Visvesvaraya PhD scheme has been initiated by the Government with an objective of enhancing the number of PhDs in the country to compete globally in the knowledge intensive sectors of Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES). Under the scheme, financial support is provided to Full-time & Part-time PhD candidates and Young Faculty who are undertaking research and technology development. The Scheme also provides infrastructure support to institutions. Details of the financial support under the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme are given below.
Under the scheme, proposals are invited from the eligible institutions for allocation of PhD seats. The proposals are considered by the Academic Committee constituted by MeitY for the purpose of the scheme. The PhD seats are allocated to the institutions. The institutions enroll the PhD candidates for the allocated seats for ESDM/IT/ITES sectors.
Under the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme: Phase-I, a total of 1423 PhD candidates have been supported. With the objective of covering more scholars, Phase- II of Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme has been initiated for a duration of 9 years to support 1000 Full-time PhD candidates, 150 Part-time PhD candidates, 50 Young Faculty Research Fellowships and 225 Post-Doctoral Fellowships. Out of the 1000 Full-time PhD seats, 200 Full-time PhD seats have already been allocated to 70 institutions across the country for the first year i.e. academic year 2022-23.
Details of Financial Support
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme: Phase-I (2014-2023)
For Full Time PhD Candidates:
- Fellowship: ₹ 38,750/- per month (I & II year); ₹ 43,750/- (III to V year)
- Annual Contingency Grant support: ₹ 30,000/- per year
- Reimbursement of Rent as per GoI rules
- Support for international conferences up to ₹ 50,000/-
For Part Time PhD Candidates:
- One time incentive of ₹ 2,50,000/- after completion of PhD
For Young Faculty Research Fellows undertaking research and technology development:
- Fellowship @ ₹ 20,000/- per month
- Research Contingency Grant of ₹ 5,00,000/- per year for a maximum period of 5 years
Support to the Institution registering PhD candidates under the scheme:
- Research Infrastructural Grant of up to ₹ 5,00,000/- per candidate
- Institutional Overheads: ₹ 25,000/- per annum / Full-time candidate
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme: Phase-II(2021-2030)
For Full Time PhD Candidates:
- Fellowship: ₹ 38,750/- per month (I & II year); ₹ 43,750/- (III to V year)
- Reimbursement of Rent as per GoI rules
- Research Contingency Grant @ ₹ 1,20,000/- per year per Full-time candidate to the institutions registering PhD candidates under the scheme
- Support for International Conference up to ₹ 1,50,000/- to the institutions registering PhD candidates under the scheme
For Part Time PhD Candidates:
- One time incentive of ₹ 3,00,000/- after completion of PhD
For Young Faculty Research Fellows
- Fellowship @ ₹ 20,000/- per month
- Research Contingency Grant of ₹ 5,00,000/- per year for a maximum period of 5 years
Support to the Institution registering PhD candidates under the scheme:
- Institutional Overheads: ₹ 25,000/- per annum / Full-time candidate
Procedure & Eligibility Criteria
Institutions eligible for support under the scheme
The minimum requirement for the Institutions/Universities, Research Centers etc. for being eligible to receive grants under the scheme is compliant to the UGC’s minimum standards and procedures for award of M.Phil./PhD Degree, Regulation, 2009 (ref. The Gazette of India July11, 2009 Part III sec 4) as amended time to time.
- All institutions falling in the following seven categories are eligible to participate in the scheme and receive grants:
- Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs)
- National Institutes of Technologies (NITs)
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
- Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs)
- Central Universities
- Deemed Universities under Central Government
- Colleges/Institutions of National Importance
- Institutions falling in the categories (i) Universities created under a Provincial Act/State Act; (ii) State Universities; (iii) Private Universities; (iv) Private Deemed to be Universities; (v) Colleges that are allowed to offer PhDs and (vi) Other academic and R&D institutions, are eligible to participate in the scheme subject to meeting the additional eligibility criteria as mentioned below:
- The Institution should have existing post graduate stream in ESDM/IT/ITES and have produced PhDs in these areas for the last 3 years. The PhD student(s) under this scheme to be admitted as per UGC admission norms
- The Institution should be recognized by AICTE and NBA (National Board of Accreditation) accredited with respect to ESDM & IT/ITES Programme
Or
- The Institution should be accredited by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council of UGC).
Criteria for support of PhD candidates
- The support is for additional PhD candidates taken up by an institution. No support is provided for current levels of enrolment in the PhD programme.
- The candidates enrolled/registered for PhD during the period of the scheme only are eligible to apply for the financial support.
- The number of PhD candidates that an institution can take up under the scheme will be determined department-wise based on number of faculty members available to guide/mentor/advice the PhD candidates and the current levels of enrolment. It will not be permissible to take more candidates in one department in lieu of vacancies in another department. Departments which are primarily in the area of ESDM or IT/ITES as the case may be are automatically eligible for assistance under the scheme.
- ESDM and IT/ITES are meta technologies, and the work in these sectors also span other sectors. Departments which are primarily not in the area of ESDM or IT/ITES, may also take advantage of the scheme, provided the research work being pursued by the identified PhD candidate is related to ESDM or IT/ITES. Such requests for support to other Departments will be considered by the ‘Academic Committee’ constituted by MeitY for the purposes of this scheme. However, the total number of candidates supported in other Departments will not exceed the total number of supports provided to the Departments (in the same institute/University) which are primarily in the area of ESDM or IT/ITES.
- Student/Faculty (S/F) ratio for any Department of the institution will be the determinant of the number of PhD candidates that can be supported in the said Department. This ratio will be determined by ‘Academic Committee’ constituted by the Ministry. The Faculty members for the purpose of this ratio will be those faculty members who are qualified as per UGC norms to guide/advise PhD candidates work under them.
- The candidate is eligible for Fellowship for the period during which the candidate is in good standing, and fulfills the requirements of the PhD successfully. The maximum period for which the support is available for any fulltime candidate is five years or till the completion of PhD whichever is earlier.
- The participating institution has to ensure that a candidate receiving fellowship under this scheme is not receiving any financial support for PhD from any other scheme of Government of India/States etc. at the same time. The candidates who have availed support for their PhD from any other scheme of Government of India/States etc. will be automatically be stands disqualified for support under this scheme.
Criteria for support for Young Faculty Research Fellowship
- Young Faculty Research Fellowship is meant for those who have a proven track-record as evident from their research publications and recognitions. The Young Faculty must have a regular position in the Institute and should be engaged in research or must be in a position on a regular scale, which leads to a regular position in the Institute and should be engaged in research. If he /she is availing any other fellowship, he/she will have to opt for only one of the fellowships.
Criteria for Participating Institutions
- The support under the scheme will be provided to the institution granting the PhD degree and no direct funding support will be provided by Government of India to the PhD candidates or faculty members or to the Departments in the supported institution.
- The participating institution shall ensure that a PhD candidate supported under the scheme is not funded from CSIR/UGC.
- IPR generated under the Scheme will be governed by existing rules and regulations of Government/UGC/CSIR.
