The Bihar government is preparing to launch the Chief Minister Doctoral Fellowship Scheme, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening research and innovation in the state’s higher education institutions. The scheme will cover all 17 state universities and four research institutes, with around 650 research scholars expected to receive financial assistance every year. The proposal, approved in principle during a meeting between Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on 26th June, will soon be placed before the authorised committee headed by Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh before being sent to the Cabinet for final approval.
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15,000 Monthly Support for PhD Scholars
Under the proposed scheme, eligible PhD scholars who have qualified NET and secured admission through recognised bodies such as UGC, CSIR-UGC or ICAR will receive a fellowship of Rs. 15,000 per month for three years. A second category of scholars who have qualified only the PhD entrance level NET and enrolled in doctoral programmes will receive Rs. 8,000 per month. The government has proposed an annual allocation of Rs. 11.70 crore, with scope for increasing the budget in future.
“The proposed Chief Minister’s Doctoral Fellowship Scheme aims to encourage and support talented young researchers with an interest in research. Through this scheme, young scholars will be connected with the state government, policymaking, and the monitoring of development programmes. It will provide researchers with a better environment for research along with financial assistance. The scheme also seeks to promote a strong culture of research and innovation in higher educational institutions. At the same time, it aims to utilize the knowledge and energy of research scholars to improve government schemes and strengthen good governance.”
Deepak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor
Research Across Multiple Disciplines
The fellowship programme will support research in a wide range of subjects, including science (200 scholars), agriculture (30), veterinary science (30), social sciences (225), humanities and linguistics (125), and commerce, education, law and other disciplines (100). The state government has also proposed involving academic experts from leading institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIMs, Delhi School of Economics and other premier central institutions to align research quality with national and international standards.
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Transparent Selection and Continuous Monitoring
The Bihar State Higher Education Council will conduct the selection process through online applications, followed by shortlisting by a committee of academicians and research supervisors. The maximum age for applicants has been fixed at 31 years, with a five-year relaxation for women, persons with disabilities and candidates from reserved categories. A steering committee headed by the Development Commissioner will approve fellowship awards, while a Research Progress Monitoring Committee will regularly review scholars’ work to ensure accountability and maintain research quality across participating institutions.
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