Fellowships

The main objective of ICPR Fellowship Scheme is to promote research in philosophy at various levels by providing opportunities to scholars, especially the young scholars, to engage themselves on a whole time basis, in research projects on the themes of their choice, preferably among the major areas of investigation identified by the Council or in the Council’s own projects in the field of philosophy and related disciplines.

The Council encourages research in the following major areas of investigation.

1. Theories of Truth and Knowledge.
2. Basic Values Embodied in Indian Culture and their relevance to National   Reconstruction.
3. Normative Inquiries (Ethics and Aesthetics).
4. Interdisciplinary Inquiries (Ethics and Aesthetics).
5. Philosophy, Science and Technology.
6. Philosophy of Man and Environment.
7. Social and Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Law.
8. Comparative and Critical Study in the Philosophical Systems/Movements   and Religion.
9. Logic, Philosophy of Mathematics and Philosophy of Language.
10. Metaphysics.
11. Philosophy of Education.
12. Philosophy of Social Sciences.

The categories of fellowships, eligibility criteria, terms and conditions thereof, are as the following.

NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP

National Fellowships are awarded to eminent scholars who have made outstanding contribution in the field of Philosophy.  The amount of fellowship has been fixed as Rs.55,000/- per month with an annual contingency of Rs.60,000/-.  These fellowships are awarded without inviting applications and purely on the basis of merit and eminence, regardless of age and official status of the scholars.

SENIOR FELLOWSHIP

Senior Fellowships are awarded to the scholars having publications of a very high order to their credit. These fellowships are meant for well-known senior professional scholars in philosophy who have made a significant contribution to the study of philosophy and related subjects as it is evident from publication of their research papers and books.  Along with the application form, the applicants are required to send five copies of a synopsis of their proposed research (not exceeding 1000 words). The fellowship carries monthly emolument of Rs.40,000 and a contingency grant of Rs.40,000/- per annum.  The fellowship is offered for a period of two years.

GENERAL FELLOWSHIP

The General Fellowships are awarded to scholars who have shown significant promise and competence in independent research as it is evident from their publications in the form of books and/or research articles.  The award of this category of fellowship is determined on the basis of quality of the candidates’ research work produced in the form of published work (books or articles) or even in unpublished form. After scrutiny, the eligible candidates may be called for test and/or interview to assess the merit of the scholar and the project proposal. The applicants of this fellowship are required to enclose five copies of a synopsis sharply focusing on the project (not exceeding 1000 words) of his/her proposed research work, a list of his/her publications, a statement of his/her major contributions and off prints/copies of 2-3 of his/her best papers along with the application form.  In case of a long publication, a summary not exceeding 10 pages may be attached.  Ph.D. degree is not an essential requirement for this category of fellowship. The fellowship amount in this category is Rs.28,000/- per month and contingency grant is Rs.20,000/- per annum. The fellowship is offered for a period of two years.

JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

The candidate for a Junior Research Fellowship should have secured at least 55 per cent marks in post-graduation.  This condition, however, is relaxable to the candidates where papers/articles have been published in reputed journal in philosophy.

Registration to Ph.D. programme in Philosophy or allied areas of study is required to be eligible to avail this fellowship. Institutional affiliation is essential for Junior Research Fellowship.

The candidate is required to attach five copies of a synopsis of his/her proposed project proposal along with his/her application.  The proposed project proposal should not exceeding 5 pages, sharply focus on the project and should exhibit acquaintance with the problem and the question to be dealt with.

After scrutiny, the eligible candidates are called for test and/or interview to assess the merit of the scholar and the project proposal.  The fellowship is not available to the candidates pursuing M.Phil., degree/course/programme.

The fellowship carries a grant of Rs.16,000/- per month and a contingency grant of Rs.15,000/- per annum. There is no provision for pay protection in this category of fellowship.

The Junior Research Fellowships are awarded for a period of two years. However, if the work done by the fellow during his/her tenure is found publication worthy, the fellowship may be extended to the third year in such exceptional cases.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS OF ICPR FELLOWSHIP

1. Applications for the award of fellowships may be submitted in the prescribed format which will be scrutinized by the Council. 
2. In case of the employed applicants, the application should be sent through their employers. However, advance copy of application is also acceptable, but in such cases the candidature would be considered only after receiving the application duly sent through/forwarded by the employer.
3. (a) If the fellowship is awarded to in-service scholars / academics employed in Universities, Government Departments etc., their pay may be protected. However, in case of retired scholars / academics, pension will not be deducted from the amount of the fellowships of the fellow. (b) In-service fellows are required to take a leave from their institution as the fellowship is a whole time one and the such fellows are required to devote himself/herself fully to work on the project for which the fellowship is awarded.
4. (a)The Council reserves the first right to publish manuscripts of the research work done by the awardees.  In case the Council decides not to publish, then the Council may allow the awardees to get it published anywhere, but he/she will have to acknowledge that the research work was carried out under a fellowship provided by the Council. Acknowledgment to ICPR should prominently be made in a separate page / inside the Preface/Acknowledgment of the final manuscript which is prepared containing the research done with or during the period of fellowships/grants from ICPR. (b) Acknowledgment to ICPR must also prominently be made in any publication that is brought out on research/presentation done with the help of and/or during the period of the ICPR fellowship/grant.    
5. Fellowship cannot be awarded to a person if he/she is availing any fellowship from any other council of research / organization / body.  Also a fellowship holder may not be awarded with any other fellowship in a span of five years from the date of acceptance of the fellowship from the same Council of research.
6. The award of the Fellowship is not restricted to the applicants only. The Council reserves the right to consider any person for Fellowship even if he/she may not have applied.
7. The Council’s decision regarding the award of the fellowships and related matters is final.