The Government of India has recently launched the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) fellowship programme, an innovative initiative to encourage collaboration between the Indian diaspora excelling in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) and corresponding academic and research institutions in India. Aiming to improve the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational and scientific institutions, the VAIBHAV Summit has been organised exclusively to connect this STEMM diaspora with their domestic counterparts.
An Introduction to VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme
The VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme is a strategic move focused on advancing the research environment within India’s higher education and scientific institutions. Through this scheme, remarkable academic and research collaborations between Indian and international institutions are facilitated by promoting the mobility of researchers and faculty from overseas to India. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has taken responsibility for implementing the scheme.
Key Features of VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme
The VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme is loaded with several important features, primarily focusing on 18 identified knowledge verticals like quantum technology, health, pharmaceuticals, electronics, agriculture, energy, computer sciences, and material sciences, among others. Non-resident Indians (NRI), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who are actively engaged in research activities in their respective countries can apply for the fellowship.
Selected fellows will be given the freedom to collaborate with Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), universities, and publicly-funded scientific organisations. They can also choose to spend up to two months per year, for a maximum of three years, at any Indian institution of their preference. Each VAIBHAV fellow will receive a hefty monthly fellowship grant of INR 4,00,000 to support their research activities during the collaboration period. Travel expenses, accommodation, and contingencies will also be covered by the fellowship programme.
Other Government Initiatives involving Overseas Indians
In addition to the VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme, there are other notable government initiatives which involve overseas Indians. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated annually on 9th January to acknowledge the contributions of the overseas Indian community towards India’s development. The Know India Program (KIP) is a prominent flagship initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) designed for diaspora engagement. It aims at acquainting Indian-origin youth with their Indian roots and contemporary India. The VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme by the Department of S&T encourages NRIs and overseas scientific communities to participate in and contribute to research and development in India.
Through these initiatives, the Indian government acknowledges the crucial role played by the Indian diaspora in the politics and economy of various countries, particularly the US and European nations. By offering them opportunities to engage and contribute directly to the development of their homeland, the government optimises the resource of their knowledge and experience.
