BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES ANNIE BESANT FELLOWSHIP FOR ITS TOP-NOTCH STUDENTS

By India Education Diary Bureau Admin On Aug 2, 2022

Varanasi: Banaras Hindu University has launched a new scheme, Annie Besant Fellowship to encourage its top notch students to join PhD programs in BHU, right after completing their Post Graduation degree. The scheme has been launched under the Institution of Eminence – BHU, program. The scheme will enable students who have excelled in their academics at BHU, join the PhD programme directly after post graduation without losing any time in transition from PG to Ph.D. Such students will also be able to complete their PhD work faster than the other students. Final year students of postgraduate programs will be eligible to apply for the fellowship. They should be in the top five percentile with a minimum 8.5 CGPA. The offer to this fellowship will be conditional to the student securing minimum specified rank and CGPA in final passing examinations.

Those joining the fellowship will be expected to complete their PhD thesis within four years of joining the program. The selected candidates will be provided JRF with contingency similar to that of CSIR/UGC during their Ph.D programme.

If the student qualifies for JRF/NET (UGC, CSIR, INSPIRE, etc.), within one year the University will provide Rs. 5000/- per month as cash incentive.
If the student has not qualified JRF/NET (UGC, CSIR, INSPIRE, etc.). University will provide fellowship at the same rate as prevailing for JRF in the first year. However, it is expected that the student will qualify for JRF within the year.
If the student does not qualify for JRF/NET (UGC, CSIR, INSPIRE, etc.), from second year onwards, the University will reduce the fellowship to 50% of the JRF rate.
In case a student receives PMRF at any stage, the University will not provide top-up fellowship.

A four-member committee has been formed for implementation of the scheme. Prof. Rakesh Raman, Department of Economics, is the convener of the committee. Prof. Rakesh Pandey, Dept. of Psychology, Prof. Sangeeta Pandit, Dept. of Vocal Music, and Prof. Ajay Kumar, Dept. of Physics, are the members of the committee.

The Application process for the fellowship is underway. 5th August is the last date of receiving applications. The university plans to award Annie Besant Fellowship for the current session by mid of September.