Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowships Hiked for Science Scholars

The hike follows protests by research scholars who had sat on dharnas demanding that the fellowship be enhanced.

The Department of Science and Technology on January 30, 2019, issued the much-awaited order hiking emoluments of research fellows and research associates. The hikes range between 24 per cent and 35 per cent.

The Centre on Wednesday hiked the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) for scholars in any area of science and technology. While the JRF has been enhanced by about 24 per cent — from Rs 25,000 to Rs 31,000 per month — the SRF has been hiked by 25 per cent — from Rs 28,000 to Rs 35,000 per month. Research Associate-I to Rs 47,000 from Rs 36,000, Research Associate–II to Rs 49,000 from Rs 38,000, and research associate-III to Rs 54,000 from Rs 40,000. The Centre said that the hike will directly benefit 60,000 research fellows.

The top bracket of Research Associate-ship is fixed at Rs 54,000…. All the research fellows are also entitled to HRA as per Central Government norms,” a statement said.

Junior research fellows are selected either through National Eligibility Tests (NET) conducted by CSIR-UGC NET, including lectureship (assistant professorship) and GATE or through national-level examinations conducted by central government departments and their agencies and institutions. The basic qualification for the test is post-graduate degree in basic science or graduate or post-graduate degree in professional courses.

DST Secretary Ashutosh Sharma said that while the previous hike in 2014 applied to a period of four years, there is a move now to relook and revise stipends on a more periodic basis.