The VAIBHAV Fellowship is an initiative launched by the Indian government’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) aimed at improving the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational and scientific institutions.
The fellowship program is designed to facilitate academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world by enabling the mobility of faculty/researchers from overseas institutions to India.
In this article, ilovephd will delve into the objective, eligibility, nature, and duration of support, selection process, and termination of the fellowship.
VAIBHAV Fellowships – Objective
The objective of the VAIBHAV Fellowship is to improve the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational and scientific institutions.
The fellowship program aims to achieve this by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world. By enabling the mobility of faculty/researchers from overseas institutions to India, the program seeks to build research capacity and create a culture of research and innovation.
Eligibility for Scientists
To be eligible for the VAIBHAV Fellowship, the applicant must be a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO), or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) currently living abroad.
The applicant must have obtained a Ph.D./M.D./M.S. degree from a recognized university and be a researcher engaged in an overseas academic/research/industrial organization with a proven track record of research and development working in the top 500 QS World University Ranking.
The applicant must plan to pursue research work for a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 2 months a year in a research institution/academic institution in India, spread over 3 years. Applicants can submit their proposals only once in a calendar year.
Eligibility for Institutions
The VAIBHAV Fellowship is available to Higher Educational Institutions/Universities ranked in the top 200 in NIRF overall rankings and having NAAC ‘A” grade (3.0 and above) and scientific institutes.
Nature & Duration of Support
The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized academic institutions, national laboratories, and other recognized R&D institutions. The host institution should provide necessary administrative and infrastructural support. The fellowship is for 1-2 months each year for a period of 3 years. The fellows will be entitled to receive the following grants:
- Fellowship @ USD 5000 (in equivalent Indian currency)
- International travel from the place of their institute to their place of work in India in business class
- Accommodation in 3 or 4-star hotel
- Contingency Rs 1,00,000 per year
- Domestic travel for academic purposes up to two stations in a year
The host institute will receive Rs 10 lakh per year for hosting the scientist and providing office/lab accommodation and facilitation for various infrastructure support.
Selection & Mode of Application
The call for applications for the VAIBHAV Fellowship will be notified through DST website www.dst.gov.in. Applications would be invited twice in a year, ending on 31st July and 31st January. The application form along with a research proposal highlighting the objectives of the research work to be undertaken should be submitted online.
The applicant must identify an Indian Institution/University/Research Laboratory for carrying out his research. The selection will be based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee that will be constituted by the DST.
Documents Required
The following documents in PDF format are required for the application process:
- Bio-data of Applicant
- Age Proof Certificate
- Qualification Certificate
- Undertaking Certificate by the applicant and NOC from their parent institute
- Endorsement Certificate from Host Institute
- Plagiarism undertaking
Termination of the Fellowship
If any fellow wishes to terminate the fellowship, he/she shall inform DST. The
implementing institute should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination
of the project or the date of resignation of PI. The institute will also arrange for
the submission of the documents mentioned above.
DST reserves the right to terminate the Fellowship at any stage if it is convinced that
appropriate progress is not being made or the grant
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