Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme

What is the Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme?

The Swarnajayanti Fellowships Scheme is a programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, instituted to commemorate India's fiftieth year of Independence ("Swarna Jayanti"). It provides special assistance and support to a small number of outstanding young scientists with a proven track record so they can pursue basic research in frontier areas of science and technology.

According to the DST, the fellowship is highly selective. It is intended to free promising young researchers from routine constraints and give them the resources to attempt bold, original work, with close academic monitoring of progress. The scheme is administered by the DST, with research grants processed through the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) framework.

This is a niche, merit-based fellowship, not a broad student scholarship. Only a handful of fellows are selected each year across all disciplines.

Who is eligible for the Swarnajayanti Fellowship?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian national.
• You are between 30 and 40 years of age as on the eligibility date given in the annual call.
• You hold a PhD in Science, Engineering or Medicine.
• You have a regular position in a recognised Indian academic or research organisation.
• You have a proven research track record and an innovative research idea.

You cannot apply if:

• You do not hold a regular position; research scholars, project staff and postdocs without a regular appointment are not eligible.
• You are outside the 30-40 age band on the eligibility date.
• You are already drawing a fellowship from another Government of India scheme, which the guidelines exclude.

What does the Swarnajayanti Fellowship provide?

According to the DST, a selected Swarnajayanti Fellow receives:

• A fellowship of Rs 25,000 per month for five years, paid in addition to the salary drawn from the parent institution.
• A research grant covering the project's needs: equipment, computational facilities, consumables, contingencies, and national and international travel — and any other special requirements, sanctioned on merit.

The combination of a personal fellowship and a flexible project grant is what distinguishes Swarnajayanti from ordinary project funding: it backs the scientist, not only the project.

How long does the fellowship last?

The fellowship is awarded for a period not exceeding five years. Support is subject to close academic monitoring, and continuation depends on satisfactory progress reviewed by the DST.

What documents are required for the Swarnajayanti Fellowship?

How to apply for the Swarnajayanti Fellowship

1. Watch the DST website for the annual Swarnajayanti Fellowships advertisement, which carries the eligibility date, format and submission route for that cycle.
2. Prepare a detailed research proposal in a frontier area of your discipline, clearly setting out the innovative idea and its potential impact on R&D.
3. Submit the application through the notified online / call route within the deadline, attaching your PhD proof, position proof, age proof and the declaration on other fellowships.
4. Face the selection process; proposals are screened by subject expert committees, and shortlisted candidates are assessed further, typically including an interview, before final selection.
5. On selection, accept the award and begin the project; submit periodic progress reports as the DST monitors the fellowship over its five-year term.

Help and where to verify

The authoritative source is the DST Swarnajayanti Fellowships page on dst.gov.in, which publishes the current guidelines and each year's advertisement. The DST Swarnajayanti programme office can be reached at 011-26512217. Because the age band, amounts and submission route are set in the annual call, applicants should confirm the exact figures and eligibility date in the current advertisement before applying, and rely only on the DST website and official PIB releases for scheme details.