Sarkari Yojana
BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students – UGC
About BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students – UGC
The University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Education, runs the BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students to give meritorious candidates a route into advanced study and Ph.D. research in the sciences. It covers all Science, Bio-Science, Agricultural Science, and Engineering Science departments at eligible universities.
Under this Basic Scientific Research (BSR) fellowship, candidates first get selected for a university’s Ph.D. programme through the regular admission process UGC has already laid out; Ph.D. registration can follow once admission is secured.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry of Education
University Grants Commission (UGC)
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students - UGC, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
Candidates selected for a Ph.D
Candidates selected for a Ph.D. programme through the regular admission procedure already outlined in the UGC notification, at Universities with Potential for Excellence, Centres of Advanced Studies, or Departments of Special Assistance identified by UGC, can apply for this fellowship.
Ph.D
Ph.D. registration may follow after admission.
Other Conditions:
Universities/Institutions/Colleges must admit fellows under the RGNF-SC scheme for M.Phil or Ph.D. research regardless of how many research students are already assigned to the supervisor or department in that subject.
Resignation:
A fellow wishing to leave before the tenure ends should inform the identified agency, with UGC kept in the loop. The grant will be paid up to the date of relinquishment, within the overall tenure limit.
Cancellation of Award:
The fellowship can be cancelled if:
The fellow engages in misconduct.
Research progress is unsatisfactory.
The candidate turns out to be ineligible.
The candidate is already drawing a scholarship/fellowship from another source.
The candidate takes up employment during the M.Phil/Ph.D. research.
The applicant supplies false information, or the scholar/fellow/awardee commits fraud.
Procedure for Monitoring the Progress of the Scheme:
The fellow carries out full-time research, under an…
The fellow carries out full-time research, under an approved guide, on a subject chosen by them and cleared by the university/selection committee. Through their supervisor, the fellow submits yearly progress reports by June and December, which the University/Institution/College keeps on record.
The research fellow also files a half-yearly progress…
The research fellow also files a half-yearly progress report through the senior faculty member they work with and the head of department/university (Annexure-IV). At the end of the award, they submit a comprehensive report to the Commission, a copy of any published work, and a roughly 500-word abstract of their research.
Relinquishing the fellowship mid-tenure needs prior approval from…
Relinquishing the fellowship mid-tenure needs prior approval from the University/Institution/College and the Commission; the fellow must also get prior permission from both before sitting any exam run by a university, institution, college, or public body.
If progress is found unsatisfactory, the Commission's decision…
If progress is found unsatisfactory, the Commission's decision on the award is final.
The fellow may not accept or hold any…
The fellow may not accept or hold any paid or unpaid appointment, or draw any emoluments, salary, or stipend from another source during the award tenure. With the guide's/head of department's consent, they may help the University/Institution/College with academic work — tutorials, evaluating test papers, lab demonstrations, seminars — provided it doesn't get in the way of their research.
A fellow already holding another fellowship/project from another…
A fellow already holding another fellowship/project from another organisation at the time of selection must give up one of the two.
Feedback
Feedback: after finishing the research, the student must upload it to the INFLIBNET repository along with published papers for M.Phil and Ph.D. under RGNF (at least 4 papers: 2 national and 2 international) — 2 national/international publications at the time the Departmental Review Committee's recommendation is submitted, and 2 more by the end of the tenure.
The fellow must submit their Ph.D./M.Phil
The fellow must submit their Ph.D./M.Phil. completion certificate after filing the comprehensive research report and publications in the UGC-INFLIBNET repository. Note: The last two instalments are released only once the feedback and research work have been submitted to the repository.
Benefits Provided
BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students - UGC provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Financial Assistance:
Fellowship:
For GATE/NET-qualified candidates:
JRF: ₹24,800/- per month for 2 years.
SRF: ₹27,900/- per month for the remaining period.
For others:
JRF: ₹21,700/- per month for 2 years.
SRF: ₹24,800/- per month for the remaining period.
Contingency
JRF: ₹12,000/- per annum.
SRF: ₹25,000/- per annum.
Notes:
The BSR fellowship initially runs for two years.
If the research is satisfactory at that point, the tenure extends by a further five years at the higher SRF rate.
The Committee's recommendation for upgrading to RGNF-SRF level goes to the UGC-designated agency in the prescribed format (Annexure-VI).
If the first two years' work isn't satisfactory, the fellow gets one more year to improve; the work is then reassessed after three years, and if it has improved, two more years follow under BSR. The total fellowship period therefore tops out at five years, with no further extensions.
The fellowship amount is paid directly into the Fellow's bank account through the UGC-designated agency.
HRA:
Institutions may offer suitable hostel accommodation; in that…
Institutions may offer suitable hostel accommodation; in that case, the fellow can only claim hostel fees, excluding mess, electricity, and water charges, backed by a certificate from the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA doesn't apply to those staying in hostel accommodation.
If hostel accommodation isn't available, the host institution…
If hostel accommodation isn't available, the host institution may arrange single accommodation, and the fellow's actual rent may be reimbursed up to the HRA ceiling set by Government of India norms.
Fellows making their own accommodation arrangements can draw…
Fellows making their own accommodation arrangements can draw HRA based on the Government of India's city categorisation.
Medical:
There's no separate or fixed medical assistance, but the Fellow can use whatever medical facilities the University/Institution/College offers.
Leave:
With the Head of Department's approval, a BSR…
With the Head of Department's approval, a BSR Fellow can take up to 30 days of leave a year, on top of public holidays, but isn't entitled to summer, winter, or pooja vacations.
Fellows can take maternity/paternity leave once during the…
Fellows can take maternity/paternity leave once during the award tenure, at the full fellowship rate, as per Government of India rules.
In special cases, the Commission may grant academic…
In special cases, the Commission may grant academic leave without fellowship or contingency, for up to a year during the tenure, on the recommendation of the Head of Department, to take up academic/teaching work or foreign travel connected to academic work — UGC won't cover the travel cost, and this leave period still counts toward the tenure.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
The candidate's Aadhaar card as proof of identity
The candidate's Aadhaar card as proof of identity
A photograph of the applicant
A photograph of the applicant
A document confirming the current address
A document confirming the current address
A working phone number for contact
A working phone number for contact
Particulars of the candidate's bank account
Particulars of the candidate's bank account
Certificates showing the educational qualifications held
Certificates showing the educational qualifications held
Any further supporting papers that may be asked…
Any further supporting papers that may be asked for
How to Apply
Offline Application
Applicants can apply for BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students - UGC through the offline application process outlined below.
Application Process
Applicants apply for the Research Fellowship directly to the identified Universities/Institutions, which handle selection as per these guidelines.
The university selects Research Fellows from among eligible candidates through an interview conducted by a Selection Committee made up of:
An eminent scientist nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.
The Head of the Department.
One Professor and one Reader from the department, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.
Two experts from outside the university, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor from a panel proposed by the Head of the Department.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.