Department of Science and Technology's move comes after research scholars said previous emoluments were not enough
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 emoluments for junior research fellows has been increased to Rs 31,000 from Rs 25,000, that of senior research fellows increased to Rs 35,000 from Rs 28,000, 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 hike comes in the wake of demands from research scholars that the emoluments were not adequate to meet increasing living costs. The last hike was made on October 21, 2014.
The new emoluments will come into effect from January 1, 2019. Departments will be required to meet the additional expenditure on account of the hike from their existing budget through matching savings in other schemes. This may be reviewed at the time of Budget 2019-20, set to be presented on February 1, 2019.
The order also noted that the government has agreed to give incentives for research outputs like publications and patents with a view to enhance value, quality and experience in doctoral research.
An inter-ministerial empowered committee will evolve the modalities of implementation. It will periodically examine all fellowship matters, including disbursement and quantum of fellowship, it 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.
The senior research fellows should have two years of research experience besides the qualifications for junior research fellows, while research associates need to be a PhD/ MD/MS/MDS or equivalent degree or have three years of research, teaching, design and development experience after graduation with at least one research paper in science citation indexed journal. (India Science Wire)
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