VAIBHAV Fellowship

• 27 Jan 2024

For Prelims: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik scheme, Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (Vajra) scheme, Non-Resident Indians (NRI)

For Mains: Indian Diaspora Significance in India’s technological advancements.

Source:TH

Why in News?

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled the first cohort of fellows under the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) scheme, a strategic initiative aimed at fostering short-term collaborations with Indian-origin scientists based abroad.

• Vaibhav scheme finds similarities with the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (Vajra) scheme initiated in 2018.

What is VAIBHAV Scheme?

• About:
  • The Government has launched VAIBHAV fellowships programme in 2023 to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) diaspora with Indian academic and R&D institutions for collaborative research work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and best practices in the frontier areas of science & technology.
  • The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months there in a year for a maximum of 3 years.
    • The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and help initiate research activities in the host institution in the cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.
• Incentives Offered:
  • Fellowship would include fellowship grant (INR 4,00,000 per month), international and domestic travel, accommodation and contingencies.
  • Host institutions receive research grants to support the collaboration.
• Significance of Vaibhav Scheme:
  • Strengthens global collaboration in scientific research.
  • Fosters knowledge exchange and expertise infusion in Indian academic and research institutions.
• Implementation:
  • The VAIBHAV fellowships programme to be implemented by the DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, would be awarded to outstanding scientist/technologists of Indian origin [Non-resident Indians (NRI) / Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)] who are engaged in research activities in their respective countries.

What is the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme?

• About:
  • VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme is a dedicated program exclusively for overseas scientists and academicians with emphasis on NRI and PIO/OCI to work as adjunct / visiting faculty for a specific period of time in Indian Public funded academic and research institutions.
    • The Scheme recognizes the value of collaborative research as a crucial element for information sharing among researchers for updating and acquiring knowledge and skills, and also to draw different perspectives to solve a shared problem.
  • The area of research undertaken by the Faculty should be of interest to India including translation of science to practice.
    • Faculty can also teach/mentor during the period of stay.
    • The Faculty will work for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months a year in an institution in India.
      • The Indian host institution may engage him/her for a longer duration even after the completion of the assignment.
      • The part-time position for faculty will be initially offered for 1 year and can be renewed every year.
• Incentives Offered:
  • The VAJRA Faculty will be provided an amount of USD 15000 in the first month of engagement in a year and USD 10000 per month in the other two months to cover their travel and honorarium.
    • While no separate support is provided for e.g. accommodation, medical/personal insurance etc., the host institute may consider providing additional support.
    • The payment to the faculty will be made in Indian Rupees.
• Implementation:
  • VAJRA Faculty Scheme is implemented by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
    • The SERB is a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology. It was established in 2008 through an Act of Parliament (Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008).
    • The SERB's objectives include promoting basic research in science and engineering, and providing financial assistance to researchers, academic institutions, and other agencies.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Mains:

Q. 'The Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries’. Comment with examples. (2020)