Junior Research Fellowship in Engineering & Technology

Junior Research Fellowship in Engineering & Technology

XIth PLAN GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION:
The scheme is meant for candidates who wish to pursue research leading to a Ph.D. degree in engineering and technology. As of date, the University Grants Commission (UGC) or the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are not conducting National Education Testing (NET) examinations in these fields. Therefore, M.Pharma and M.E., M.Tech. students are given this opportunity, through direct interview conducted by the Commission. There are 50 slots under this scheme per year.

OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this scheme is to provide an opportunity to research scholars to undertake advanced study and research in engineering and technology, and agricultural engineering, leading to Ph.D. Subjects like geology and geo-physics are not considered under this scheme.

ELIGIBILITY / TARGET:
All Minimum qualifications are a master’s degree in engineering / technology / pharmacy, with 55 per cent marks. GATE is not a mandatory condition for getting a research fellowship to pursue Ph.D. Candidates need to hold an M.E./M.Tech. degree. The age limit is 40 years as on 1 July of the year of award, extendable by five years for women and SC/ST candidates. A total of 22.5 per cent of the fellowships are reserved for candidates belonging to SC/ST who fulfil the requisite qualifications laid down for the award. In case of non-availability of SC/ST candidates, these slots will be made available to general candidates.

NATURE OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE UNDER THE SCHEME:
The tenure of fellowship is initially for a period of two years as a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). After expiry of two years the work of fellow will be evaluated by experts and if found satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended for a further period of three years with enhanced emoluments as a Senior Research Fellowship (SRF). In case the work of fellow for the first two years is not found satisfactory, one more year will be given to him/her for improvement, but during this period he/she will be designated as a Junior Research Fellow. In such cases work will again be evaluated after three years, and if improvement is found, the fellow will get two more years under the SRF. Thus, the total period of fellowship (JRF and SRF) is five
years, which is non-extendable.

The awardee can avail research fellowship for the full tenure of the fellowship or up to the date of award of the Ph.D. degree, whichever is earlier.

The assistance available under the scheme is:

Fellowship: @ Rs. 14,000/- p.m. for the initial two years
@ Rs.15,000/- for the remaining period

Contingency @ Rs.12,000/- p.a. for the initial two years
@Rs.25,000/- p.a. for the remaining period

Departmental assistance @ Rs. 3,000/- p.a. per students to the host institute
for providing, infrastructure to the researcher

Escorts / Reader Assistance: @Rs.2,000/- p.m. in cases of physically
handicapped and blind candidates

HRA: As per rule of the concerned institution  As per rule of the concerned institution

House Rent Allowance: Suitable single-seated hostel accommodation in the institutions may be provided to the Fellow, failing which HRA as per rules of the university/institution will be paid, subject to the submission of the HRA certificate through the registrar/principal. Research Fellows provided with accommodation in hostels recognized/maintained by the institutions may be reimbursed the hostel fee, excluding mess, electricity and water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the registrar / principal (Annexure I). If the Fellow is makes his/her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to draw HRA as per categorization of cities by the Government of India. The Fellow will submit a certificate to UGC for claiming HRA through the concerned university / institution/college.

Medical: No separate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the institution / university / college.

Leave: Research Fellows are entitled for a maximum period of 30 days leave in a year in addition to public holidays. They are not entitled to any other leave, for example, summer, winter, pooja vacations, etc. Women candidates are eligible for maternity leave of 135 days at full rates of fellowship once during the tenure of their award.

The Research Fellow, in special cases, may be allowed by the Commission, leave without fellowship up to one academic year during the entire tenure of the award for accepting teaching assignments on a temporary basis, provided the assignment is in the same city/town. In other cases, leave without fellowship will be restricted to a period not exceeding three months during the tenure of the award on the recommendations of the supervisor and the head of institution. The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the total tenure of the fellowship. Fellows are advised to apply for leave through their university / institution / college well in advance for the approval of the Commission.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR THE SCHEME:
Applications are invited in the prescribed format (Annexure II) once in a year through advertisement in leading newspapers and the AIU Newsletter for the award of research fellowship in engineering and technology for pursuing research leading to Ph.D. Selection will be made on the basis of merit, and candidates will be interviewed by an expert committee appointed by the Commission.

PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF THE UGC:
Received applications will be scrutinized, and short listed candidates will be called to appear before the selection committee, constituted by the Commission. No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview. The decision of the Commission will be final and binding. The Commission reserves the right to withdraw/cancel the award without assigning any reason. On completion of the above formalities, the Joining Report of the candidate, duly signed by the supervisor/head of department is to be sent to the UGC through the registrar/principal. On receipt of the Joining Report and other required documents (Annexure III), the admissible grant for the first year will be released or the concerned university will be informed to release the grant form the funds already sanctioned.

PROCEDURE FOR RELEASE OF GRANTS:
On receipt of UGC approval/award letter, the institutions may pay the fellowship amount to the fellows and meet expenses from the grants paid by the Commission for the purpose in accordance with the rules. For the release of subsequent installments of the grant, that is, fellowship, contingency and departmental assistance, etc., a Utilisation Certificate along with a statement of expenditure incurred may be sent to the Commission at the end of every year together with a half-yearly progress report of work done by the awardee (Annexure IV, V, VI and VII).

On completion of first two years of award, the fellow may apply to the department/university concerned for the up gradation of SRF. For this a three member committee will be constituted with a Supervisor, Head of the Department and External Expert subject expert to evaluate the research work. The Minutes of the Constitution of Committee and recommendation of the Committee for up gradation may be sent to University Grants Commission. Therefore, the fellow will be upgraded and designated as SRF (Annexure-VIII).

The work process for up gradation may be completed not later than three months from the expiry of the tenure of JRF.

A three-member committee consisting of the Dean of the faculty or head of the institution, as the case may be, head of the concerned department and the supervisor/guide of the Fellow may consider and take a decision on the proposal for enhancement in the light of the evaluation report of the expert to whom the proposal has been sent. In case the same person is holding more than one position, for example, the dean as well as head, or head as well as supervisor, a senior teacher from the department may be appointed to the three-member committee. The work done and the time spent on scholarships or fellowships of any agency other than the UGC will not be taken into account while considering the proposals for enhancement in the value of fellowship. The fellowship may be withdrawn if the work is not considered satisfactory or the candidate fails in any of the examinations related to Ph.D.

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.

2. The Fellow shall present to the university, through his/her supervisor, half-yearly progress reports ending the month of June and December, and the university/ institution will maintain a record of progress by obtaining the same.

3. If a Fellow wishes to relinquish the fellowship during the tenure, it should be done with the prior approval of the university and the Commission. The fellow should also obtain prior permission of the university and Commission for appearing in any examination
conducted by any university or public body.

4. The fellow shall not accept or hold any appointment, paid or otherwise, or receive 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 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.

5. Fellows should join technical institutes and not the science departments of universities.

6. The fellowship may be terminated at any time without assigning any reasons and the Commission / institution’s decision in this regard shall be final and binding. No extension is permissible beyond the total period of five years and awardee ceases to be a UGC JRF/SRF immediately after expiry of the tenure. Any claim/reference to this effect will be illegal and the individual may have to face disciplinary action for such an act.

Other Conditions:
In special cases, the Commission may place Fellows in an institution not covered by the UGC Act, if the institution concerned agrees to provide all infrastructures for the research pursuits of the Fellow, and to meet all expenses as per rules. The Commission, in such cases, will either provide advance funds to such institutions or accept a statement of expenditure and utilisation certificate in the prescribed format later, or reimburse the expenditure incurred in accordance with the norms governing the scheme.

In special cases the fellow is entitled for transfer of fellowship once during the tenure of their award. The fellow may apply to the UGC alongwith No Objection Certificate from both Institutions duly forwarded by Registrar Director / Principal for transfer of fellowship.

CANCELLATION OF AWARD:
The fellowship is liable to cancellation, in case of:
• Misconduct
• Unsatisfactory progress of research work Failure in any of the examination related to Ph.D.
• Candidate found ineligible later.

Desiring and deserving candidates are suggested to check the official information and website for more details:

Official information: Click here 

Official website: www.ugc.ac.in