In recent weeks, researchers from various Indian universities and disciplines have been demanding their research stipends from the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Many are complaining about delays in receiving these funds, ranging from 8 to 13 months, citing financial distress and lack of response from DST, which is under the Science and Technology Ministry. Some researchers have openly expressed regret due to delays, unable to pursue scientific research because they are struggling financially.
For example, one researchers on LinkedIn noted that delays totaled over a year without receiving funds. They also complained about rude responses to their questions. Another researcher, from the same institution, indicated that she had not received her scholarship money since March 2024. “I have money for rent, yet to last another month,” she said, adding that pursuing research was humiliating given she had already cleared stringent requirements.
Several scholarships are awarded annually by CSIR and UGC, with delays often seen in the financial disbursement cycle for PhD students. However, changes in DST policies have recently made matters worse. In September 2022, recipients of DST funds had to open zero-balance accounts with the Bank of Maharashtra, leading to account verification processes for unspent funds that were inefficient. Additionally, in December 2024, they had to open new ‘zero-balance accounts’ with the Union Bank of India under the ‘Hybrid-TSA’ initiative, which caused further delays in disbursing funds.
The scholars believe that fixing these issues will lead to timely disbursements, reflecting the DST’s concerns about timely financial transactions. The DST secretary, Abhay Karandikar, confirmed that all scholars would receive their funding on time, remedying the delay issues. The INSPIRE fellowships, founded in 2008, aim to encourage students with talent in basic sciences to pursue research careers, awarding around 1,000 PhD scholarships annually.
From eligibility to research grants, the intricate evaluation criteria followed in implementing these fellowships exemplify the comprehensive view of the DST on research under its guiding policies.
