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The WISE-PhD scheme by the Department of Science and Technology supports women aged 27-45 years to conduct Read More... doctoral research in basic and applied sciences within STEM fields. Read less

Details

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under its 'Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)' initiative offers the WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. (WISE-PhD). This program is designed to empower women who aspire to pursue doctoral research in science and technology.

What Is This Scheme?

WISE-PhD is a fellowship program that provides a golden opportunity for women scientists and technologists to undertake rigorous Ph.D. research in various basic and applied science disciplines. It's aimed at encouraging independent research projects for women who wish to contribute to scientific advancements.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This fellowship is specifically for women who hold a Master's degree in Basic or Applied Sciences or an equivalent degree. It's ideal for those who wish to pursue a Ph.D. but are not currently employed in a regular job. The age bracket for applicants is between 27 and 45 years.

Why This Scheme Is Important

The WISE-PhD scheme plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality in STEM research. By offering financial support and a platform for independent research, it helps women scientists build careers, contribute to knowledge dissemination, and foster innovation in scientific fields.

Objective

The WISE-PhD scheme by the Department of Science and Technology supports women aged 27-45 years to conduct doctoral research in basic and applied sciences within STEM fields.

Benefits

Benefits to the Institute -The administrative expenses incurred by the implementing agencies towards organizing the training programmes under the guide training and other sectoral programmes (including tourism awareness programmes) shall be met by the MoT to the extent of 5% of the total estimated sanctioned training cost for a training confined to one city and@10% for training involving more than one city.Benefits to the Trainer -

₹ 1500/- for guest faculty- for a class of 60 minutes duration.

₹ 750/- for faculty/staff of Implementing Agency - for a session (of one-hour duration) subject to a ceiling of up to 30 days or 60 sessions in a year, whichever is lower.

₹ 400/- for a student-trainer who provides training for a two-hour class.

Expenses on meals for trainers/trainees - Rs.100/- per person per day.

Note:Honoraria to the trainers should not exceed the amount prescribed in the scheme and should be within the overall cost of the programme.Benefits to the Trainee -

For fresh entrants to the job market, the training duration is to be a minimum of 200 hours (including practical and/or on-the-job training) except where prescribed by any Statute.

Certificates should be provided to the trainees who have undergone the training by the concerned agency.

In order to ensure optimum use of institutional infrastructure, as also to attract service providers, the training classes shall preferably be organized in the evenings and on public holidays.

The money paid as Stipend to the successful trainee shall be transferred only to the individual beneficiary’s Aadhar-linked bank account through the PFMS.

List of the Nature of Training-Health & Personal Hygiene, Cleanliness, Basic Service techniques. Cooking Techniques, Garbage Disposal, Etiquette and basic manners, and basic nutrition values. Energy saving and nutrition saving techniques. Basic tourism awareness. Presentation and Communication skills, Behaviour Skills, First Aid, handling of accidents, Client Handling & Behaviour Skills, Sensitization to HIV/AIDS, Skill Development in general for fresh candidates, Specialised skill development,including language courses for fresh as well as existing service providers, Awareness Programmes, Basic Skill upgradation in general for existing service providers, Tourist police training programmes Training of Trainers programmes. Developing skills in product presentation in rural tourism. This list is only illustrative and not exhaustive.List of the Training Programmes-Bearers, bartenders, Cooks, stewards, Receptionists, Information Providers, Drivers, Govt. Staff who come in contact with tourists, Supervisors, Guides, Travel Assistants, Managers for small Hotels, Bakers & Confectioners, Catering staff, Meal Providers, Tour Escort/assistants, Reservation and ticketing assistants, Housekeepers, Event management supervisors, Hospital housekeepers, Interior designers, Florist, Tourism Staff of Central and State Departments, Tourism facility Planners and management staff, Guides, Tourism facilitator/runner, Foreign language interpreters, Naturalists, rural artisans/craftsmen/entertainers, tourist police, teachers, administrators and planners etc. This list is only illustrative and not exhaustive

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

This fellowship is for unemployed women eager to pursue their Ph.D. You can apply whether you are yet to register for a Ph.D. or have already registered but are not receiving any other fellowship. However, candidates who have already completed two years of their Ph.D. by the application date are not eligible.

Here are the main requirements:

Qualification: You must have an M.Sc., M.Tech., B.Tech., M.Phil., M.Pharm., or an equivalent degree in basic or applied sciences from a recognized university or institute.
Age: Your age should be between 27 and 45 years. Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PH categories get a relaxation of 3 years in the upper age limit. The date of application submission is used to calculate your age.
Employment: Women working in regular jobs are not eligible for this fellowship.

How To Apply

The application process is online. Please visit the official DST portal: https://onlinedst.gov.in
You will need to register on the portal to apply.
Ensure your proposal is prepared in the prescribed format. You can find the guidelines and format here: Guidelines and Format
Upload the completed offline proposal (both docx and pdf) within the online application's submission section.
Hard copies of the proposal are not required to be sent to DST.

Documents Required

Completed Proposal in the Prescribed Format
High School Certificate
Highest Degree Certificate (e.g., M.Sc., M.Tech.)
SC/ST/PH Certificate (if you are claiming age relaxation)
Certificate from the Head of the Institution
Ph.D. Registration Letter (if already registered)
Consent letter from your Scientist Mentor cum Ph.D. Supervisor
Bio-Data of your Scientist-Mentor

FAQ’s

What is the latest date to submit an application for the WISE-PhD fellowship?

The online portal for submitting proposals is open year-round, so you can apply anytime.

If I have already registered for my Ph.D. and my guide is the same person as the proposed scientist mentor, can I apply?

Yes, your Ph.D. guide and scientist mentor should ideally be the same person. If you have already registered for your Ph.D., you can apply as long as you are not receiving any other fellowship and have not completed two years of your Ph.D. by the application date.

Can the duration of my WISE-PhD fellowship extend beyond 5 years?

No, the WISE-PhD fellowship is tenable for a maximum period of five years or until you submit your Ph.D. thesis, whichever comes first. It cannot exceed 5 years.

I'm currently in my third year of Ph.D. Am I eligible to apply for this fellowship?

No, candidates who have completed two years of their Ph.D. by the application date are not eligible for the WISE-PhD fellowship.

I am employed in a regular job. Can I apply for the WISE-PhD program?

No, women who are in regular employment are not eligible to apply for the WISE-PhD fellowship.

What is the fellowship amount for WISE-PhD, and has it been revised recently?

Yes, the fellowship amount was enhanced from ₹31,000/- to ₹37,000/- per month effective from 18th October 2023. If you applied before this date, you do not need to update anything; the enhanced amount will be automatically considered.

Who is considered the Principal Investigator (PI) in the WISE-PhD application?

The Principal Investigator (PI) for the WISE-PhD fellowship is the applicant herself, the woman scientist who wishes to pursue doctoral research.

What are the age limits for applying to the WISE-PhD fellowship?

The age criteria for applicants is between 27 and 45 years. However, candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PH) categories are eligible for a 3-year relaxation in the upper age limit.

I haven't registered for Ph.D. yet. Am I eligible to apply for WISE-PhD?

Yes, if you meet all other eligibility criteria, you are welcome to apply even if you haven't registered for your Ph.D. yet.

I have submitted my application online. Do I also need to upload the offline proposal format?

Yes, it is mandatory. You must upload both the docx and pdf versions of the offline proposal, which you can find in the 'Formats' section, into the 'Submission' section of the online form.

If I have a Ph.D. registration number but am not receiving any fellowship, can I still apply?

Yes, you are eligible to apply if you have registered for a Ph.D. but are not currently receiving any fellowship from any source. Ensure you have not completed two years of your Ph.D. by the application date.

Is it necessary to have a published research paper to apply for the WISE-PhD fellowship?

No, having a published research paper is not a mandatory requirement to apply for the WISE-PhD fellowship.

If I encounter technical issues while filling out the online application form, who should I contact?

For any technical problems encountered while filling out the online form, please contact: [email protected].

Where can I find the official guidelines and the proposal format for the WISE-PhD application?

You can download the guidelines and the proposal format from the official DST website at: https://onlinedst.gov.in/Documents/ProjectProposalFormat/SchemeId_2319_Advertisement_WISE_PhDwithInstructionSheet_ePMS_Revised.docx.

How long does it typically take to get the result after submitting my WISE-PhD application?

You can expect to receive the result of your application within approximately 6 months of submission.

Should I send a hard copy of my proposal to the Department of Science and Technology after applying online?

No, you do not need to send any hard copies of your proposal to DST. The online submission is considered final.

Can I modify my research proposal topic after I have registered for Ph.D. or submitted the application?

Minor modifications to the research proposal topic might be permissible. However, it's best to finalize your topic and research plan with your scientist mentor before you apply.

Is there any relaxation in the lower age limit for the WISE-PhD fellowship?

No, there is no relaxation provided for the lower age limit. The minimum age to apply is 27 years. However, a relaxation of 3 years is available for the upper age limit for SC/ST/PH candidates.

What is the correct website address to apply for the WISE-PhD fellowship?

You can apply for the WISE-PhD fellowship on the official DST online portal at: https://onlinedst.gov.in.

Can the duration of the WISE-PhD fellowship be less than 5 years?

Yes, the fellowship duration can be less than 5 years if you complete and submit your Ph.D. thesis earlier than the maximum period.