Women's Instinct for Developing and Ushering in Scientific Heights & Innovation (WIDUSHI)

What is WIDUSHI?

Women's Instinct for Developing and Ushering in Scientific Heights & Innovation (WIDUSHI) is a programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, run through the WISE-KIRAN Division. According to DST, WIDUSHI supports senior women scientists, those who are retiring, have retired from government service, or are active researchers not holding a permanent position, so that their knowledge and experience continue to benefit science and society.

WIDUSHI provides a monthly fellowship of Rs 75,000 for Category A and Rs 85,000 for Category B, along with a research grant of Rs 5 lakh per year, one research assistant, and institutional overhead of Rs 1 lakh per annum. The support is extended for a project period of up to five years. The programme is part of DST's larger WISE-KIRAN (Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN) umbrella, which addresses the under-representation of women in Indian science.

The distinctive feature of WIDUSHI is its focus on the later stage of a woman scientist's career. Many accomplished women researchers lose institutional support at retirement or never secure a permanent post despite an active research life. WIDUSHI gives them a fellowship, a grant and a research assistant to lead an independent project in interdisciplinary areas of science and technology.

Key features

• Monthly fellowship of Rs 75,000 (Category A) or Rs 85,000 (Category B).
• Research grant of Rs 5 lakh per year and Rs 1 lakh annual overhead.
• Support for one research assistant.
• Project duration of up to five years.
• Delivered through a host institution with a permanent-faculty Co-Investigator.

Who is eligible for WIDUSHI?

You can apply if:

• You are a woman scientist up to 62 years of age.
• You hold a Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Sciences or an equivalent degree.
• You have completed at least two R&D projects as Principal Investigator with an excellent track record.
• You are retiring, retired, or an active researcher not in a permanent position.
• You can secure a host institution and a Co-Investigator who is a permanent faculty member at that institution.

Category A applies to women scientists retiring or retired from government service. Category B applies to senior women scientists who are not in regular employment but are active, continuously excelling researchers.

You cannot apply if:

• You are over 62 years of age.
• You do not hold a Ph.D. in an eligible science discipline or an equivalent degree.
• You lack the required record of at least two R&D projects as Principal Investigator.
• You are a man or an early-career researcher — WIDUSHI is exclusively for senior women scientists, and other WISE-KIRAN schemes serve younger women.
• You cannot arrange a host institution and permanent-faculty Co-Investigator.

What documents are required for WIDUSHI?

How to apply for WIDUSHI

1. Prepare your research proposal in the WISE-KIRAN prescribed format, available on dst.gov.in and onlinedst.gov.in, choosing an eligible discipline.
2. Arrange a host institution willing to hold the project and a Co-Investigator who is a permanent faculty member there.
3. Go to the DST e-PMS portal at onlinedst.gov.in and complete New PI Registration to create your Principal Investigator account.
4. Fill in the online application, upload your proposal, Ph.D. certificate, project track record, publications and host-institution endorsement, and submit. Proposal submission is open throughout the year.
5. Your proposal is screened and then presented before a Programme Advisory Committee; selected projects receive a sanction letter from DST.

Because WIDUSHI is a research-funding programme rather than a personal cash benefit, individuals cannot receive money without an approved project and a host institution. There is no shortcut or agent route: everything runs through the DST e-PMS portal.

How much benefit does WIDUSHI provide?

The fellowship is Rs 75,000 per month for Category A (retiring/retired from government service) and Rs 85,000 per month for Category B (active researchers not in regular employment). On top of the fellowship, each project receives a research grant of Rs 5 lakh per year for consumables, travel and contingency, one research assistant, and Rs 1 lakh per annum as institutional overhead. The support is sanctioned for a project period of up to five years.

Funds are released to the host institution, which administers the fellowship and grant. The Principal Investigator is expected to produce research outputs and acknowledge DST support, in line with the WISE-KIRAN Division's terms.

Help and where to check details

WIDUSHI's amounts, categories and eligibility are set by the DST WISE-KIRAN Division and published in the official advertisement on dst.gov.in. For queries, the WISE-KIRAN Division can be reached at enquiry-wosdst@gov.in during office hours. Always confirm the current proposal format and terms on the official DST and e-PMS portals before applying, as details are revised from cycle to cycle.