Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme

What is the VAJRA Faculty Scheme?

The Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme is a programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, implemented through the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). VAJRA was announced by the Prime Minister at the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bangalore in January 2017 to draw overseas scientific talent into Indian research.

VAJRA enables overseas scientists, faculty and R&D professionals, with emphasis on Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) — to work as adjunct or visiting faculty for a short, defined period each year in Indian public-funded academic and research institutions. The goal is collaborative, joint research that strengthens India's domestic science base and builds lasting international linkages.

According to the DST, VAJRA is distinct from a scholarship or a student programme. It is a mobility and collaboration scheme aimed at established researchers, so the direct beneficiary is the overseas faculty member and the Indian host institution, not an individual Indian student applicant.

Who is eligible for the VAJRA Faculty Scheme?

You can apply if you are:

• An overseas scientist, faculty member or R&D professional, including an NRI, PIO or OCI.
• An active researcher currently working at an overseas academic, research or industrial organisation.
• Able to show a proven track record of research and development.
• Able to secure an Indian public-funded academic or research institution as your host, which co-signs the application.

You cannot apply if:

• You are a resident Indian faculty member or scientist based in India, VAJRA is exclusively for overseas-based researchers.
• You are a student. VAJRA is not a fellowship for undergraduate, postgraduate or doctoral study, and students are not eligible to apply.
• You do not have an active research position abroad or a confirmed Indian host.

Indian students and India-based early-career researchers benefit indirectly: they gain access to the visiting faculty's expertise, joint publications and mentoring, but they do not receive a personal cash benefit under VAJRA.

What does the VAJRA Faculty Scheme provide?

According to the DST and SERB, a selected VAJRA Faculty receives:

• US $15,000 as a lump sum in the first month of engagement in a year.
• US $10,000 per month for each of the other two months of engagement.
• Payments are disbursed in Indian rupees and are meant to cover travel and honorarium.

A full three-month engagement therefore provides up to US $35,000 for the year. The host institution may additionally support accommodation and insurance.

The Indian host institution is supported too. The DST provides a research contingency grant of Rs 5 lakh per year per VAJRA Faculty to meet research expenses, and Rs 1 lakh per year for the VAJRA Faculty to deliver lectures and seminars in their area of expertise at the host.

How long is the VAJRA engagement?

A VAJRA Faculty works for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months in a year at the Indian host institution. The adjunct position is offered initially for a period of one year and can be renewed every year, subject to satisfactory progress on the joint research.

What documents are required for VAJRA?

How to apply for the VAJRA Faculty Scheme

1. Identify an Indian public-funded academic or research institution willing to host you, and agree a joint research theme with a faculty member there.
2. Register and log in on the SERB online portal (serbonline.in) and open the VAJRA application form.
3. Complete the application with your academic profile, overseas position details and the joint research proposal prepared with your host.
4. Have the Indian host institution co-sign / endorse the application through its login on the portal.
5. Submit the application online and track its status through the portal. SERB evaluates proposals and communicates the outcome to both the applicant and the host institution.

Because VAJRA is a joint scheme, both the overseas applicant and the Indian host must complete their respective parts online. Prospective applicants should check the DST VAJRA page and the SERB portal for the current call window, as VAJRA operates through periodic invitations rather than a permanently open form.

Help and where to verify

VAJRA does not publish a dedicated public helpline number. The authoritative sources are the DST VAJRA page (dst.gov.in/vajra) and the SERB VAJRA portal (prism.serbonline.in/RS-VAJRA), which carry the current guidelines, funding terms and application call. Indian missions abroad also circulate VAJRA brochures for prospective overseas applicants. Applicants should confirm the latest funding figures and eligibility on these official pages before applying, as the scheme's terms are reviewed periodically by the DST.