The “Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT” is an initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.
Its primary objectives are to increase the number of Ph.D. graduates in the fields of Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES), promote research and development, create an innovative ecosystem, and enhance India’s competitiveness in these knowledge-intensive sectors.
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The scheme is in line with the National Policy on Electronics (NPE 2012) and National Policy on Information Technology (NPIT 2012), which emphasize the need to boost the number of Ph.D. holders in these areas.
Here are some key details and features of the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme:
Objective:
To support and encourage Ph.D. candidates in ESDM and IT/ITES sectors, with a focus on both full-time and part-time students.
Also Read: Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Research Projects
Ph.D. Candidates:
The scheme aims to support 1500 Ph.D. candidates, including 500 full-time and 1000 part-time candidates, in each of the ESDM and IT/ITES sectors, totaling 3000 Ph.D. scholars.
Fellowship: Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme
Full-time Ph.D. candidates receive a fellowship of ₹38,750 per month (revised from ₹31,500 as of April 1, 2019) in the first two years and ₹43,750 per month (revised from ₹35,000 as of April 1, 2019) from the third to the fifth year.
Annual Contingency Grant:
Ph.D. candidates receive an annual contingency grant of ₹30,000 per year for consumables and research-related expenses.
Infrastructure Grant:
Academic institutions are provided with an infrastructural grant of ₹5,00,000 per candidate to establish or upgrade laboratories.
Part-Time Ph.D. Candidates:
Part-time Ph.D. candidates receive a one-time incentive of ₹2,50,000 upon successful completion of their Ph.D.
Young Faculty Research Fellowship:
This scheme also supports 200 Young Faculty Research Fellowships in ESDM and IT/ITES sectors. Recipients receive a fellowship of ₹20,000 per month in addition to their regular income, along with a research/contingency grant of ₹5,00,000 per year for research expenses and presenting research work, for a period of up to 5 years.
Duration: Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme
The scheme has a duration of five years for selecting candidates for support, but funding will continue until the ninth year for commitments made during the scheme period.
Other Support:
The scheme also supports Ph.D. candidates in various ways, including reimbursement of rent for those not provided with accommodation, support for attending international conferences (up to ₹50,000 per conference, limited to two conferences per candidate), and more.
For more detailed information and application procedures, you can refer to the official portal of the PhD Scheme: https://phd.dic.gov.in/.
This scheme plays a crucial role in fostering research and development in the electronics and IT sectors in India and aims to enhance the country’s competitiveness in these fields through the education and support of Ph.D. scholars.