CSIR’s GATE qualified Junior Research Fellowship for PhD for Engineering Graduates

INTRODUCTION

CSIR has introduced a new research fellowship in 2002 for the GATE qualified candidates with BE/ BTech/ BArch/ BPharm degree to pursue research leading to PhD. This will be known as the GATE qualified Junior Research Fellowship (JRF-GATE). JRF’s selected under this scheme will have excellent opportunity to work with the CSIR scientists with state-of-art R&D facility and obtain PhD degree. These fellowships are tenable only at CSIR laboratories.

WHO CAN APPLY ?

Candidates fulfilling any of the criteria given below are eligible to apply :

Fresh BE/ B Tech degree holders with valid GATE score. The selected candidates will have to pursue Ph.D. There can be two possibilities under this:

o Get direct admission to Ph.D programme of University/ IIT/ NIT/REC etc.

o After joining as JRF-GATE, the candidate may pursue MTech as a part of PhD programme, where their thesis semester (last semester) should be spent at the CSIR laboratory relating to lab specialization in order to keep the continuity for the PhD programme.

OR

Those who are starting the thesis semester of ME/ MTech programme and having valid GATE score and desirous of pursuing PhD.

It may be noted that these candidates have to work on their PhD problem and should not be employed in sponsored projects.

WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE

MTech candidates (either with BTech/ MTech or with MSc/ MTech) are not eligible for this fellowship. They have a separate opportunity for direct SRFship through interview . All those eligible for direct CSIR SRF cannot apply for this fellowship.

AGE LIMIT

The upper age limit for JRF shall be 28 yrs which is relaxable upto 5 years in case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes, women, physically handicapped and OBC applicants.

STIPEND AND TENURE

The fellowship is to be given to a candidate for a total duration of five years within which the candidate is required to complete the PhD degree. This fellowship amount is Rs 12000/- plus HRA per month. In addition, contingency grant of Rs 20,000/- per annum (calculated on pro rata basis for fraction of a year) is available to each fellowship as per the CSIR guidelines.

Further on completion of two years as JRF-GATE, the fellowship may be upgraded to SRF-GATE and stipend may be increased to Rs 14000/- per month in the subsequent years on the basis of assessment as per normal CSIR rules. In exceptional cases where the fellow has completed MTech within one year of joining JRF-GATE, the Director may assess the performance of the fellow (through a three member assessment committee) and recommend upgradation of the fellowship to SRF-GATE. All other conditions of JRF-NET will apply.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Selection of these GATE qualified JRF’s can be done by the Director of the CSIR laboratories and forwarded to Head, HRDG for the issue of requisite award letters. Director may permit the candidate to provisionally join JRF-GATE subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and issue of formal award letter from HRDG.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE NOTED

o JRF-GATE should register for PhD within two years of joining, otherwise the fellowship is deemed to be cancelled and withdrawn. Intimation about PhD registration is to be sent to HRDG.

o Aim of JRF-GATE is to attain academic excellence and to generate high level science and these fellows are expected to contribute to lab research through a suitable PhD program.

o JRF-GATE are not to be deployed in any sponsored project.