Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research: Your Path to Industry-Focused PhD Success

Source Note: The comprehensive details, financial structure, and procedural requirements outlined in this article are derived directly from the official Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research: Information & Guidelines for Application document, jointly released by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The dream of pursuing a PhD often comes with financial challenges and the struggle to ensure research translates into real-world impact. Recognizing this, the Government of India launched a revolutionary scheme to empower young scholars and drive innovation through collaboration: the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research. This initiative is a game-changer for aspiring researchers who want their work to be rooted in the practical needs of the industry.

The launch of this scheme happened in two stages:

1. Announcement: The scheme was first publicly announced by the Prime Minister in June 2012.
2. Formal Launch: The scheme was officially launched in November 2012 at an event in New Delhi.

It operates as a partnership between SERB (Government body) and CII (Industry body), and the first batch of fellows began their research in 2013.

I. Why the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research Matters

Before this scheme, India faced a notable gap between the number of talented students pursuing advanced research and the level of research investment by industry. Many bright students opted for jobs over PhD
programs due to the lack of attractive scholarships and the perceived distance between academic research and commercial application.

The Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research was introduced to solve this exact problem. It creates an innovative Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model that actively pulls the industry into the academic research process. It was envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to change the industry’s mindset about investing in R&D
and recruiting highly qualified PhD graduates.

A. A Powerful Partnership: SERB and CII

The structure of the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research relies on the combined efforts of two massive organizations:

a. Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB)

SERB is a statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. It functions as the government’s half of the partnership, providing scientific oversight and the initial portion of the financial grant. SERB’s involvement ensures the research meets high standards of scientific merit.

b. The Role of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

The CII is India’s leading business and industry association and serves as the co-implementing agency. CII bridges the gap between the academic fellow and the corporate world, facilitating the match-making process, managing the project, and handling the financial disbursement of the grant, making the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research a seamless experience for all parties involved.

II. The Financial Incentive: A Double Scholarship Benefit

The most compelling feature of the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research is the significant financial support offered to the doctoral fellow, encouraging top talent to commit to long-term industrial research.

A. How the ₹6 Lakh Annual Grant is Split (Including Management Fee)

Under the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research, selected candidates receive a maximum fellowship of ₹6,00,000 per annum for a maximum duration of four years. This amount is structured as a 50/50 contribution:

• Government Component: 50% of the fellowship (up to ₹3,00,000 per annum) is provided by SERB. This component is equivalent to the prevailing Government norms for JRF/SRF(inclusive of HRA) and is revised over time according to these government norms.
• Industry Component: The partner industry co-applicant provides the remaining 50%(a matching equivalent of the SERB grant). Crucially, the industry also pays an additional 10% program management fee to CII on top of their financial contribution. This fee covers the operational and management costs of implementing the PPP scheme.

This dual contribution model ensures that the fellow’s scholarship is attractive and competitive, while also cementing the industry’s commitment to the project. Up to 100 research projects are supported in a financial year under the scheme.

B. Cessation of Other Grants

A key condition of the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research is exclusivity. If a candidate is selected, they must cease to receive any other scholarship or salary from any other organization. This ensures the fellow dedicates their full time and effort to the fellowship research project.

III. Eligibility and Application: How to Secure the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research

Applying for the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research is a highly structured process that requires pre-planning and a confirmed industry partner.

A. Core Eligibility Conditions (The 14-Month Rule and Joint Application)

The application for the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research is always a joint application between one doctoral fellow (the Applicant) and one industry partner (the Co-Applicant).

• Enrollment Window: The doctoral fellow must have been enrolled or admitted for a PhD in any recognized Indian University/Institute/Research Laboratory within the last 14 months from the date of application submission. This crucial 14-month window accounts for varying institutional rules, including course work.
• Academic Excellence: The fellow should have an excellent academic track record.
• Industrial Alliance is Mandatory: The industry partner must be identified and must provide a ‘Letter of Commitment’ promising financial and intellectual support before the application is submitted. Applications without an industry partner are not accepted by the online system.
• No Conflict of Interest: The Institution and Industry should NOT have any prior relationship in terms of ownership or business affiliations, ensuring the research partnership is genuine.

B. Subject Areas in Focus

Applications are invited for research proposals in areas with high potential for industrial translation:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Agriculture
• Medicine

The topic must have demonstrable practical relevance and industrial application, focusing on discrete R&D rather than just exploratory studies.

C. The 3-Step Application Process

1. Preparation and Alliance: The doctoral fellow develops a preliminary proposal in consultation with their academic guide, engages with industry to secure their interest, and finalizes the research topic and proposal. The required ‘Letters of Commitment’ from both the institution and the industry are secured.
2. Online Submission: The application is submitted online through the scheme’s web portal (www.primeministerfellowshipscheme.com). The scheme is open-ended, meaning scholars can apply at any time, provided they meet the 14-month enrollment condition.
3. MoU Signing (If Selected): Once selected, the PhD Fellow, the Sponsoring Industry, and the Institution must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that clearly defines roles, responsibilities, and, importantly, the sharing of Intellectual Property (IP) generated from the research.

IV. Selection and Project Focus

A. The Apex Council’s Role

The applications for the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research are reviewed by a high-level Apex Council. This council is comprised of members from academia, industry, and government, ensuring a balanced, expert review process.

B. Criteria for Excellent Research

The selection hinges on the following broad criteria:

1. Innovation and Scientific Merit: The project must be highly innovative and possess strong scientific merit, differentiating it from routine investigation.
2. Commercial Potential: The research must have a high potential to successfully translate into a business opportunity and lead to commercialization.
3. High Credibility: The capacity and credibility of the doctoral fellow and the host institution are closely evaluated.
4. Industry Involvement: A high degree of business interest and deep, collaborative involvement from the industry partner is non-negotiable.

V. Duration, Review, and Legal Aspects

The fellowship is highly performance-driven, ensuring the research remains on track and valuable to the industry partner.

• Yearly Review: The fellow must submit a detailed progress report annually by November 30th. This report must include: (1) Progress on experimental work, methods, and data collected; (2) Summary of achievements against the yearly milestones; and (3) Work remaining. The continuation of the fellowship and the subsequent release of funds depend on the satisfactory progress of the work and positive recommendation letters from both the academic guide and the industry mentor.
• Disbursement Mechanism: The industry and SERB deposit the yearly grant amount with CII. CII then disburses the funds to the academic institute on a half-yearly basis, and the institute is responsible for paying the scholarship to the doctoral fellow on a monthly basis.
• Termination Clause: The fellowship is subject to termination if the industry partner ceases to support the fellow, if the fellow is not dedicating sufficient time, or if the fellow wishes to terminate prematurely. Note: Once accepted, the fellowship is non-transferable to any other University/Institute/Laboratory.
• Intellectual Property (IP): CII and SERB do not claim any rights over the IP or products resulting from the project. IP rights are managed through the mutually agreed terms set forth in the MoU signed among the Fellow, the Institution, and the Industry partner. All publications must acknowledge support from SERB, CII, and the supporting company. Any dispute that remains unresolved by the Apex Council is ultimately settled by the Secretary, DST.

VI. Key Points: Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research

Extracting the key facts makes the core information about the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research very easy to digest.

VII. Conclusion: Launching Your Research Career

The Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research is more than just a scholarship; it is a meticulously structured Public-Private-Partnership designed to fundamentally change the landscape of industrial R&D in India. By offering substantial financial backing and mandatory industry engagement, the scheme guarantees that a doctoral fellow’s work is not confined to the academic lab but is propelled toward commercial and societal impact.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to gain experience that directly translates into valuable intellectual property, a robust professional network, and an elevated career trajectory upon completing your PhD. If you are a prospective PhD candidate with a vision for innovative, commercialize research in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, or Medicine, the Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research is the ideal platform to launch your research career.

VIII. FAQs