VPHD_PDF

Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)

6.4/10

The Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT offers 225 Post-Doctoral Fellowships aimed at individuals with a strong research background in emerging areas of electronics and information technology. Each fellowship provides a monthly stipend of ₹1.08 lakh and a contingency grant of ₹1 lakh for one year, which can be utilized for minor equipment and consumables relevant to the research work. Eligible candidates must be Indian citizens who have completed their PhD within the last five years from a recognized university, maintaining a first-class academic record. The fellowship is tenable only in India at recognized academic and R&D institutions, and it is a full-time assignment, meaning fellows cannot hold any other fellowship during its tenure. Preference is given to applicants with active industry linkages and research proposals targeting industry-specific challenges. The fellowship is initially awarded for one year, with the possibility of extension based on performance reviews.

Central Composite

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Categories: Science, IT & Communications, Education & Learning

Sub-categories: Research & Development, Education and training grants, fellowship, stipend

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Visvesvaraya PhD, Electronics And IT, Post-Doctoral, Fellowship, Fellow, Research, PDF

Details

The “Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF)” is a component of the “Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT”, implemented by the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to promote R&D, create an innovative ecosystem, and enhance India’s competitiveness in the knowledge-intensive sectors of Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES).
This fellowship is meant for those who have a proven track record as evident from their research publications and recognitions. Support is provisioned for 225 Post-Doctoral Fellowships for candidates for a period of one year, to encourage specialized research in emerging areas.

Benefits

  • Nature of Support:
  • Research Fellowship: ₹1.08 Lakh/Month - Contingency Grant: ₹1 Lakh for 1 year (on re-imbursement and pro-rata basis depending on the period spent under the award). The claim would be submitted by the awardee through respective institution to PhD Cell in prescribed format. - The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized & eligible academic and R&D institutions
  • Contingency Grant can be used for minor equipment, consumables and similar items relevant to the research work. The host institution should provide necessary administrative and infrastructural support for the PDF fellow
  • There is no provision for providing research personnel support under the scheme. The fellow is expected to undertake the research objectives by himself/herself during the entire duration of the fellowship
  • PDF is a full-time assignment. The fellows are not eligible to receive any other fellowship from any Government or Non-Government source during the tenure of the fellowship
  • Post-doctoral positions are non-transferrable. The research work is to be carried out in the same eligible institution at which PDF seat is allocated and the fellow is enrolled. Duration of Support:
  • The fellowship is purely a temporary assignment, and is tenable for a period of 1 year

Nature of Support:

  • Research Fellowship: ₹1.08 Lakh/Month - Contingency Grant: ₹1 Lakh for 1 year (on re-imbursement and pro-rata basis depending on the period spent under the award). The claim would be submitted by the awardee through respective institution to PhD Cell in prescribed format. - The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of the recognized & eligible academic and R&D institutions.
  • Contingency Grant can be used for minor equipment, consumables and similar items relevant to the research work. The host institution should provide necessary administrative and infrastructural support for the PDF fellow.
  • There is no provision for providing research personnel support under the scheme. The fellow is expected to undertake the research objectives by himself/herself during the entire duration of the fellowship.
  • PDF is a full-time assignment. The fellows are not eligible to receive any other fellowship from any Government or Non-Government source during the tenure of the fellowship.
  • Post-doctoral positions are non-transferrable. The research work is to be carried out in the same eligible institution at which PDF seat is allocated and the fellow is enrolled.

Duration of Support:

  • The fellowship is purely a temporary assignment, and is tenable for a period of 1 year.

Eligibility

Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme is an institutional scheme wherein eligible institutions submit proposals requesting PDF seats against an active call for proposal by Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme, DIC, MeitY.

  1. The call for proposal for PDF seats will be notified by PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY through the web portal https://phd.dic.gov.in/ and/or email.

  2. Proposals for allotment of PDF seats are to be submitted by eligible institutions only. Suitable number of seats would be allotted to institutions for further enrollment of PDF fellows on these seats following the scheme guidelines.

  3. The institution may design/have its own application form for advertisement of PDF; however, the guidelines for PDF are to be followed which must include the following:

  4. The PDF applicant should be an Indian citizen.

  5. The PDF applicant must have obtained PhD degree from a recognized University with first class (in terms of grades, etc.) in all preceding levels and a good academic record throughout.

  6. The eligible participating institution must ensure that the PDF applicant should have completed PhD within the past 5 years on the last date of submission of application to the institution.

  7. The upper age limit for the fellowship is 40 years on the date of submission of application to the eligible participating institution.

  8. A suitable Mentor/Guide under whom the proposed research would be carried out, must be identified by the institution.

  9. Mentor/Guide of PDF fellow must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized institution in India. He/she should hold a Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering.

  10. Preference would be given to the PDF applicants who have active industry linkages and their research proposal is directed towards industry specific problems.

  11. The research proposal of the PDF applicant, to be submitted to the institution, should define clear objectives, outcomes and deliverables against the award.

  12. PDF applicants currently in regular employment will not be considered. However, scientists or researchers with temporary positions in academia or research institutions would be considered however, they would be required to relinquish their current roles if selected for the fellowship.

  13. PDF applicants should not have completed their PhD at the same institution where the PDF fellowship is to be awarded.

  14. The applicant must have a proven track record as evident from their research publications and recognitions.

  15. The applicant should not be availing any other fellowship.

Discontinuation of the Fellowship

  1. If any fellow wishes to discontinue the fellowship, the institution should inform PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY immediately. One month’s notice is to be given by the institution before the date of discontinuation.
  2. The implementing institution should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the award/project or the date of resignation of the fellow. The institution will responsible for submission of work report and other requisite documents.
  3. In case the post-doctoral fellow undertakes any full/part-time assignment, his/her PDF award under the scheme would be discontinued.
  4. PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY reserves the right to hold/ stop/ discontinue the fellowship at any stage, if
  • Appropriate progress is not being made.
  • The grant is not being utilized properly.
  • Violation/ Non-compliance of guidelines.
  • Any other reason, which is deemed appropriate by PhD Cell, DIC, MeitY.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.4
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 5.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 4.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 3.0/10 Good
Financial impact 9.0/10 Good
Literacy barrier 5.0/10 Moderate
Women inclusivity 5.0/10 Moderate
Awareness 7.5/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility5.0
  • Financial impact9.0
  • Rural utility4.0
  • Awareness7.5
  • Simplicity7.0
  • Inclusivity5.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme provides valuable support for post-doctoral research in electronics and IT, targeting individuals with a strong academic background.

Key challenges addressed

  • Encourages specialized research in electronics and IT
  • Supports individuals with a proven research track record

Most beneficial for

  • Individuals with a PhD in Electronics or IT
  • Researchers looking for funding for specialized projects

Likely challenges

  • Limited to institutions submitting proposals, excluding individual applicants
  • High competition for a limited number of fellowships

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme is practical for eligible candidates but may not reach those in rural settings effectively.

Rural challenges

  • Limited access to recognized institutions in rural areas
  • Lower awareness among rural researchers

Digital challenges

  • High digital dependency for application submission
  • Limited internet access in rural areas

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Institutional proposal requirement may limit access for individual researchers

Awareness challenges

  • Low awareness among potential applicants outside urban areas

Application analysis

Application mode
Online portal
Documents burden
Moderate, as institutions need to prepare proposals
Verification complexity
High, as it involves institutional proposals and eligibility checks
Office dependency
High, as applications are submitted through institutions
CSC support
Limited, as it is primarily institutional
Estimated citizen effort
High, due to the need for institutional involvement

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach Urban-only
  • Gender reach Moderate
  • Occupation reach Academics and Researchers

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Composite
Benefit frequency
Monthly stipend for one year
Benefit practicality
High, as it provides substantial financial support for research
Financial meaningfulness
High, with a stipend of ₹1.08 lakh per month
Long-term impact
Potentially significant for advancing research in electronics and IT

Plain-language guidance

This scheme offers post-doctoral fellowships for research in electronics and IT. Eligible candidates must have a PhD and a strong research background.

Who should apply
Individuals with a PhD in Electronics or IT from recognized institutions.
Who may struggle
Those without institutional support or in rural areas with limited access to recognized institutions.
Best application route
Apply through your institution's proposal submission to the PhD Cell.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online

Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme is an institutional scheme wherein eligible institutions submit proposals requesting PDF seats against an active call for proposal by Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme, DIC, MeitY.

Mode of Application:

  1. Proposals for allotment of PDF seats are to be submitted by eligible institutions only. Suitable number of seats would be allotted to institutions for further enrollment of PDF fellows on these seats following the scheme guidelines.
  2. The call for proposal for PDF seats will be notified by PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY through the web portal https://phd.dic.gov.in/ and/or email. 1. The institution may design/have its own application form for advertisement of PDF; however, the guidelines for PDF are to be followed.

Note:

  • Just fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria should not entitle a candidate to be selected.
  • PhD Cell, DIC; MeitY may change the T&C at its discretion, if deemed necessary.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

Who can submit proposals for allotment of PDF seats?

Only eligible institutions can submit proposals for allotment of PDF seats. Individual applicants cannot directly apply to PhD Cell, DIC, MeitY.

What is the educational qualification required?

The applicant must have obtained a PhD degree from a recognized University with first class (in terms of grades) in all preceding levels and a good academic record.

Is there a time limit after PhD completion to apply?

The PhD must have been completed within the last 5 years as of the last date of application submission to the institution.

What is the maximum age limit for applicants?

The upper age limit is 40 years on the date of application submission to the institution.

Can the fellowship be availed in the same institution where the applicant earned their PhD?

No. Applicants should not have completed their PhD from the same institution where the fellowship is to be undertaken.

Will preference be given to any specific applicants?

Yes. Preference will be given to applicants with active industry linkages and research proposals targeting industry-specific problems.

Where can the fellowship be undertaken?

The fellowship can be undertaken only in India at recognized and eligible academic or R&D institutions.

What is the duration of the fellowship?

It is awarded for one year initially, with the possibility of extension based on performance review.

Can fellows hold another fellowship simultaneously?

No. The PDF is a full-time assignment and fellows cannot receive any other fellowship from Government or Non-Government sources during its tenure.

Can the fellowship be transferred to another institution?

No. The fellowship is non-transferable and must be carried out at the same institution where the seat is allocated.

How is Post-doctoral Fellowship (PDF) awarded?

Proposals for allotment of PDF seats are to be submitted by eligible institutions only. Suitable no. of seats would be allotted to institutions for further enrollment of PDF fellows on these seats following the scheme guidelines.

References

Scheme Details
https://www.meity.gov.in/offerings/schemes-and-services/details/visvesvaraya-phd-scheme-for-electronics-it-QM1MDOtQWa
Guidelines
https://phd.dic.gov.in/guidelines/PDFGuidelines.pdf
Official Website
https://phd.dic.gov.in/
User Manual Page
https://phd.dic.gov.in/helpme

Apply

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Eligibility for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Benefits under Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) is managed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Applications for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF).
Is Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) a central government scheme?
Yes, Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can students apply for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF)?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDF) applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.