Ministers Fellow attached to them, the Fellow will be required to submit Progress Report every year duly authenticated by the concerned Supervisor and Cosuperviser / industry mentor / Co-guide.