The Right to Information Fellowship is an initiative by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India. The fellowship aims to contribute towards a more accountable and transparent government by encouraging research and awareness related to the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The program provides short-term fellowships to journalists, civil society professionals, and RTI trainers to conduct field-based research on themes related to RTI.
Objectives of the Fellowship
The fellowship is designed to:
- Promote research on the implementation and impact of the RTI Act.
- Identify challenges, successes, and constraints in RTI implementation.
- Develop recommendations to improve RTI mechanisms.
- Encourage media professionals and researchers to generate awareness on RTI.
Benefits
Stipend
- ₹50,000 per month for three months (subject to tax deduction at source).
Additional Grant
- ₹50,000 for books, research materials, travel, printing, and production of creatives.
- Disbursed on the basis of actual bills and expenses incurred during research.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be a professional in any of the following fields:
- Journalism (Newspaper, Magazine, Radio, TV).
- Civil Society (NGOs, Social Activists, RTI Trainers).
- Research & Training in RTI.
- The applicant should be between 25 and 40 years of age.
- The applicant should have proven credentials in their professional field.
- Prior experience in RTI-related work is required.
- The applicant should have a strong research aptitude.
Application Process
Offline Application Steps
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Prepare five sets of the application and enclosures in the prescribed proforma.
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The completed application should be sent by post to:
Under Secretary (IR)
Department of Personnel and Training
Government of India, North Block, New Delhi – 110001
Documents Required
- Research Proposal (6-8 A4 pages) outlining:
- Subject of research.
- Research plan.
- Expected final deliverable.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum 3 A4 pages) with a passport-size photograph.
- Statement of previous work done in the field of RTI.
- Two professional references from individuals familiar with the applicant’s work.
- No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the current employer (if applicable).
Output and Deliverables
The research proposal must clearly indicate the final output, which could be:
- A monograph of 10,000 words ready for publication.
- Investigative articles or news stories for national/international media.
- Short video films or documentaries for professionals from the audio-video media field.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Will short-listed candidates be required to attend an interview or presentation?
Yes, short-listed candidates may be required to attend an interview or present their research proposal.
Q: Can individuals working under Central/State Government or Public Sector Undertakings apply?
Yes, but they must submit a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer.
Q: What happens if an application is incomplete?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Q: Are only Indian nationals eligible to apply?
Yes, the fellowship is available only for Indian nationals.
Q: Will any form of canvassing affect the selection process?
Yes, any form of canvassing will result in immediate disqualification.
Q: Will there be any interim inquiries or correspondence entertained?
No, the department will not entertain any interim correspondence regarding the status of applications.
Q: What should the research proposal indicate?
The research proposal should clearly define:
- Objectives of the study.
- Research methodology.
- Expected deliverables.
Q: Who will own the copyright of the research output?
The Government of India will have the right to use and publish the research.
Q: Can the fellows choose the format of their research output?
Yes, fellows can choose between:
- Written monographs.
- Journalistic articles.
- Audio-video research outputs.
Q: Will the Government of India publish the research output?
Yes, the government may publish or use the research findings in policy frameworks.
Q: Will the fellows retain any rights over their research output?
The fellows may retain partial rights, but the Government of India reserves the right to use the research.
Q: Is there a specific word count requirement for the monograph?
Yes, the monograph should be 10,000 words.
Q: Can fellows from various fields such as journalism or audio-video media apply?
Yes, professionals from journalism, civil society, and research can apply.
Q: Can fellows propose innovative research methodologies?
Yes, innovative approaches and new research methodologies are encouraged.
Q: What happens if a fellow is unable to deliver the proposed research output?
The fellowship may be terminated, and funds may need to be returned if the fellow does not meet their commitments.
Q: Will the research output be evaluated before publication or use by the government?
Yes, the research output will be evaluated by experts before final publication.