Ministry of Culture invites applications from Indian Nationals for Award of Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in the Field of Culture for the year 2009-10.

These Fellowships are awarded for undertaking research oriented projects.  While both the academic research and performance related research are encouraged, the applicant should provide evidence of his/her capabilities in undertaking the project.

The Fellowships are not intended for providing training, conducting workshops, seminars or documenting memoirs/or writing autobiographies/fiction etc.

A total of 250 Fellowships will be awarded for a maximum period of two years, out of which:

a)        125 are Senior Fellowships having a value of Rs.15,000/- per month for artistes/scholars in the age groups of 41 years and above.

b)        125 are Junior Fellowships having a value of Rs.7,500/- per month for the artistes/scholars in the age groups of 25-40 years.

c)         Age will be reckoned as on 1^st April, 2009.

d)        Applicant for Senior Fellowship should not be the recipient of pension from this Ministry under the Scheme for grant of financial assistance to artists in indigent circumstances.  An applicant should not have availed of the same fellowship earlier.  However an applicant who had been awarded a Junior Fellowship can apply for a senior fellowship, provided 5 years have elapsed after the closing of the earlier project.  Graduation is the minimum education qualification for eligibility.

e)         Applicants who are employed will have to apply through the proper channel.  They will have to take study leave for two years.  The first instalment of the fellowship in such cases will be released only on receiving proof of sanction of leave.  Under the Senior and Junior Fellowships, the awardees will submit six-monthly project reports.  In cases where such reports are not received on time, the Department may without notice, stop further releases of the Fellowship amount.  The selected candidates will have to undertake academic or application oriented research work on projects for which they have been awarded Fellowships.  They will complete their projects within two years and submit the same to the Ministry.  Extension of time by a maximum of three months will be permissible without any additional financial liability on the Government.

f)          Mid-term review/assessment of performance in each case will be carried out after a year and further continuance of fellowship will depend on such reviews/assessment.

g)         31^st December, 2009 is the last date for receipt of applications.

Applications, duly completed in all respects, for Senior Fellowships may be sent to Post Box/Post Bag No.521, General Post Office, Gol Dak-Khana, New Delhi-110001 and applications for Junior Fellowships to Post Box/Bag No.522, General Post Office, Gol Dak-Khana, New Delhi-110001,   so as to reach on or before the last date for receipt of applications. The application should be addressed to Section Officer (S&F) Ministry of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi. For any clarification, please contact Section Officer (S&F) Section at Telephone No.23389608.