Ministry of Science and Technology launches SERB-POWER

On October 29, 2020, the Minister of Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan launched the SERB-POWER initiative. The scheme mitigates gender disparity in science and engineering research funding programmes in Indian academic Institutions and Research and Development Laboratories.

Highlights

SERB-POWER is Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research. The scheme was exclusively designed for women scientist. SERB is Science and Engineering Research Board. It is a statutory body operating under Ministry of Science and Technology.

Key features of SERB-POWER Fellowship

The scheme targets women researchers of age 35 to 55 years. It will provide 25 to 75 Fellowship per year. The selected candidates under the scheme will receive Fellowship of 15000 rupees per month. This is in addition to the regular income. Also, they will receive 10 lakh rupees per annum as a research grant and 90000 Rupees as overhead in their career.

Key features of SERB-POWER Grants

It empowers women researchers by providing them with funds in two categories. Under Level one category, the applicants from institutes the such as IIT, NIT, National labs of Central government institutions, IISc are provided with a grant of 60 lakh rupees for a period of three years. Under level 2 category, the researchers from State Universities, private colleges and other academic Institutions are included. They will be provided with the funding of up to 30 lakh rupees for 3 years.

In all, around 50 power grants are to be sanctioned in level 1 and level 2 categories per annum.

A search come selection committee has been constituted to find the eligible candidates under the scheme.

Benefits

The scheme will bring in more women in leadership positions in decision making bodies. It will empower women scientist and help to cultivate women friendly culture in research and academic Institutions.

Women in science

According to the Global gender gap index published by the World Economic Forum, India ranks 112 among 153 countries in 2020. Worldwide women account for only 30 % of all researches.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020