DST to hold meeting with AIRSA representatives to discuss demands of Indian researchers

DST to hold meeting with AIRSA representatives to discuss demands of Indian researchers

The AIRSA has announced that the DST secretary Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar has confirmed a meeting to discuss the demands of Indian researchers. The All India Research Scholars Association (AIRSA) has in August 2022 reached out to DST officials demanding an immediate hike in fellowship. "It is essential for the government of India (GoI) to adhere to the previous norms and guidelines of revising the fellowship every four years.  Unfortunately, the delay in revising the fellowship has resulted in numerous challenges for Indian researchers. Inflation and rising living costs year after year have created financial burdens, hindering their dedication to research and development endeavors," the letter stated.

AIRSA demanded that fellowship rates should be revised automatically after every four years. In 2018, the government announced a hike in the fellowship stipend for research scholars under DST. The announcement stated that scholars in Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) would get a 24 percent hike, and those in Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) would get a 25 percent hike. The hike for research associates varied from 28.5 to 25 percent. These changes came into effect from 2019 onwards, after scholars went on a nationwide strike. However, due to inflation and daily costs rising, scholars have demanded a revision in their stipends.