**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Science and Technology has implemented schemes to encourage Indian-origin researchers and scientists working abroad to return to India and contribute to its scientific and technological advancement. The schemes provide fellowships, research grants, and institutional support. These initiatives align with the government's broader objective of strengthening the country's scientific capabilities and reducing brain drain.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Schemes & Fellowships:**
* VAIBHAV (Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik) Fellowship Programme (DST) for Indian Diaspora (NRI/OCI) undertaking collaborative research in Indian Institutions.
* Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (RRF) (DBT) and Early Career and Intermediate Fellowships (ECIF) (DBT) provide opportunities for Indian researchers residing abroad.
* Ramanujan Fellowship of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for scientists and engineers.
* CSIR has created 50 positions for eminent Scientists/Technologists of Indian Origin (STIO) working abroad, designated as Outstanding Scientist (STIO).
* **VAIBHAV Fellowship Details:**
* Envisages collaboration between scientists of Indian Diaspora and Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
* Fellows can spend up to two months per year for a maximum of 3 years at an Indian Institution.
* 35 fellows from 11 countries have been awarded since 2023.
* **Financial Support:**
* VAIBHAV Fellowship provides ₹4 lakh per month (1-2 months/year, for 3 years), travel support, accommodation support (upto ₹7500 per day), consumables and accessories, contingency, and institutional overhead expenses (₹5 lakh per year).
* DBT RRF Program supports up to 75 outstanding Indian scientists from overseas each year.
* DBT RRF Fellows receive ₹1.35 lakh per month, Research and Contingency support of ₹13,00,000 per annum, and institutional overheads of ₹50,000 per annum, for a period of three years.
* Budgetary provisions have been made under the plan programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
* **Objectives:**
* Strengthening national scientific and technological capabilities.
* Repatriation of trained manpower and augmentation of research output.
* Fostering global-standard expertise within the country.
* Reducing brain drain by providing a structured pathway for overseas scientists to re-establish careers in India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian-Origin Researchers and Scientists Working Abroad**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to return to India, collaborate with Indian institutions, and contribute to research and innovation with financial and institutional support.
* **Action Required:** Apply for relevant fellowships and schemes (VAIBHAV, RRF, Ramanujan Fellowship, STIO) and identify Indian institutions for collaboration.
**Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Universities and Public Funded Scientific Institutions**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to collaborate with scientists of Indian Diaspora, enhancing research capabilities and global visibility.
* **Action Required:** Facilitate collaborations with VAIBHAV Fellows and provide necessary institutional support.
**Ministry of Science and Technology & Department of Biotechnology (DBT)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and managing schemes to attract researchers to India and oversee budgetary allocations.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective implementation of the schemes, provide adequate financial support, and monitor the progress of the fellows.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Science and Technology: The central ministry responsible for formulating schemes to encourage Indian-origin researchers and scientists to return to India and contribute to research and innovation.
VAIBHAV (Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik) Fellowship Programme: A fellowship program implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) exclusively for the Indian Diaspora (NRI/OCI) to undertake collaborative research in Indian Institutions.
Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (RRF): A fellowship program administered by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) that provides opportunities for Indian researchers residing abroad to work in Indian Institutes/Universities.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology responsible for implementing the VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Organisation that provides the Ramanujan Fellowship, a scheme for attracting scientists and engineers back to India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2852
ANSWERED ON 17/12/2025
SCHEME FOR INDIAN ORIGIN RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS
2852. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:
SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has initiated any scheme to encourage
Indian-origin researchers and scientists working in foreign countries to
return and contribute to research and innovation in India;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such researchers
identified or approached under the said initiative, country-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide any special incentives,
research grants or institutional support to facilitate their return and
reintegration into Indian research institutions and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has made any budgetary allocation for this
purpose and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the manner in which this initiative aligns with the Government’s
broader objective of strengthening the country’s scientific and
technological capabilities and reducing brain drain?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Ministry of Science and Technology has formulated several schemes
to encourage Indian-origin researchers and scientists working in foreign
countries to return and contribute to research and innovation in India. The
Department of Science and Technology (DST) implements a VAIBHAV
(Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik) Fellowship Programme exclusively for
Indian Diaspora [Non-Resident Indian (NRI)/ Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)]
to undertake collaborative research in Indian Institutions. The Department
of Biotechnology (DBT) through Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship
(RRF) and Early Career and Intermediate Fellowships (ECIF) provide
attractive avenues and opportunities to Indian researchers of high calibre,
who are residing in foreign, to work in Indian Institutes/Universities of their
respective interest and domain. Ramanujan Fellowship of the Anusandhan
National Research Foundation (ANRF) is another scheme for brilliant Indian
scientists and engineers aiming to return to India from abroad for
Page 1 of 2undertaking competitive R&D. The Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR) has created 50 positions of Scientists/Technologists to be
filled laterally from eminent Scientists/Technologists of Indian Origin
(STIO) working abroad. The position has been designated as Outstanding
Scientist (STIO).
(b) The VAIBHAV Fellowship envisages collaboration between
scientists of Indian Diaspora and Indian Higher Educational Institutions
(HEIs), Universities and/ or public funded scientific institutions. The
VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and
may spend up to two months in a year for maximum 3 years. Since 2023, 3
calls have been announced and 35 fellows from 11 countries such as USA
(18), UK (5), Australia (3), Canada (2) and one each from Switzerland,
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Japan and Singapore have been
awarded. Presently the DBT RRF scheme is supporting 166 ongoing fellows
who were working across 27 countries such as Australia (2), Belgium (4),
Canada (3), Chile (1), China (1), Columbia (1), Czech Republic (1), France
(2), Germany (10), Ireland (1), Israel (12), Italy (2), Japan (4), Netherlands
(1), Philippines (1), Qatar (1), Russia (1), Scotland (1), Singapore (4),
Slovenia (1), South Korea (2), Spain (4), Sweden (8), Switzerland (5), Taiwan
(2), UK (11) and USA (80).
(c) to (d): The schemes like VAIBHAV provide attractive fellowship (₹4
lakh per month, 1–2 months/year, for 3 years), travel support,
accommodation support (upto ₹7500 per day), consumables and
accessories, contingency, and institutional overhead expenses (₹5 lakh per
year) to support the VAIBHAV Fellow. The DBT RRF Program has the
provision to support up to 75 outstanding Indian scientists from overseas
each year. The selected fellows are entitled to a fellowship of ₹1.35 lakh
per month, Research and Contingency support of ₹13,00,000 per annum,
and institutional overheads of ₹50,000 per annum, for a period of three
years. Necessary and adequate budgetary provisions have been made
under the plan programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
(e) All the schemes are being implemented to encourage Indian-origin
researchers and scientists working in foreign countries to return
contributes to the Government’s objective of strengthening national
scientific and technological capabilities by enabling the repatriation of
trained manpower, augmenting research output in cutting-edge domains,
and fostering global-standard expertise within the country. The schemes
also help reduce brain drain by providing a structured pathway for overseas
scientists to re-establish their careers in India, thereby promoting a self-
reliant and innovation-driven research landscape. The areas of research
involved are all aligned with the different National Missions.
*****
Page 2 of 2