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BHU- Banaras Hindu University launched a new scheme- Annie Besant Fellowship. The scheme aims at encouraging its top-notch students to join Ph.D. programs at BHU after receiving their post-graduation degrees. BHU has launched the strategy under the Institution of Eminence. The application procedure for the fellowship has already started, and the last date to apply is August 5.

BHU plans to award Annie Besant Fellowship for the current session by mid of September. The new scheme will facilitate the students who have outshined in their academics at BHU to join the Ph.D. program straight after completing post-graduation without wasting their time in the changeover from PG to Ph.D. With the help of the scheme, students will complete their Ph.D. program faster than the other students.

Eligibility criteria for the scheme

The postgraduate students in their final year will be eligible to apply for the fellowship scheme. The students should be in the top five percentile with a minimum 8.5 CGPA. The proposal for this scheme will be conditional on the student reserving a minimum specified rank and CGPA in final passing exams.

More about the Annie Besant Fellowship

All students joining the fellowship scheme will be required to finish their Ph.D. thesis withina period of four years of joining the program. The chosen applicants will be provided JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) with contingency similar to that of the University Grants Commission or CSIR during their Ph.D. program.

• The University will offer Rs 5,000 per month to the student as a cash incentive if a student qualifies for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or National Eligibility Test (NET)- CSIR, UGC, INSPIRE, etc., within one year.


• The University will reduce the fellowship to 50% of the JRF rate if a student does not qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or National Eligibility Test (NET)- CSIR, INSPIRE, UGC, etc., from the second year onwards. The University will not offer a top-up fellowship to students if they acquire PMRF at any stage.


• The University will offer a fellowship at the same rate as prevailing for JRF in the year if the student has not qualified for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or National Eligibility Test (NET). Yet, it is anticipated that the student will qualify for JRF within the year.

A committee of four members has been created for the implementation of the strategy. Professor Rakesh Raman from the Department of Economics is the convener of the committee. Professor Ajay Kumar from the Department of Physics, Professor Rakesh Pandey from the Department of Psychology, and Professor Sangeeta Pandit from the Department of Vocal Music are the other three members of the committee formed.