JRF SRF Fellowship hike announced: Research scholars not happy with 19% hike, strike continues

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has declared a raise in the fellowship stipend for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Senior Research Fellowship (SRF), and all other three levels of research.

The department has decided to increase the stipend by 19 percent in JRF and 20 percent in SRF. The announcement was made on June 23.

JRF, SRF fellowship revision

The hike in fellowships was announced after around a year of protest by the research scholars. They were demanding a 60 percent raise on their existing stipend. 

The stipend for JRF & SRF fellowship was last revised in 2019 for the research scholars engaged in R&D programmes of government departments and agencies. 

In addition to that, RA-1 and RA-2 stipends have also been increased by 23 percent and 24 percent, respectively, and RA-3 got a 16 percent hike in stipend.

Department of Science and Technology’s statement on stipend hike

DST mentioned, "Govt. has approved enhancing emoluments for JRF/SRF/Ras engaged in R&D activities whereby they will receive the following fellowships/month w.e.f. 01/01/2023: JRF: Rs 37,000; SRF: Rs 42,000; RA1: Rs 58,000; RA2: Rs 61,000; RA3: Rs 63,000."

Govt. has approved enhancing emoluments for JRF/SRF/RAs engaged in R&D activities whereby they will receive following fellowships/month w.e.f 01/01/2023:
JRF - Rs 37,000
SRF - Rs 42,000
RA1 - Rs 58,000
RA2 - Rs 61,000
RA3 - Rs 63,000@DrJitendraSingh @srivaric @guptaakhilesh63

— DSTIndia (@IndiaDST) June 22, 2023

While many scholars appreciated the raise, many expressed their disagreement by comparing it to the one received in the US. PhD scholars and research associates have been demanding a raise in stipends for a long time. After a disagreement with the decision, the All-India Research Scholars Association took the concern to Twitter and said, "Dear IndiaDST Secretary, Ajay Sood, and Dr Jitendra Singh, we urge you to reconsider the 60 percent fellowship hike. Our appeal has gone unanswered, leaving researchers with no choice but to go onto the streets and abandon their labs. Join us in the fight for fair fellowship! #Jai-Anushandhan".

#Unacceptablehike20#Revisehiketo60
Dear sir @IndiaDST Secretary,@AjaySoodIISc, and @DrJitendraSingh, we urge you to reconsider the 60% fellowship hike. Our appeal has gone unanswered, leaving researchers with no choice but to go on to the streets and abandon their labs. Join us… pic.twitter.com/7xPLl0YI4K

— All India Research Scholars Association (@AIRSAIndia) June 24, 2023