The Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme was instituted by the Government of India to commemorate the country’s fiftieth year of Independence. This prestigious fellowship provides selected young scientists with a proven track record special assistance and support to pursue unfettered basic research in frontier areas of science and technology. The scheme encourages innovative research ideas with the potential to make a significant impact on R&D in the discipline. The fellowship is scientist-specific, not tied to any institution, is very selective, and includes close academic monitoring.
Duration of Fellowship
- The fellowship is awarded for a period not exceeding five years.
Benefits
- Monthly Fellowship: A stipend of ₹25,000 per month is provided, in addition to the salary drawn from the parent institution, for a period of 5 years.
- Additional Funding Opportunities: Fellows and their projects may also be considered for additional funding by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) according to SERB norms. This funding can cover fellowship, recurring, and non-recurring expenses as outlined in the approved research plan.
- Research Freedom: Awardees are permitted to pursue their research with freedom and flexibility in terms of expenditure as approved in their research plan.
Eligibility
- Citizenship & Employment:
- Open to Indian nationals holding a regular position in a recognized Indian academic or research organization.
- Educational Qualifications:
- The applicant must possess a Ph.D. in Science, Engineering, or Medicine.
- Exclusivity:
- Applicants should not be drawing fellowship from any other Government of India scheme.
- Research Profile:
- Candidates should be actively engaged in frontier areas of science and engineering, with outstanding contributions evidenced by research publications, patents, awards, and peer recognition.
- Organizational Support:
- The affiliated organization/institute must be willing to undertake financial and management responsibilities for the project throughout the fellowship term.
- Age Criteria:
- The fellowship is open to scientists between 30 to 40 years of age.
Application Process
- Mode: Online only
- Steps:
- Applicants must submit their application in the prescribed format available on the DST online portal.
- Visit https://onlinedst.gov.in/ and access the DST e-PMS Portal for details and to submit the application.
- Additional Information:
- No hard copy is required.
- Candidates may be asked to provide additional details and to present their project idea before final selection.
- Advertisement details for each year’s scheme are published on the DST website.
Documents Required
- Identity proof (e.g., Aadhaar Card)
- Passport-size photograph
- Proof of age
- Educational qualification certificates
- Proof of employment (including current employment details)
- Evidence of professional recognition, awards, and previous fellowships
- Complete list of publications in SCI and other refereed journals
- Any other supporting document as required
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the “Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme”?
A prestigious scheme to support young scientists in pursuing basic research in frontier areas of science and technology. -
Which department implements this scheme?
The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology. -
What are the eligibility criteria?
Indian nationals with a Ph.D. in Science/Engineering/Medicine holding a regular position in a recognized academic or research institution, and not drawing any other government fellowship. -
What is the age criterion?
The applicant must be between 30 and 40 years of age. -
What kind of assistance is provided?
A monthly fellowship of ₹25,000 (plus the existing salary) for 5 years, along with potential additional funding from SERB. -
How long is the fellowship?
The fellowship period is not more than 5 years. -
How can one apply?
Applications must be submitted online through the DST e-PMS Portal. -
What is the selection procedure?
Candidates undergo a competitive selection process that may include a project presentation; details are provided in the advertisement. -
Can applications be submitted offline?
No, applications are accepted online only.