The Cabinet today approved the implementation of the proposal for increase in the number of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) through CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) in the country.

The main objective of the JRF-NET is to identify, through this national competitive examination, those talented students who could be enrolled for Ph.D. programmes in specific science domains, across India’s scientific and academic institutions and also to identify those who fulfil the eligibility criteria for employment as lecturers across various academic institutions.

The brief details of the proposal are:

Increase in the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) through CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) by two fold over the Tenth Plan period. During the Tenth Five Year Plan a total of about 6000 young students benefited by availing CSIR-JRF through NET. In the Eleventh Plan CSIR proposes to increase the number by two fold.

The total cost of providing fellowships for about 12000 students in the Eleventh Plan is estimated at Rs.444.34 crore.

The proposed increase in intake of JRF-NET fellowships with the attractive remuneration would help in attracting talented youth to take up scientific research as a career and help address the issues related to shortage of scientific manpower in the country.

The biggest beneficiaries of this programme would be the University system and scientific institutions across India as they shall be able to attract bright minds for their scientific programmes/research. It will also benefit students from all over the country who are keen to take-up scientific research as a career.

The programme will be implemented by Human Resource Development Group of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, which conducts National eligibility Test (NET) across the country in 25 cities and at 125 exam centers. A total of about 12000 students would be benefiting through JRF-NET in the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

BACKGROUND:

Recognizing the need to identify and nurture young scientific talent who could be enrolled for Ph.d. programmes across India’s scientific institutions. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) started in 1983 a research fellowship scheme as a national responsibility. This was a unique step to fulfil India’s growing ambition to become a scientific & technological power house. In 1989, NET was recognized by UGC as pre-qualification for Lectureship and was renamed as CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test for Junior Research Fellowship and Eligibility for Lectureship. Since 1990, NET is being conducted twice a year in the month of June and December.

NET exam is held across the country in 25 cities and at 125 exam centers in five subject areas viz. Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematical Sciences. Selection is made through two paper system. Currently more than 1,50,000 students have been writing the NET exam each year. The CSIR-NET has established an enormous credibility in the country and it has become a bench mark for selecting candidates for pursing Ph.D. programme, appointment either as a lecturer or a project research fellow or for employment in various R&D organization all across the country.

In the recent times serious concern has been expressed by educationalist, scientists, policy markers etc. over declining interest of students to take up careers in basic sciences. There has been an emphasis on enlarging the pool of scientific manpower to contribute towards S&T development in the country which is the reliable benchmark to become a developed nation. In order to achieve this goal focused efforts are required to be made to identify and nurture bright young students who can take up scientific research as a career. The present programme is one such focussed effort in this direction.

Source: Press Information Bureau
Date: 21 January, 2010