The “National Solar Science Fellowship Programme” of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy was launched in February 2011. The aim of the National Solar Science Fellowship Programme is to provide a platform to top-quality scientists and engineers in the area of solar energy research.
National Solar Science Fellowship Programme - Introduction
The National Solar Science Fellowship Programme of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy was launched in February 2011. The programme is intended for Indian scientists who wish to work at the forefront of solar energy science, engineering, and technology, focusing on research, development, and product innovation in collaboration with selected prestigious institutions in India. The aim of the programme is to provide a platform for top-quality scientists and engineers in solar energy research, enabling them to use and expand the resources available at identified schools and institutions in the country and abroad to address complex problems of solar energy utilization for various end-uses, including power generation.
Fellowship Management Committee: A Fellowship Management Committee will be constituted by the Ministry under the chairmanship of the Secretary, MNRE, with eminent scientists as members and a scientist-in-charge (HRD) as convener. The committee will decide the areas of research to be undertaken under the programme and recommend institutions to participate. Committee members will serve for a duration of three years.
Number of Fellowships: The total number of fellowships at any time will be limited to ten. However, only three fellows will be selected during the first year of the programme’s launch.
Duration of Fellowship: The fellowship will initially last two years and may be extended for an additional three years on a year-to-year basis, depending on the progress of the work done by the fellow.
Commencement of Programme: National Solar Science Fellows will form a community of researchers engaged in frontier areas of solar energy, driven by intellectual curiosity, top-quality scholarship, and a commitment to finding solutions for the application of solar energy and addressing the country’s energy-security challenges. Through this programme, they will benefit from all that the Government offers, and in turn, help the Government solve technological problems related to solar energy and its field applications, leading to a visible impact on the country’s energy sector.
Benefits
- Each selected Fellow will receive a total annual grant of up to ₹32.00 lakhs comprising (i) emolument of up to ₹12.00 lakhs (ii) contingencies of up to ₹5.00 lakhs and (iii) research grant of up to ₹15.00 lakhs. This will be pro-rated for the duration of the tenure of the particular Fellow.
- This grant will be released to the host institution for being granted to the Fellow.
- The Fellow may also raise additional resources from other sources such as the host institution, grant providers, grant-in-aid institutions, etc. for the purpose of carrying out his/her research.
Note 01: On selection, the Fellow will be attached to one of the selected schools/institutions in consultation with the Fellow as well as the host institution.
Note 02: Selected Fellows shall commit to work at the host institution for the full tenure of the fellowship and shall submit a bond in this regard to the host institution.
Note 03: The Fellow must submit quarterly progress reports and a final technical report to the Fellowship Management Committee. The Fellowship Management Committee may, from time to time, seek updates from the Fellow and provide inputs and guidance to the project of the Fellows so that the project remains relevant to the Government of India agenda and can be successfully completed on time.
Note 04: An annual conference of the Fellows will be held, where the Fellows will be expected to present their findings to the Fellowship Management Committee and other invitees and share knowledge and learning and discuss areas for further collaboration and practical application of their research.
Note 05: There would be a visible improvement in the quality of solar technology through the application of innovative solutions/technologies in the field arising out of the research under the programme.
Note 06: The resources in terms of manpower and infrastructural facilities available at various schools/institutions of the country would be enhanced/strengthened.
Eligibility
- The applicant should be Indian or of Indian origin.
- The programme is open to all scientists working in the field of solar energy sciences, engineering, and technology, including those currently employed in the Government of India, State Government, or public institutions, as well as those not currently associated with any public institution but working in the area and eager to pursue research beneficial to the Government of India.
- The applicant should possess a doctorate or equivalent in the field of solar sciences/solar engineering, with an outstanding track record and proven leadership qualities in solar energy research, and at least ten years of experience, including the period spent while undertaking research work for a Ph.D.
- M.Tech. or M.S. degree holders with good published work and lab/industry experience will also be considered as a special case if the Fellowship Management Committee feels that the proposal submitted by such candidates is worth considering.
- The applicant should have an appropriate background in academics and experience in R&D in the area of solar energy and related fields that are directly or indirectly involved in solar sciences, engineering, and technology.
- There will be no age bar for the programme.
Note 01: The Fellowship Management Committee will have the right to suitably amend the eligibility criteria.
Note 02: A comprehensive proposal should be submitted by all candidates for the National Solar Science Fellowship for consideration by the Fellowship Management Committee.
Application Process
- Step 01: Applications from talented scientists with proven records in any field of solar science or engineering will be invited through open advertisement.
- Step 02: The applicants shall submit their applications in the prescribed Proforma (Annexure-II).
- Step 03: The application should be as per the instructions for filling up the Proforma given in the Guidelines.
- Step 04: The applicant will attach an R&D proposal with his/her application in the R&D thrust areas identified by the Fellowship Management Committee of the MNRE, emphasizing the potential impact of the proposed research project on solving problems encountered in solar energy technology and systems.
- Step 05: A comprehensive proposal should be submitted by all candidates for the National Solar Science Fellowship for consideration by the Fellowship Management Committee.
- Note 01: The Fellowship Management Committee, headed by the Secretary of MNRE and eminent scientists, will scrutinize the applications and research projects, and select up to ten National Solar Science Fellows in accordance with the Guidelines and the prescribed procedure. The Committee will be approved by the MNRE and have a tenure of three years.
- Note 02: Every selected Fellow will be attached to one of the selected schools/institutions and will have a tenure ranging from 1 to 3 years depending on the chosen project, and can be extended for an additional two years based on the project's progress.