Amendments to Prime Minister Research Fellowship Scheme (PMRF)

The Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development recently announced various amendments to Prime Minister Research Fellowship Scheme.

Highlights

• Under the scheme, a dedicated division called “Research and Innovation Division” was created to boost research. 
• The division is to be headed by director who coordinates research work of several institutions under the Ministry of HRD.
• The new amendment makes GATE score mandatory for the students of any other institutes other than the central institutes (such as IISc, NIT, IIT, IIIT). 
• From the academic year 2020-21, two channels of entries, one under direct entry and other under lateral entry are to be conducted to students willing to pursue their PhD under the PMRF scheme.

PMRF Scheme

• The scheme is designed to improve quality of research in higher educational institutions. 
• The main aim of the scheme is to attract best talent into the research. 
• The PMRF Scheme was first introduced in the Union Budget 2018-19. 
• The institutes that are eligible under PMRF scheme includes IISERs, IITs, IISc Bengaluru and other top central universities and NITs. 
• Above all the institutes should offer science and technology degrees.