The JC Bose fellowship is awarded to active scientists in recognition for their outstanding performance. The fellowship is scientist-specific and very selective.
All Areas of Science (in the broadest terms) will be covered by the fellowship.
Selection of JC Bose Fellows will be made periodically (normally twice a year) by a Search-cum-Selection Committee specially constituted for the purpose, as per the broad guidelines of the fellowship scheme.
Q1: For whom the J.C. Bose Fellowship is meant for?
A1: The J.C. Bose Fellowship is meant to recognize active scientists for their outstanding performance. The fellowship is scientist-specific and very selective.
Q2: What are the eligibility criteria for applying/availing J.C. Bose Fellowship?
A2: Should be an active scientist with a record of outstanding performance apparent from the award of SS Bhatnagar prize and or fellowship of science academies (including engineering, agriculture and medicine). The scientist should be in service at the time of nomination to this fellowship. The nominee should be an Indian national working in institutions in India. The nominee is not availing any other fellowship including personal fellowship amount and research grant (part of the fellowship) from any Government sources.
However, any financial award conferred on the recipient by way of one-time payment or of recurring nature purely in recognition of his/her past accomplishments and without any explicit obligation in future will not violate his/her eligibility for the J C Bose Fellowship. Similarly, he / she will be free to receive any other regular research grant(s) available from various sources in project mode.
Q3: What are the areas covered under J.C. Bose Fellowship?
A3: All Areas of Science (in the broadest terms) are covered by this Fellowship.
Q4: What is the nature of support for the J.C. Bose Fellow?
A4: The J.C. Bose Fellow will receive personnel Fellowship of Rs.25,000/- per month and a Research Grant of Rs.15.00 Lakh per annum. Rs.1.00 Lakh is provided as Overheads for the host institute.
Q5: What is the upper age limit up to which the J C Bose fellowship can be availed?
A5: 68 years.
Q6: Can the JC Bose fellow continue the fellowship after superannuation?
A6: The JC Bose fellowship can be continued after superannuation provided a host institution is willing to accept the fellowship and provide all necessary infrastructure and administrative support.
Q7: When can a person apply for the J.C. Bose Fellowship? What is the last date of acceptance of the application?
A7: The nominations for the J.C. Bose Fellowship are accepted throughout the year through online only(www.serbonline.in) and there is no last date of acceptance of the nomination.
Q8: Who can nominate for J C Bose Fellows?
A8: Heads of Institutions, JC Bose fellows, Presidents of Science Academies can send the nominations.
Q9: What is the duration of the J.C. Bose Fellowship?
A9: The J.C. Bose Fellowship duration is 5 years.
Q10: How/When can the individual start her/his J.C. Bose Fellowship?
A10: A letter is sent by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) to the Individual as well as to the host Institute informing the award of J.C. Bose Fellowship. On receipt of this offer letter, the Individual has to send acceptance letter indicating the month when she/he wants to start the Fellowship, and then the Institute will forward the Undertaking certificate from the host institution(available in the website) and acceptance letter to SERB. Based on this letter, the Board will process for necessary approvals and a Sanction Order will be issued to the host institute (and a copy to the J.C. Bose Fellow). When the grant money is received at the host institute, the J.C. Bose Fellow can start her/ his Fellowship.
Q11: How does a J.C. Bose Fellow get her/his subsequent Grant?
A11: The Grant for the subsequent years is released after receiving the two hard copies of Statement of Expenditure (SE) and Utilization Certificate (UC)in the prescribed format (available in the website). The SE and UC are to be submitted financial year wise i.e. from 01stApril to 31stMarch. For the first year it would be from the Date of Start (DOS) to 31stMarch and subsequently from 01stApril to 31stMarch.
Q12: Is the personal fellowship received in J.C. Bose Fellowship scheme taxable?
A12: Yes, it is taxable.
Q13: Can a fellow change the host institute during implementation of J.C. Bose Fellowship?
A13: A J C Bose fellow can change the host institute during implementation of J.C. Bose Fellowship. She/He has to forward NOCs from both the Institutes along with final financial papers indicating balance unspent grant from the old institute, undertaking certificate and appointment letter from the new Institute indicating the joining date and duration of the appointment.
Q14: What are the guidelines for the fellows availing of the JC Bose fellowship along with any other fellowship?
A14: JC Bose fellows can avail only one fellowship including personal fellowship amount and research grant (part of the fellowship) only from one Government source. However, they are not allowed to avail any other fellowship of a similar kind from any Government source. Any misinformation in this regard may lead to full recovery of J C Bose fellowship with penal interest from the fellow.
Q15: Is there a provision for extension of the fellowship?
A15: (a) The fellowship can be renewed for a period of 5 years after rigorous assessment of research performance of the fellow during the tenure of the fellowship. The fellows will be required to submit a document highlighting the research work done during the previous 5 years, with complete list of publications/patents, and manpower trained during the tenure of the fellowship in the prescribed format (available at the website). The criteria for renewal will be based on research performance. Any other accomplishment such as occupying leadership position will not be counted as factors.
(b) Minimum exit of 25% of the fellows will be enforced while giving the extension of the fellowship.
Q16: Is there a flexibility to utilize the research grant available from the J C Bose fellowship?
A16: There is complete flexibility in using the research grant of Rs. 15.00 lakh. Funds under this "Research Grant" head (Rs. 15.0 Lakh) can be utilized for hiring of manpower, consumables, national travel for self, students, other research staff, visiting scientists and international travel and per diem per year for self for research purposes, chemicals, equipment items, other unforeseen contingencies, repair of equipments, books and journals, etc. and any other research and academic activity, subject to the ceiling of sanctioned Research Grant budget head.
