Call for Proposals: IKS Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program (India)

Their goal is to make catalytic grants that encourage original, serious, and deep scholarly research in the Indian Knowledge Systems and rejuvenate IKS research in India. The funds available to support the Fellowship Scheme are discretionary funds provided by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India to support the activities of the IKS Division.

Fellowship will support postdoctoral scholars conducting research that may eventually lead to deeper understanding or practical products or to solutions to contemporary problems as a top priority. The research proposals must be interdisciplinary, involving the study of the traditional concepts, methods, technologies, or approaches using the modern tools and approaches wherever necessary, in order to solve contemporary societal problems or develop deeper understanding of the Indian Knowledge Systems. Research proposals should be collaborative and involve traditional scholars/scholars well versed with the traditional texts and practices and compare them wherever possible to the developments in modern sciences.

Objectives

• Facilitate and coordinate IKS based/related inter and transdisciplinary work done by various institutions in India and abroad including Universities, Institutions of national importance, R&D Laboratories and different ministries and inspire private sector organizations to engage with it.
• Establish, guide and monitor subject-wise interdisciplinary research groups comprising of researchers from institutes, centers and individuals.
• Create and promote popularization schemes.
• Facilitate funding of various projects and develop mechanisms to undertake research.
• Make Policy recommendations wherever required for the promotion of IKS.

Areas of Research 

• This call for fellowships has the following research priority areas:
  • Vedic Philosophical and Cognitive Sciences
  • Historical and Civilizational Sciences
  • Contemporary Social/Cultural Sciences
  • Mathematical, Physical and Astronomical Sciences
  • Speech and Linguistics
  • Political, Economic and Strategic sciences
  • Medical and Health sciences
  • Culinary, Nutritional and Pharmacological Sciences
  • Agricultural Science, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry
  • Performing Arts
  • Mechanical & Digital Design & Engineering
  • Civil and Architectural Science
  • Fine Arts and Sculpture
  • Chemical, Metallurgical & Material Sciences
  • Fashion and Interior Design
  • Edutainment Sciences

Funding Information

• The fellows will be entitled to receive the grants as given below for fellowship:
  • Salary: Salaries for research fellowships Rs. 1,00,000/- per month (fixed) PI or Co-PI salaries/honorariums are not supported
  • Contingency: (Rs. 2,00,000/- per annum)
  • Conference travel and Publishing costs: (Rs. 1,00,000/- per annum)
• Duration: The fellowship is purely a temporary assignment for a period of 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant should be an Indian citizen/OCI.
• The applicant must have obtained Ph.D degree from a recognized University. Those who have submitted their PhD thesis and are awaiting award of the degree are also eligible to apply. However, such candidates, if selected, will be offered lower fellowship amount till they qualify the eligible degree.
• The upper age limit for the fellowship is 35 years at the time of the submission of application, age will be calculated by taking the date of closure of the respective call. Age relaxation of 5 years will be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged & Women candidates.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Independent researchers without an institutional affiliation or students currently pursuing any UG/PG degree are not eligible to apply as Post-Doctoral Fellows.

For more information, visit Indian Knowledge Systems Division.