Two Prestigious National Research Fellowships Instituted For Scientific Research

The Government has instituted two National Research Fellowships- Ramanujan Fellowship and J.C. Bose Fellowships to give a boost to scientific research in the country. Announcing this at a press conference here today, the Minister for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, Shri Kapil Sibal said that the Ramanujan Fellowships are meant to attract brilliant scientists and engineers from all over the world to take up scientific research positions in the country. There will be a bank of such Fellowships which will be operated by the Department of Science and Technology. The Fellowships are scientist-specific, very selective and will have close academic monitoring. The value of the Fellowship will be Rs.50,000/- per month. In addition, each Fellow will receive a contingency of Rs.5 lakhs per annum. The term of the Fellowship will be initially for five years and the Fellows could work in any of the institutions and universities in the country. For those, who continue as Fellows after a period of three years, the Fellowship value will be increased to Rs.60,000/- per month for the last two years. The Ramanujan Fellows would be eligible for regular research grants from various S&T agencies.

The availability of Ramanujan Fellowships will be advertised in order to receive nominations from institutions or applications of individuals through the host institutions. All areas of science (in the broadest terms) will be covered by this Fellowship scheme. Selections of Ramanujan Fellows will be made periodically by Search and Selection Committee specially appointed for the purpose.

The J.C. Bose National Fellowships are meant to recognize active, performing scientists and engineers in the country who are below the age of 60 years. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India will administer the Fellowship scheme. The Fellowships are scientist specific, very selective and will have close academic monitoring. The J.C. Bose Fellows will be provided a Fellowship of Rs.20,000/- per month in addition to their regular income. A small contingency of Rs.5 lakhs per annum will be provided towards conference participation and other expenses. The Fellowship will be for a term of five years initially. The availability of J.C. Bose Fellowships will be advertised to receive nominations. All areas of Science (in the broadcast terms) will be covered. Selection of Fellows will be made periodically by a Search and Selection Committee appointed for the purpose.

Shri Sibal also revealed that the phase-I clinical trial of two candidate Rota Viral Diarrhoea vaccines-116E and I321 specific to India have been completed in adults, children and infants. The trial studied the safety and immunogenecity of the two vaccines. The results revealed that the 116E based vaccine is safe and provides upto 70% protection with single dose in infants which may increase to complete protection with 2-3 doses. The two vaccines have been jointly developed under Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme by Dr. M.K. Bhan, Dr. Pratima Ray of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Dr. Nita Bhandari of Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi in collaboration with Dr. Roger I. Glass, Centre for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, USA and Dr. C. Durga Rao of Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore in collaboration with Dr. Harry Greenberg of Stanford University, USA respectively. For phase-II and III clinical trials M/s. Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad has produced proto-type vaccine under cGMP conditions to ensure that sufficient quantities are made available.

Source : Ministry of Science & Technology
Date : August 05, 2005