Innovations for Defence Excellence 2026

The J.C. Bose Fellowship is a prestigious award recognizing active scientists for their exceptional achievements in their Read More... fields, offering significant support for their research endeavors. Read less

Details

The J.C. Bose Fellowship is a highly selective award designed to honor and support active scientists who have demonstrated outstanding performance throughout their careers. It's a scientist-specific recognition that aims to foster continued innovation and excellence in India's scientific community.

What Is This Scheme?

This fellowship is presented to Indian scientists working in institutions across India who have a proven track record of significant contributions to science. It's awarded to acknowledge their dedication and outstanding work, providing them with substantial resources to continue their research pursuits.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The J.C. Bose Fellowship is for seasoned, active scientists who are already in service. It's a recognition for those who have achieved excellence, often marked by prestigious awards like the S.S. Bhatnagar prize or by being a fellow of recognized science academies.

Why This Scheme Is Important

By supporting established scientists with excellent performance records, the J.C. Bose Fellowship ensures that valuable expertise and research momentum are maintained. It provides the necessary financial backing and resources for these accomplished individuals to continue their impactful work, contributing further to scientific advancement in India.

Objective

The J.C. Bose Fellowship is a prestigious award recognizing active scientists for their exceptional achievements in their fields, offering significant support for their research endeavors.

Benefits

1) SPARK (Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart) Grant: iDEX provides grants up to Rs. 1.50 Cr (up to Rs. 10 Cr in case of iDEX Prime) to the start-ups/MSMEs to fund the projects in many technological areas under Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC) and Open Challenge through the Support for Prototype and Research Kick start (SPARK Framework)

2) Partner Incubators Support to iDEX winners:-

(a) Partner Incubator will provide mentorship to startups/MSMEs selected by iDEX-DIO.

(b) Partner Incubator will run programs like accelerators, incubation, etc. to strengthen selected startups/MSMEs beneficial for the India defence sector.

(c) Partner Incubator will undertake initiatives to reach out, spread awareness and promote innovations for defence among students/ researchers at all levels in academia

3) The major benefits from iDEX Scheme to Indian Defence Innovation Ecosystem are:-

(a) Facilitate rapid development of new, indigenized, and innovative technologies for the Indian defence and aerospace sector, to meet needs for these sectors in shorter timelines

(b) Create a culture of engagement with innovative startups, to encourage co-creation for defence and aerospace sectors

Sources and references

Website Of IDeX

Eligibility Criteria

Must be an active scientist with a history of outstanding performance, demonstrated by receiving the S.S. Bhatnagar prize and/or being a fellow of science academies (including engineering, agriculture, and medicine).
Must be in active service at the time of nomination.
Must be an Indian national currently working in an institution or university in India.
The fellowship can be availed up to the age of 68 years.
The nominee should not be receiving any other fellowship, including personal fellowship amounts and research grants from any government sources.

How To Apply

Nominations for the J.C. Bose Fellowship are accepted throughout the year, and there isn't a specific deadline for submission. Heads of institutions, existing J.C. Bose fellows, and Presidents of Science Academies are among those who can submit nominations. The Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) handles the nomination process.

Once a fellowship is awarded, the SERB sends an offer letter to both the individual scientist and their host institution. The scientist needs to accept the offer, indicating their preferred start month. The host institution then forwards this acceptance to the SERB. After necessary approvals, a sanction order is issued to the host institute, and the fellowship officially begins on the date the grant is received at the institute.

Documents Required

Passport-size Photograph
Proof of Age
Details of Research Contributions
Educational Qualification Details
Professional Training and Research Experience Details
Employment Details
Details of Awards/Honors (if any)
Publication Records
Details of Patents Filed, Granted, or Commercialized
Recommendation Letter
Any other documents as specified or required

FAQ’s

How long is the J.C. Bose Fellowship granted?

The J.C. Bose Fellowship is initially granted for a period of 5 years. It can be extended for another 5-year term based on a thorough evaluation of the fellow's research performance during the initial tenure.

Can a scientist continue the J.C. Bose Fellowship after retiring?

Yes, if a scientist retires during their fellowship term, it can be continued. This is possible if a host institution is willing to continue supporting the fellowship and provide the necessary infrastructure.

What are the financial benefits provided by the J.C. Bose Fellowship?

J.C. Bose Fellows receive a personal fellowship of ₹25,000 per month, alongside a research grant of ₹15 lakhs annually. Additionally, ₹1 lakh per year is provided to the host institute as overheads.

Are nominations for the J.C. Bose Fellowship accepted at any time?

Yes, nominations for the J.C. Bose Fellowship are open throughout the year. There is no specific closing date for accepting nominations.

Who is eligible to be nominated for the J.C. Bose Fellowship?

The fellowship is for active Indian scientists working in India who have a significant track record of outstanding performance, often evidenced by awards like the S.S. Bhatnagar prize or fellowships from science academies. They must be in service at the time of nomination and not be receiving similar fellowship support from other government sources.

Can the research grant from the J.C. Bose Fellowship be used flexibly?

Yes, the ₹15 lakh research grant offers considerable flexibility. It can be used for hiring staff, purchasing consumables, covering national and international travel for the fellow and research staff, visiting scientists, equipment, books, journals, and other research-related expenses, as long as it stays within the sanctioned budget.

What is the maximum age to receive the J.C. Bose Fellowship?

The J.C. Bose Fellowship can be availed by scientists up to the age of 68 years.

Is the J.C. Bose Fellowship grant subject to income tax?

Yes, the personal fellowship amount received under the J.C. Bose Fellowship scheme is taxable.

Who can nominate a scientist for the J.C. Bose Fellowship?

Nominations can be put forward by Heads of Institutions, current J.C. Bose Fellows, and Presidents of Science Academies.

What happens if a J.C. Bose Fellow wants to change their host institution?

A J.C. Bose Fellow can switch host institutions. They will need to provide No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from both the current and the new institution. This also involves submitting final financial papers showing any unspent grant, an endorsement certificate, and the appointment letter from the new institution detailing the joining date and tenure.

What is the scope of research areas covered by the J.C. Bose Fellowship?

The J.C. Bose Fellowship covers all areas of science in a broad sense, encouraging research across diverse scientific disciplines.

What are the conditions for superannuated fellows who are also receiving other honorariums or fellowships?

Superannuated J.C. Bose fellows can receive the award money along with honorariums or salaries from their host institutions. However, they cannot accept similar fellowships, like the DAE Raja Ramanna Fellowship. Any incorrect reporting could lead to the recovery of the fellowship amount with interest.

How does a J.C. Bose Fellow receive their grant money after the initial disbursement?

Subsequent grants are released upon submission of the Statement of Expenditure (SE) and Utilization Certificate (UC), along with an activity report, through the online portal (www.serbonline.in). These documents are typically submitted annually, covering the period from April 1st to March 31st.

Is there a possibility to extend the J.C. Bose Fellowship?

Yes, the fellowship can be extended for another 5-year term. This renewal is based on a rigorous assessment of the fellow's research achievements during the previous tenure, including publications and patents. A minimum exit rate of 25% of fellows is applied when considering extensions, focusing solely on research performance.