BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students - UGC

The “BSR Fellowship Scheme for Science Students” has been implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education, Government of India. The objective of the Basic Scientific Research (BSR) scheme is to provide opportunities to meritorious candidates to undertake advanced studies and research leading to Ph.D. degrees in sciences. The scheme is applicable to all Departments of Sciences, Bio-Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering Sciences of the eligible Universities.
The Research Fellowship in Sciences for meritorious students BSR scheme of the UGC is open to candidates who are selected for registering to the Ph.D. programme of the university through a procedure outlined already in the UGC notification by a regular admission procedure . The registration for Ph.D. may follow after the admissions.

Financial Assistance:

Fellowship:
For GATE/NET Qualified candidates:

• JRF @ ₹24,800/- per month for 2years
• SRF@ ₹27,900/- per month for remaining period

For others:

• JRF @ ₹21,700/- per month for 2 years
• SRF @ ₹24,800/- per month for remaining period

Contingency

• JRF @ ₹12,000/- per annum
• SRF @ ₹25,000/- per annum

Notes:

• The tenure of fellowship is initially for two years under the BSR scheme.
• Upon expiry of this period, If the research work is found satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended further for a period of five year under the enhanced emoluments as SRF.
• The recommendation of the Committee shall be submitted to the UGC designated agency for Upgradation to the level of RGNF-SRF in the prescribed proforma (Annexure- VI). - In case the work for the first two years is not found satisfactory, an additional year will be given to him/her for improvement. In such cases work will be evaluated again after three years, and if improvement is found, the Fellow will get two more years under the BSR. Thus, the total period of fellowship is five years, with no further provision of extension.
• It may be noted that the fellowship amount shall be disbursed through UGC designated agency into the bank account of the Fellow directly.

HRA:

1. Suitable hostel accommodation may be provided to the candidates in the institutions. In such cases, the fellow is eligible to draw only hostel fees excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA is not permissible for those candidates who are staying in Hostel accommodation.
2. In case of non-availability of hostel accommodation, the fellow may be provided with single accommodation by the host institution. In such cases, the rent paid by the fellow on actual basis may be reimbursed subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms.
3. If the fellow makes her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to draw HRA as per categorization of cities by the Govt. of India.

Medical:

• No separate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the Fellow may avail the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/College.

Leave:

1. Leave for maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to public holidays maybe taken by the BSR Fellow with the approval of the Head of Department. However, they are not entitled to any other vacations, such as summer, winter and pooja vacations.
2. Candidates are eligible for maternity/ paternity leave at full rates of the fellowship as per Government of India rules once during the tenure of the award.
3. The fellow, in special cases may be allowed by the Commission, academic leave without fellowship and contingency for a period not exceeding one year during the tenure of award on the recommendation of the Head of the department of the institution concerned to undertake academic/ teaching assignment or foreign travel in connection with academic work. The expenditure on travel cannot be claimed from UGC. The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the tenure.

1. The candidates who are selected for registering to the Ph.D. programme of the university through a procedure outlined already in the UGC notification by a regular admission procedure in Universities with Potential for Excellence / Centres of Advance Studies and Department of Special Assistance identified by UGC are eligible to apply for fellowship under the scheme.
2. The registration for Ph.D. may follow after the admissions.

Other Conditions:
The University/Institutions/College shall admit the fellows under RGNF-SC scheme for research leading to M.Phil or Ph.D irrespective of the stipulated number of research students assigned to the Supervisor or the Department in the concerned subjects.
Resignation:
If the fellow wishes to leave the fellowship before the end of the tenure, the information regarding relinquishment may be informed to the identified Agency under intimation to UGC. Grant will be released upto the date of relinquishment, provided it is whether the total tenure of fellowship.
Cancellation of Award:
The fellowship in liable to cancellation, in case of:

• Misconduct.
• Unsatisfactory progress of research work.
• Candidate is later found ineligible.
• Candidate is already availing scholarship/fellowship from any other sources.
• Candidate if found employed during the M.Phil/Ph.D research.
• Any false information furnished by the applicant or any fraudulent activity by the Scholar/Fellow/Research Awardees.

Procedure for Monitoring the Progress of the Scheme:

1. The fellow will undertake full-time research work under the approved guide in a subject selected by him and approved by the university/selection committee. The fellow shall present to the university, through his/her supervisor, yearly progress reports ending the month of June and December, and the University/Institution/College will maintain a record of progress by obtaining the same.
2. The research fellow shall submit, through the senior faculty member with whom he/she is working and the head of the department/university, a half-yearly report on the progress of his/her research work. (Annexure-IV). On completion of the award he/she will submit to the Commission a comprehensive report and a copy of his/her published work, if any, and an abstract of the research work in about 500 words.
3. If a fellow wishes to relinquish the fellowship during the tenure, it should be done with the prior approval of the University/ institution/ College and the Commission. The fellow should also obtain prior permission of the University/institution/College and Commission for appearing in any examination conducted by any University/institution/College or public body.
4. In case the Progress of the work is found unsatisfactory, the award may be decision of the Commission in this regard will be final.
5. The fellow shall not accept or hold any appointment, paid or otherwise, or receive any emoluments, salary, stipend, etc. from any other source during the tenure of the award. The fellow with the consent of the guide/head of department, may assist the University/ institution/ College in its academic work, including tutorials, evaluation of test papers, laboratory demonstration work, seminar symposia, etc., provided such work is not likely to hamper the research programme on hand.
6. If the Fellow is availing any other fellowship/ project from any other organization at the time of selection, he/she shall be required to surrender one award.
7. Feedback After completion of the Research work the student will submit his/her research work in the INFLIBNET repository along with the research papers published M.Phil and Ph.D for RGNF (At least 4 research papers: 2 National and 2 International) 2 National/ International publication at the time of submitting Departmental review Committee Recommendation and 2 National/International publication by the end of the tenure must be submitted.
8. The fellow will be required to submit Ph.D./M.Phil. completion certificate after successfully submitting the comprehensive report of the research work and the publications in the UGCINFLIBNET repository.

Note: The last 2 instalments will be released only after submission of the feedback and Research work in the Repository.

Offline

The applicants will have to apply for Research Fellowship to the identified Universities/Institutions. The selections would be made by the concerned institution as per the provisions contained in these guidelines.
The university shall select the Research Fellows under the scheme from amongst the eligible candidates through a process of interview by Selection Committee with the following constitution:-

• An eminent scientist to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor
• Head of the Department
• One Professor and one Reader from the department, to be nominated by the Vice Chancellor
• Two Experts from outside the university to be nominated by Vice-Chancellor, out of the Panel of names proposed by Head of the Department