- In addition to expanding the survey to all IITs, the council has also recommended that the reasons for “IIT graduates taking up PhD and postdoctoral programmes outside India” be analysed, and measures be proposed to strengthen research pathways and academic retention.
A “Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC)” scheme to attract top Indian-origin researchers and scientists is in the works, with a proposal to engage 120 research fellows and research chairs over five years. The IIT Council — the apex coordination body of the IITs — was informed of this at its last meeting.
An official in the Education Ministry presented the proposal on the Prime Minister Research Chair scheme to “attract and engage global talent of Indian origin” – at the IIT council meeting in August last year, going by the minutes of the meeting, which were released on Monday.
The scheme aims to attract top Indian-origin researchers and scientists to “strengthen India’s higher education and research ecosystem,” according to the minutes.
The scheme proposes to engage 120 fellows across three categories – ‘Young Research Fellows’, ‘Senior Research Fellows’, and ‘Research Chairs’ over five years.
“The scheme will focus on 14 nationally significant priority sectors, including semiconductors, AI, clean energy, and advanced materials. The scheme seeks to improve institutional research capacity, boost innovation, and enhance India’s global standing in science, technology, and academic excellence,” the minutes stated.
It added that “the Council was made aware of the in-principle agreement for the Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme, with the understanding that the initiative will be launched soon in a structured, large-scale way to attract and engage global talent of Indian origin.”
Separately, the IIT Council has recommended that a survey be conducted across all 23 IITs for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 graduating years to capture alumni outcomes and socio-economic impact. The council’s recommendation came after the outcomes of a survey conducted using data from alumni databases across six IITs for these three graduating years were presented at the council meeting.
In addition to expanding the survey to all IITs, the council has also recommended that the reasons for “IIT graduates taking up PhD and postdoctoral programmes outside India” be analysed, and measures be proposed to strengthen research pathways and academic retention. Going by the meeting minutes, IIT Bombay is to act on these recommendations.
The council, which met in August after a gap of two years, also discussed reforms in MTech and PhD programmes. On MTech programmes, the minutes noted: “…it was felt that one of the major reasons as to why BTech graduates are not inclined to pursue MTech in India is the limited availability of specialisations. Another reason is the lack of internship opportunities. The Council emphasised the need to make industry internships a compulsory component of the MTech programmes.” It has recommended that all IITs revamp their MTech curriculum, “in line with their specific needs and vision.”
