Ramanujan Fellowship

Q1: Is the grants received under Ramanujan Fellowship taxable?

A1: Yes, the Grant received under Ramanujan Fellowship is taxable as per I.T. rules.

Q2: To whom the Ramanujan Fellowship is meant for or what is the aim of initiating the Ramanujan Fellowship?

A2: The Ramanujan Fellowship is meant for brilliant Indian scientists and engineers from all over the world to take up scientific positions in India and for those Indian scientists who want to return to India from abroad. The Fellowship is scientist-specific and very selective.

Q3: How can a person apply for the Ramanujan Fellowship?

A3: An eligible candidate can fill the Ramanujan Fellowship application in the prescribed format and then approach an Institute to host the Ramanujan Fellowship. Five hard copies of the nomination should be forwarded by the Head of the Institute in the prescribed format available at SERB website.

Q4: What are the areas covered under Ramanujan Fellowship?

A4: All Areas of Science (in the broadest terms) are covered by this Fellowship.

Q5: Which are the institutes and universities where the Ramanujan Fellow can work?

A5: The Ramanujan Fellows can work in any of the scientific institutions and universities in the country other than the institute where he/she has obtained his/her doctorate degree.

Q6: Is Ramanujan fellow eligible to apply for Core Research grant proposal?

A6: Yes, Ramanujan fellows are eligible to apply for Core Research grant proposal.

Q7: What are the eligibility criteria for applying for Ramanujan Fellowship?

A7: Following are the eligibility criteria for applying Ramanujan Fellowship:

1. The fellowship is open to brilliant Indian scientists and engineers from all over the world who are below the age of 45 years, who wants to return to India from abroad.
2. The applicant should possess a higher degree or equivalent, such as Ph.D. in Science/Engineering, Masters in Engineering or Technology/MD in Medicine, etc. and have adequate professional experience.
3. These Fellowships are very selective and only those who have a proven/outstanding track-record as evident from their research publications and recognitions would be eligible.
4. In case a fellow is offered permanent position, he/she can only avail either fellowship or salary at a given time.
5. This fellowship is meant for working in new areas and laboratories in order to expand their research capabilities, other than the one, where the candidate has obtained his/her doctorate degree.
6. Nominations from the Ph.D guides of the candidate and nominations from the same institute where they opted their Ph.D, will not be considered.

Q8: What is the duration of the Ramanujan Fellowship?

A8: The Ramanujan Fellowship duration is for 5 years only.

Q9: How/When can the individual start his Ramanujan Fellowship?

A9: 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 Ramanujan Fellowship. After this the Individual has to join the fellowship within six months of the date of approval letter and to send his / her Acceptance Letter to the Host Institute, indicating the tentative Month when he wants to start the Fellowship, and then the Institute will forward his Acceptance Letter to Science & Engineering Research Board along with the details of the bank for transfer of fund through RTGS(in the prescribed format). Based on this letter SERB will process the case for getting administrative and financial approvals and then a Sanction Order is issued to the Host Institute (marking a copy to the Ramanujan Fellow) and a copy to the Drawing and Disbursing Officer, SERB for disbursing the grant under Ramanujan Fellowship. When the grant money is received by the Host Institute, the Ramanujan Fellow can start his/ her Fellowship.

Q10: What is the nature of support the Ramanujan Fellow is entitled for?

A10: For Fellows who will be availing the Ramanujan fellowship after 31.12.2018, the revised funding pattern of Ramanujan fellows is as follows:

1. Ramanujan Fellow is entitled for a Fellowship of Rs.1,35,000/- consolidated per month(including HRA component)
2. The fellowship will carry a research grant of Rs.7.00 Lakh per annum. and overhead charges of Rs.60,000/- to the host institute until the fellow is not having any position in India.

The above-said fellowship components (i) & (ii) will be payable to only those awardees till such time they do not hold any position viz. permanent, tenure track or contractual position. In case the selected fellow gets any position such as permanent, tenure track or contractual position, after issue of these modified guidelines he/she, will become in-eligible for receiving grant under the fellowship and has to relinquish the Ramanujan fellowship in total as indicated above (i) & (ii).

For fellows who have already started availing this fellowship on or before 31.12.2018,(viz. sanction order of SERB issued on or before 31.12.2018) such fellows on acquiring a job(permanent, tenure track or contractual position) will be allowed to draw the research grant and overhead charges as indicated at (ii) above. Only the fellowship component will be discontinued as indicated by (i) above.

Q11: What is the emoluments under Ramanujan Fellowship for HRA?

A11: SERB gives only consolidated fellowship of Rs.1,35,000/- p.m (including HRA component) per month. If the host institute is providing free accommodation, no House Rent Allowance (HRA) is admissible and same need to be refunded to SERB. If the host institute is deducting HRA and license fee for the accommodation provided, then the same may be recovered from the HRA being paid to the fellow. However, reimbursement shall be limited to the HRA being paid by SERB. Excess recovery, if any, has to be made by the host institute directly from the fellow.

Q12: Can a person avail grants under Ramanujan Fellowship and Salary from the Institute at the same time?

A12: No, A person can opt either to avail his/ her salary from the Institute or Fellowship amount under Ramanujan Fellowship and it is applicable to the fellows those who have started the fellowship on or before 31.12.2018(after the issuance of the sanction order on or before 31.12.2018 as per terms and conditions of latest O.M. dated 01-01-2019). Fellows who get a permanent position after 31.12.2018 (issuance of sanction order happened after 31.12.2018), will relinquish the Ramanujan fellowship in total in case they get salary from institute on getting permanent, tenure track or on contractual basis.

Q13: Can a fellow change the host institute after getting Ramanujan Fellowship?

1. Yes, in case the Ramanujan fellow who is availing fellowship (first sanction order issued on or before 31.12.2018), such fellows on acquiring a job at other institute, will be allowed to draw the research grant and overhead charges, and then the fellow can request for approval for change of host institute at a new institute within one month of shifting to new institute or at the earliest possible by submitting NOCs from both institution and appointment letter with detailed terms of references/conditions and the F.Y papers till the last date of working at the institute.
2. However, if a Ramanujan Fellow who is availing the fellowship (first sanction order issued after 31.12.2018), gets a permanent, tenure track or contractual position at other institute, then he/she will become in-eligible to receive the Ramanujan grant in total (as per the terms and conditions in the latest O.M. dated 01-01-2019) subject to final settlement and closure of the fellowship which is the mandatory requirement of this fellowship.
3. For case-to-case basis, it may be entertained.

Q14: How many times a person can avail International Travel per year in the Ramanujan Fellowship?

A14: A person can avail one International Travel per year under Ramanujan Fellowship.

Q15: How does a Ramanujan Fellow get his subsequent Grant?

A15: The Grant for the subsequent year are released only after receiving the ink signed hard copies of Statement of Expenditure (SE) and Utilization Certificate (UC) in the prescribed format (available in the website) forwarded with covering letter. The SE and UC are financial year wise i.e. from 01st April to 31st March. For the first year it would be from the Date of Start (DOS) to 31st March and subsequently from 01st April to 31st March. In addition, satisfactory review report of the work of Ramanujan Fellow is required to be done by the Committee Chaired by the Head of the Institute.

Q16: What payments can be made to the project staffs employed for Ramanujan fellow under Research grant?

A16: The project staff can be paid as per the SERB order issued time to time. Latest orders are available at SERB website.

Q17: Can an Indian scientist/engineer working in India under a permanent/temporary position be nominated by the institute for Ramanujan Fellowship?

A17: No, Ramanujan Fellowship is meant for reverse brain drain i.e. inviting brilliant Indian scientists and engineers who want to return to India from abroad to take up scientific positions in India.

Q18: What is the time duration for selected candidates to join the host institute as a Ramanujan fellow?

A18: The selected candidates must join their host institute within 6 months from the issue of the Ramanujan Fellowship Award letter, else the award will be cancelled automatically.

Q19: Can an Institute nominate an employ having temporary employment in India?

A19: No, Institute can nominate Indian scientist for Ramanujan Fellowship only from outside India, having no position or employment in India.

Q20: Ramanujan Fellow has not received grant for subsequent years?

A20: Grant for subsequent year would be released based on the scientific review of the work done, submission of SE & UC and annual progress report.

Q21: From where a candidate can get himself nominated from?

1. Awardees can choose to work at any S&T institution including University/ department or other academic institutions and national R&D laboratories in India other than the institute where he/she obtained his/her doctorate degree, provided the institution where they wish to pursue research is willing to provide the necessary R&D, administrative and basic infrastructural support to facilitate research.
2. The nomination has to be duly forwarded by the host Institution.
3. Selection will be made by Selection Committee specially appointed for the purpose.

Q22: What is the role of SERB in supporting Ramanujan Fellows?

1. SERB would release fellowship grant of Rs.1,35,000/- per month(including HRA component) per month and Research grant of Rs.7,00,000/- p.a and overheads of Rs.60,000/- p.a. financial year wise, limited only to 60 months from the date of commencement.
2. Grant for subsequent years would be released based on the scientific review of the work done, submission of SE & UC and annual progress report.
3. During the tenure of the fellowship the awardee is not entitled to any kind of salary. However, he/she can apply for research grant to various funding agencies through their host institute. The information on the details of projects applied/sanctioned by the agencies may be made available to SERB from time-to-time.
4. SERB may be kept informed about IPR issues and technology/product/process developed/commercialized, if any, during the tenure of the fellowship.
5. SERB reserves the right to discontinue this fellowship at any stage and change the terms & conditions of the fellowship.