VPHD_PDF

This fellowship is meant for those who have a proven track record as evident from their research publications & recognitions. Support is provided for 225 Post-Doctoral Fellowships for candidates for a period of 1 year, to encourage specialized research in emerging area.

The “Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF)” is a component of the “Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT”, implemented by the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to promote R&D, create an innovative ecosystem, and enhance India’s competitiveness in the knowledge-intensive sectors of Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES).

This fellowship is meant for those who have a proven track record as evident from their research publications and recognitions. Support is provisioned for 225 Post-Doctoral Fellowships for candidates for a period of one year, to encourage specialized research in emerging areas.

Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme is an institutional scheme wherein eligible institutions submit proposals requesting PDF seats against an active call for proposal by Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme, DIC, MeitY.

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• The call for proposal for PDF seats will be notified by PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY through the web portal https://phd.dic.gov.in/ and/or email.
• Proposals for allotment of PDF seats are to be submitted by eligible institutions only. Suitable number of seats would be allotted to institutions for further enrollment of PDF fellows on these seats following the scheme guidelines.
• The institution may design/have its own application form for advertisement of PDF; however, the guidelines for PDF are to be followed which must include the following:

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• The PDF applicant should be an Indian citizen.
• The PDF applicant must have obtained PhD degree from a recognized University with first class (in terms of grades, etc.) in all preceding levels and a good academic record throughout.
• The eligible participating institution must ensure that the PDF applicant should have completed PhD within the past 5 years on the last date of submission of application to the institution.
• The upper age limit for the fellowship is 40 years on the date of submission of application to the eligible participating institution.
• A suitable Mentor/Guide under whom the proposed research would be carried out, must be identified by the institution.
• Mentor/Guide of PDF fellow must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized institution in India. He/she should hold a Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering.
• Preference would be given to the PDF applicants who have active industry linkages and their research proposal is directed towards industry specific problems.
• The research proposal of the PDF applicant, to be submitted to the institution, should define clear objectives, outcomes and deliverables against the award.
• PDF applicants currently in regular employment will not be considered. However, scientists or researchers with temporary positions in academia or research institutions would be considered however, they would be required to relinquish their current roles if selected for the fellowship.
• PDF applicants should not have completed their PhD at the same institution where the PDF fellowship is to be awarded.
• The applicant must have a proven track record as evident from their research publications and recognitions.
• The applicant should not be availing any other fellowship.

Discontinuation of the Fellowship

• If any fellow wishes to discontinue the fellowship, the institution should inform PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY immediately. One month’s notice is to be given by the institution before the date of discontinuation.
• The implementing institution should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the award/project or the date of resignation of the fellow. The institution will responsible for submission of work report and other requisite documents.
• In case the post-doctoral fellow undertakes any full/part-time assignment, his/her PDF award under the scheme would be discontinued.
• PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY reserves the right to hold/ stop/ discontinue the fellowship at any stage, if

• Appropriate progress is not being made.
• The grant is not being utilized properly.
• Violation/ Non-compliance of guidelines.
• Any other reason, which is deemed appropriate by PhD Cell, DIC, MeitY.

Nature of Support:

• Research Fellowship: ₹1.08 Lakh/Month - Contingency Grant: ₹1 Lakh for 1 year (on re-imbursement and pro-rata basis depending on the period spent under the award). The claim would be submitted by the awardee through respective institution to PhD Cell in prescribed format. - The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized & eligible academic and R&D institutions.
• Contingency Grant can be used for minor equipment, consumables and similar items relevant to the research work. The host institution should provide necessary administrative and infrastructural support for the PDF fellow.
• There is no provision for providing research personnel support under the scheme. The fellow is expected to undertake the research objectives by himself/herself during the entire duration of the fellowship.
• PDF is a full-time assignment. The fellows are not eligible to receive any other fellowship from any Government or Non-Government source during the tenure of the fellowship.
• Post-doctoral positions are non-transferrable. The research work is to be carried out in the same eligible institution at which PDF seat is allocated and the fellow is enrolled.

Duration of Support:

• The fellowship is purely a temporary assignment, and is tenable for a period of 1 year.