The Shyama Prasad Mukharjee fellowship (SPM fellowship) is given to young researchers in India
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In honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, CSIR’s first Vice-President in independent India, who was a renowned scientist and social reformer, a special grant program known as the “Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (SPM) Fellowship” is awarded to CSIR-UGC JRF (NET) toppers.
The objective of the SPM Fellowship
The purpose of the SPM Fellowship is to support scientific research and nurture young scientific talents.
Scope of SPM Fellowship:
Granting Ph.D fellowship in CSIR Labs/ other specialized R & D institutions / universities.
SPM Fellowship Amount
During the first two years of the fellowship, a monthly stipend of Rs.36,000+HRA is provided, and a contingency grant of Rs.70000 PA. From the third year onwards, the stipend amount may be increased to Rs.42,000+HRA per month based on an evaluation through an interview.
However, if performance is not satisfactory, the JRF (NET) position may be offered.
Duration of SPM Fellowship:
The SPM Fellowship program is initially for two years and may be extended for the next three years (5 years maximum in total), in accordance with the CSIR’s JRF (NET) program rules.
Contingency Grant
The CSIR Research Fellowships provides a contingency grant of Rs.70,000 to the parent institution of the Ph.D. student. Pro-rata contingent grants are also provided for fellows in less than one year.
The contingency grant is allocated to research work, textbooks, and other items. It is possible to utilize part of the contingency grant for research purposes, but there are restrictions on its usage.
The unspent contingency grant may be carried over to the following year, but the next release of the contingency grant will be determined by the unspent balance of the contingency grant from the previous year, thus restricting contingency spending to a maximum of Rs. 70,000. Requests for contingency grants from previous financial years will not be accepted.
CSIR fellows will be awarded an additional Rs. 3000 as a lump sum when they deliver their Ph.D. in e-form.
Selection process:
SPM Fellowships will be awarded through an interview.
Interview Call Criteria:
Up to 10 SPM Fellowships in Chemical Sciences and Life Sciences, and 5 each in Mathematical, Earth, Physical, and Engineering Sciences are awarded through an interview process.
The candidates are called category-wise for the interview. The reservation format is as follows:
OBC – 27%
SC – 15%
ST – 7.5%
PWD – 3%
Applicants are called for the interview in a ratio of 1:3 in each subject. For example, there are 10 SPM fellowships for Life sciences and chemical sciences, so, in these subjects, the top 30 candidates in respective csir net ranking will receive an interview call.
This is explained in the following table as well.
From a combined merit list, a total of 30 students receive interview calls for Life Science and Chemistry, out of which, 14 are from General, 8 OBC, 5 SC, 2 ST, and 1 PWD category.
| S.No. | Subject | Interview Call | General | OBC | SC | ST | PWD |
| 1 | Life Science | 30 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Chemistry | 30 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Physics | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Maths | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Engineering | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Earth | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Conclusion
Established in memory of the great educationist and scholar, Professor Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, this scholarship awards the top performers in the CSIR-UGC National Test.
In this article, we have discussed the scope, eligibility criteria, selection process, and category-wise seats reserved for the fellowships. The Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Scholarship is a great opportunity for CSIR UGC NET toppers to continue their studies and research in India.
The scholarship provides full financial support for the Ph.D. research for a maximum of 5 years. It is a program that supports young researchers in their pursuit of advanced studies.
Frequently asked questions:
Who is eligible for the SPM scholarship?
The SPM Fellowship is given to Indian nationals who have topped the CSIR UGC NET examination. This is given subject-wise.
What are the benefits of the scholarship?
SPM fellowship is financial assistance of Rs.36,000+HRA given to Indian students for pursuing full-time Ph.D. in CSIR labs or in Universities. Apart from it, students will be given a contingency grant of Rs.70000 PA.
What is the purpose of the SPM contingency grant?
The purpose of contingency grant is to give expenses for research work, textbooks, and other expenditures on research. Students can purchase stationery items, chemicals, equipment, Xerox copies, or similar miscellaneous expenses.
What is the Duration of the SPM Fellowship:
The SPM Fellowship program is initially for two years and may be extended for the next three years (5 years maximum in total), in accordance with the CSIR’s JRF (NET) program rules.
What are the criteria of award of the SPM fellowship?
It is awarded category-wise to toppers of the CSIR-NET Exam. Each category is given a specific no. of fellowships. The candidates are called category-wise for the interview. The reservation format is; OBC – 27%, SC – 15%, ST – 7.5%, PWD – 3%.
For further details, you can visit the official website of CSIR-UGC-NET.
