VAIshwik BHArtiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship

What is the VAIBHAV Fellowship?

VAIshwik BHArtiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship is a programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, that connects the global Indian scientific diaspora with research institutions in India. It emerged from the VAIBHAV Summit, a large gathering of overseas Indian-origin scientists and academics, and is designed to channel that talent into concrete, time-bound collaborations on Indian soil.

According to DST, a VAIBHAV fellow is an outstanding researcher of Indian origin based abroad who agrees to work with an Indian host institution, an IIT, IISc, a central or state university, or a publicly funded scientific institute, for a short annual residency. The idea is to let Indian laboratories tap the expertise of the diaspora without asking those scientists to give up their positions overseas.

Main features

• The fellowship targets NRI, OCI and PIO scientists actively doing research abroad.
• Each fellow spends up to two months a year in India for a maximum of three years.
• The grant is about Rs 4,00,000 per month of stay, plus travel, accommodation and contingency support.
• Funds are released to the Indian host institution, which manages the fellow's payments and logistics.

Who is eligible for the VAIBHAV Fellowship?

You can apply if:

• You are a scientist or academic of Indian origin; NRI, OCI or PIO.
• You are currently engaged in research at a recognised institution outside India.
• You have an established record of research output; publications, patents or equivalent standing in your field.
• You have identified, and secured the willingness of, an Indian host institution to collaborate with you.

You cannot apply if:

• You are a resident Indian scientist working in India — the fellowship is only for the overseas diaspora. Resident researchers participate as part of the host institution, not as fellows.
• You have no active research affiliation abroad.
• You cannot secure a willing publicly funded Indian host institution for the proposed work.

Selection is competitive. In the first cycle DST reported that a few hundred applications yielded a small cohort of fellows and a handful of Distinguished VAIBHAV Fellows, so meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee an award.

What documents are required for the VAIBHAV Fellowship?

How to apply for the VAIBHAV Fellowship

1. Identify a research theme and an Indian host institution. An IIT, IISc, university or publicly funded scientific institute, and discuss a joint work plan with a prospective host scientist there.
2. Go to the DST portal (dst.gov.in) and open the VAIBHAV Fellowship call, then register on the online application system (e-PMS) that DST uses for the scheme.
3. Fill in your personal, academic and diaspora-status details, and upload your CV, proof of Indian origin and passport.
4. Attach the research proposal and the host institution's consent letter, then submit the application online before the call deadline.
5. Wait for expert evaluation. Shortlisted proposals are assessed by DST's review committees, and selected fellows are notified, after which the grant is sanctioned to the host institution.

DST has asked applicants to use the online portal and to avoid physical or email submissions, so that all proposals are handled through a single transparent channel.

How much does the VAIBHAV Fellowship provide?

The fellowship provides a grant of about Rs 4,00,000 per month for the period the fellow is physically present at the Indian host institute, together with support for international and domestic travel, accommodation and contingencies. Because a fellow spends up to two months a year for up to three years, the total support depends on how many months of residency are actually undertaken.

Crucially, the money is not paid to the fellow abroad. The grant is released to the Indian host institution, which then arranges the fellow's stipend, travel and other support. This keeps the fellowship anchored to a real, institution-backed collaboration rather than an individual honorarium.

Help and where to verify

• Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi: board line 011-26567373.
• The VAIBHAV Fellowship call, guidelines and application link are published on dst.gov.in when a cohort is open.

Because VAIBHAV runs in periodic cohorts, the exact grant figures, number of fellowships and closing dates are set afresh in each call notice. Always confirm the current numbers on the DST call document before applying, and treat the per-month figure above as the published indicative rate rather than a guaranteed entitlement.