The scheme is for supporting aspiring PhD scholars with double scholarship (up to Rs. 6 lakh per annum), 50% of which will be provided by government and balance 50% by a sponsoring industry, for doing research for four years and the research fellow will receive PhD degree by doing this industrial research.

Open-Ended Applications

A candidate can register on the portal of PM Fellowship if she/​he has been enrolled / admitted for PhD in last 14 months from the date of submission of applications. This has been done to accommodate the various university / institute rules that vary from 6 months to 14 months‟ time period for final registration to PhD from the time of initial enrollment, which includes course work in institute for two semesters. The applicants must firm up their alliance with industry before applying.

Eligibility

• One doctoral fellow and one industry will apply jointly. The application has to be filled by the doctoral fellow 
• Doctoral fellow should have enrolled / admitted for PhD in last 14 months from the date of submission of applications in any recognized Indian University / Institute / Research Laboratory Doctoral fellow should obtain ​„No Objection‟ from his/​her Institution before applying Doctoral fellow should have identified (before applying) an industry partner/co-applicant who should be ready to support the research project financially and also lend technical and intellectual support 
• Areas of research should be in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture or Medicine 
• The topic of research should have practical relevance and industrial application 
• The candidate and the proposed research topic should qualify on criteria of excellence and relevance and be of technical and scientific merit 
• The selected doctoral fellow should be willing to work with / in industry as and when required by the industry partner during the project period 
• The research duration should not be more than four years leading to award of PhD degree to the doctoral fellow

Selection Process & Broad Criteria for Selection 

• A high level Apex Council consisting of members from academia, industry and government will review the applications and select the candidates for award of PM Fellowship. 
• The project should be innovative and of high scientific merit; with discrete R&D as opposed to exploratory investigation 
• The proposed research should have a high potential to translate into a business opportunity and commercialization 
• High credibility, capacity of doctoral fellow and the institution 
• High degree of business interest, involvement and collaboration of industry