<span style="color: #222222;">The Centre has enhanced the fellowship of PhD students and other research personnel enrolled in any area of science and technology, including Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, Pharmacy etc with effect from 1st January this year. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The hike in fellowship will directly benefit over 60 thousand Research Fellows and also provide a template to the States to consider increase in their fellowship rates. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Fellowship of the Junior Research Fellows in the first two years of PhD programme is increased from the current rate of 25 thousand rupees to 31 thousand rupees per month. Similarly, in the remaining tenure of PhD, Senior Research Fellow will get 35 thousand rupees per month instead of the present 28 thousand rupees. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Further, there is substantial 30 to 35 per cent enhancement in the financial rewards for the scientists involved in the Research and Development projects as Research Associates. The top bracket of Research Associateship is fixed at 54 thousand rupees. All the research fellows are also entitled to HRA as per Central Government norms. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Ministry of Science and Technology said, Government has ensured that this empowering mechanism is uniformly applicable across all the fellowship granting Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Academic and Government Research and Development Organizations of the country. It said, Science and Technology is a fast-moving area in which a dynamic and holistic vision is required to secure the future of the nation. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">For the first time, the Government has also recommended a set of strong financial and academic incentives to enhance and recognize the performance of the research fellows. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">This will be a performance-based addition to the fellowship. An Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to periodically examine all the fellowship matters that have a bearing on enhancing the value, quality and experience of doctoral research, including the quantum of fellowship. One of the recommendations is to involve PhD students in undergraduate teaching and managing research infrastructure during their doctoral research. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">This will not only widen their scope of training but also enhance their career prospects. Government said, improving the value of PhD research cannot be a one-time exercise but requires constant input and efforts which it is fully committed to undertake. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It said, PhD scholars, working in science and technology, are the most significant contributors to the knowledge base of the country for its industrial competitiveness, academic vibrancy and technology led innovations.</span>