Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research

Fellows with strong academic or professional credentials, and…

Fellows with strong academic or professional credentials, and a significant record of contribution to knowledge in their field, can apply for the Tagore National Fellowship.

Preferably, applicants should have 5 years of experience…

Preferably, applicants should have 5 years of experience conducting or guiding research, or equivalent experience performing or practising in the arts.

Applicants must have an impressive publication record, including…

Applicants must have an impressive publication record, including at least two single-authored monographs.

Fellows engaged under the scheme need both the…

Fellows engaged under the scheme need both the credentials described above and a strong reputation in the field the Nodal Institution covers.

Those who have previously worked directly on major…

Those who have previously worked directly on major projects at the Nodal Institution, and meet the above criteria for a Tagore Fellow, are encouraged to apply.

Once awarded a Tagore National Fellowship, a candidate…

Once awarded a Tagore National Fellowship, a candidate cannot apply again under this scheme, whether at the same or a different covered institution.

The Scheme is open to both Indian and…

The Scheme is open to both Indian and foreign nationals, though foreign nationals will not normally exceed one-third of the Fellowships awarded in a year. Note 01: Interested Fellows must attach a research proposal prepared per the guidelines in Appendix A. Note 02: Fellows must also prepare a short write-up on how the proposed research would benefit the respective nodal institution. Note 03: Given how prestigious the honour and honorarium are, the sponsoring institution's Institution Level Search-cum-Screening Committee (ILSSC) and the National Selection Committee are expected to bear this in mind while recommending/selecting Tagore National Fellows. Note 04: In short, a person selected for the Tagore National Fellowship should already be regarded as a 'legend' in their field, or held in very high esteem; those who fall short of this standard should not apply for, or expect to be considered for, this highest honour and honorarium. Areas of Research and Eligible Projects:

Selected Fellows typically work on a project that…

Selected Fellows typically work on a project that benefits the Nodal Institution by unlocking its resources. The research subject should be one that can be meaningfully pursued using the Nodal Institution's resources and facilities, though the Fellow remains free to also draw on other institutions' resources.

Where the research spans more than one institution,…

Where the research spans more than one institution, or the Fellow needs to draw on another institution's resources, the Nodal Institution recommends the Fellow to that institution. In rare cases where two institutions seem almost equally important to the Fellow's work, the second may be designated a 'Co-institution', with both signing a Tripartite MoU on intellectual property, publication, credit-sharing and facilities, while accounting remains with the Nodal Institution.

Since the Scheme centres on unlocking the Nodal…

Since the Scheme centres on unlocking the Nodal Institution's cultural resources, the project must substantially use those resources, with its required inputs strongly linked to what the Nodal Institution (and, rarely, the Co-institution) holds.

The project's eventual outcome must benefit the Nodal…

The project's eventual outcome must benefit the Nodal Institution (and Co-institution, if any) and add to the existing body of knowledge on the institution or subject.

A Tagore National Fellow drawn from a University,…

A Tagore National Fellow drawn from a University, College, Research Institute, or Government setup in India receives the same pay, including grade pay, that they would have drawn had they stayed in their parent organization, with the parent organization continuing to make mandatory employer contributions such as Provident Fund.

A Fellow from abroad, or from a setup…

A Fellow from abroad, or from a setup other than a University, College, Research Institute or Government service, or one who has retired and/or is on pension, receives a fixed honorarium of ₹80,000/- per month.

A Fellow already fully funded from other sources…

A Fellow already fully funded from other sources up to the honorarium level normally receives no honorarium payment, but still gets a Contingency Grant and other allowances/facilities decided by the NSC. Contingency Grant:
Foreign and Indian research fellows residing or serving abroad, selected as Tagore Fellows under Non-MoC institutions, get to-and-fro economy-class airfare from their country of residence, provided/reimbursed once during the Fellowship by the Ministry.
All Non-MoC institution fellows also get contingent expenses reimbursed on an 'actual' basis — for academic trips, engaging research assistants, etc. — up to ₹2.50 lakh per annum during the Fellowship's tenure, subject to bill verification by the Nodal Institutions. Note: For Fellows selected under MoC Institutions, such expenditure is borne by the concerned MoC Institution from the grant-in-aid it receives from its administrative Division of the Ministry. Accommodation:
A Fellow who isn't a bona-fide resident of the Participating Institution's location, and who intends to rent accommodation there, must state this while applying for the Fellowship.
The selected Fellow is entitled to a House Rent Allowance of up to 30% of the honorarium; Fellows from Universities, colleges, Research institutes, or Government setups instead receive HRA from their Parent Organization as per entitlement.
MoC Institutions cover this expenditure from the grant-in-aid received from their administrative Division of the Ministry.
For Non-MoC Institutions, the Ministry of Culture reimburses the House Rent Allowance directly to Fellows on submission of original rent receipts to the Participating Institutions, which verify and forward these to the Ministry. Settling Allowance:
An outstation Fellow may, if needed, receive a lump-sum grant of ₹1.00 lakh as a settling allowance for packing/transporting personal belongings from their old station to the Fellowship's location.
An equal allowance is given at the Fellowship's conclusion for moving back out of station; economy airfare from the Fellow's place/country of residence may also be provided/reimbursed on joining and at conclusion, on a case-to-case basis. Non-MoC Institutions bear this cost initially and then seek reimbursement from the Ministry after submitting certified bills with justification. Support to Fellows:
The Nodal Institution provides infrastructural support to enable the Fellows' research — a computer with peripherals and connectivity, working space on the premises, a conducive research environment, appropriate seating, and library facilities.
A key advantage of the scheme is that Fellows gain access to national institutions to study and use original, rare research material. For foreign fellows, the Ministry of Culture secures the necessary political/security clearances from the concerned Ministries/Departments.
Fellows may also receive encouragement and financial support to present papers at conferences hosted by the concerned institution or related organizations, reimbursed on an 'actuals' basis up to ₹1.00 lakh per annum, provided there is adequate academic interaction.

Identity proof i.e

Identity proof i.e. Aadhaar Card

Passport-size Photograph

Passport-size Photograph

Academic Qualifications certificates

Academic Qualifications certificates

Caste certificate, if applicable

Caste certificate, if applicable

Disability certificate, if applicable

Disability certificate, if applicable

Details of Publications, if any (including presentation of…

Details of Publications, if any (including presentation of papers, performances, awards, recognitions, etc., listed separately)

A write-up/synopsis of the proposed research work

A write-up/synopsis of the proposed research work

A short write-up, submitted with the application, on…

A short write-up, submitted with the application, on how the proposed research project will benefit the Nodal Institution.

NoC, if the applicant is a regular Central/State…

NoC, if the applicant is a regular Central/State Govt. Employee

Any other document, as required

Any other document, as required