Sarkari Yojana
National Science Chair- Scientific Excellence
About National Science Chair- Scientific Excellence
A handful of publicly-funded chairs and professorships exist across India, set up by various ministries, departments, and academies. Given how few such opportunities there are, SERB administers the National Science Chair: Scientific Excellence & Science Leadership scheme, aimed at honouring eminent, senior, resident Indian scientists past retirement for outstanding work at home and internationally across Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and Medicine, in the interest of driving excellence and growth in R&D. Mode-1: Scientific Excellence: This mode honours high-performing senior scientists whose research has produced measurable results — publications, patents, technology transfer, software, or policy impact — and who want to keep working in R&D. SERB sees real value in continuing to draw on such exceptionally capable senior scientists’ expertise; letting that expertise go unused amounts to a national loss, and age alone shouldn’t disqualify a scientist who’s still delivering. > Objective:
To keep backing R&D excellence among eminent senior superannuated scientists whose passion for research shows in their S&T output. > Advisory Committee:
The National Science Chair Advisory Committee (NSCAC) exists to guide how the Chairs evolve, recommend which candidates get selected, track their progress and any extensions, and handle whatever else keeps this award’s R&D relevant, promoted, and of high quality. > Number of Positions:
- Positions are capped at thirty (30) in total.
Tenure and Commencement:
- The award runs for an initial 3-year term, with a possible two-year extension on NSCAC’s recommendation.
- Selected Chairs need to join within six months of getting their offer letter.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Science And Technology
Science And Engineering Research Board, Government Of India
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for National Science Chair- Scientific Excellence, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
Eligibility for nomination:
The nominee must be an active, resident Indian…
The nominee must be an active, resident Indian scientist/academician with a strong research record in one or more STEM/medicine areas, especially over the last five years.
National/international scientific bodies must already recognise the nominee's…
National/international scientific bodies must already recognise the nominee's work -- for example, via fellowship in a leading academy or an S&T award.
The nominee may be affiliated with an academic…
The nominee may be affiliated with an academic institution/R&D lab, or should hold the future host institution's consent for the association. Note: When SERB initiates the NSC award, the nominee must be free of administrative duties and not drawing any honorarium/fellowship/salary from another institute or organisation. Assessment Criteria: NSCAC sets the criteria for choosing awardees, typically weighing:
The nominee's outstanding research record and standing internationally…
The nominee's outstanding research record and standing internationally in their field.
How original and high-quality the proposed research plan…
How original and high-quality the proposed research plan is.
Their capacity to mentor young researchers and push…
Their capacity to mentor young researchers and push forward the country's S&T talent proactively.
Benefits Provided
National Science Chair- Scientific Excellence provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
The awardee gets a ₹1.5 lakhs monthly fellowship
The awardee gets a ₹1.5 lakhs monthly fellowship.
Here, the Research Grant is set at ₹25…
Here, the Research Grant is set at ₹25 lakhs a year.
The host institution receives ₹1.0 lakh a year…
The host institution receives ₹1.0 lakh a year for overheads. Note: This grant funds manpower, equipment, travel (domestic and international), contingencies, and similar needs, to be used per the Host Institute's rules. Anything bought under the contingency grant becomes Host Institute property once the tenure ends, though for a defined set of items, whether the awardee retains them follows existing government rules and regulations on the subject.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
A research proposal of no more than five…
A research proposal of no more than five pages, giving a short Introduction, the Objective, Methodology, Budget, and the outcome expected
A letter of endorsement signed by the head…
A letter of endorsement signed by the head of the Host Institute
A certificate furnished by the Nominee
A certificate furnished by the Nominee
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for National Science Chair- Scientific Excellence through the online application process outlined below.
Nomination Procedure:
There's no fixed schedule for nomination calls -- they go out periodically, whenever vacancies open up in a given year.
Prescribed-form proposals are sought from current/former Presidents of national science academies (Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, etc.), Directors of top institutes like IISc Bangalore, IISERs, IITs, NITs, and National Laboratories, University Vice-Chancellors, members of the Scientific Advisory Councils to the Hon'ble PM & Cabinet, SERB governing-body members, and Secretaries in Government of India Ministries/Departments.
Every element of the nomination -- including a 5-6 page research proposal outlining the intended work -- must be completed, signed, routed through the Head of the Institution the scientist/technologist wishes to join or be associated with, and submitted online at "
https://anrfonline.in/ANRF/HomePage
" once a call is announced.
Application Procedure:
The nominee registers on the SERB online portal
The nominee registers on the SERB online portal.
Once logged in, the nominee fills every mandatory…
Once logged in, the nominee fills every mandatory field in the Nominee Details section of User Profile, including Photo, Institution, Address, and more.
Under Form Submission, select the National Science Chair…
Under Form Submission, select the National Science Chair scheme and fill out its nomination form, spanning Nominee Details, Qualification Details, Employment Details, Professional Recognition/Fellowship, Scientific Research Index, Publication Details, Patent Details, Upload Documents, Nominator Details and Other Information.
Upload the proposed research area and a brief…
Upload the proposed research area and a brief proposal outline in one PDF, capped at 5 pages.
The nominee then clicks "Send to Nominator" once…
The nominee then clicks "Send to Nominator" once everything's filled in.
An email goes to the nominator with a…
An email goes to the nominator with a link to view the completed National Science Chair Nomination form on the SERB portal.
The nominator can submit it straight to SERB…
The nominator can submit it straight to SERB or return it to the nominee for edits.
Both nominee and nominator get confirmation once the…
Both nominee and nominator get confirmation once the submission goes through.
Selection Procedure:
NSCAC assesses the proposals on their merits.
SERB then makes funding calls guided by the Committee's recommendations.
Objectives
**
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.