At the recent inauguration of the Kuvempu University Research Forum in Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sharath Ananthamurthy voiced serious concerns over the sharp decline in research fellowships available to scholars across Indian universities. Speaking on February 17, 2026, he highlighted how the Government of India has phased out numerous lower-value fellowships previously offered by the University Grants Commission (UGC), replacing them with a limited number of high-value Prime Minister's Research Fellowships (PMRF). This shift, coupled with reductions in Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) fellowships, has created what he described as a "grave situation" for aspiring researchers.

Kuvempu University, a state public university established in 1987 and named after the renowned Kannada poet Kuvempu, serves over 90 affiliated colleges and emphasizes multidisciplinary research in fields like sciences, humanities, and social sciences. With its campus on the edge of the Western Ghats, it has historically supported research through various grants, but recent national trends are straining its capacity. Prof. Ananthamurthy, a physicist with prior experience at the University of Hyderabad, stressed the need for platforms like the new forum to foster interdisciplinary discussions, drawing parallels to innovative conversations at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru.

🎓 Shift from UGC Fellowships to PMRF: A Numbers Game?

The core of the issue lies in the transformation of fellowship structures. Traditionally, the UGC awarded Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) through the National Eligibility Test (NET), providing stipends of around ₹37,000 per month for the first two years, escalating to ₹42,000 for Senior Research Fellows (SRF). Annually, around 5,000-6,000 JRFs were granted via UGC-NET, alongside non-NET fellowships that supported thousands more, albeit at lower rates of ₹8,000-₹12,000 monthly. These were discontinued in 2016 to prioritize quality, but the gap widened with further rationalizations.

Enter the PMRF, launched in 2018 as an elite program targeting top talent for PhD research at premier institutions. It offers ₹70,000-₹90,000 monthly, plus ₹2 lakh annual research grants, but slots are scarce—around 1,000-3,000 per cycle across phases. This means only the cream of the crop benefit, leaving state universities like Kuvempu with fewer options for their scholars. Prof. Ananthamurthy noted, “Earlier, the UGC used to provide many fellowships of lower amounts, which were still better. These have all been eliminated.”

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SC/ST Fellowships Under Pressure

Compounding the challenge are declines in category-specific support. National Fellowships for SC (NFSF-SC) and ST (NFSF-ST) students, crucial for inclusive research, have seen beneficiary numbers halve despite budget hikes in some years—down to 2,221 for SC in recent cycles. Delays in disbursal, with funds for 2021-26 exhausted early, force scholars to self-fund experiments and conferences. Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) for minorities dropped 16% in Union Budget 2026-27, from ₹42.84 crore to ₹36.14 crore, while Merit-cum-Means scholarships plummeted 99%.

At Kuvempu, which reports ongoing support for SC/ST/OBC fellows via university schemes alongside UGC, the national squeeze hits hard. From 2021-23 NAAC data, dozens of such fellows were enrolled, but renewals are at risk.

Union Budget 2026: Mixed Signals for Higher Education

India's Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹55,727 crore to higher education, up 11% nominally, with boosts for AI centers, university townships, and research infrastructure. Yet, experts decry stagnant real-term growth amid inflation, with UGC grants historically slashed 61% in prior years. Research and innovation funding rose from ₹327 crore (revised 2025-26), but scholarship cuts signal prioritization of infrastructure over human capital.View the official budget document for detailed breakdowns.

State universities bear the brunt, as central funding favors IITs/IISc. Karnataka's public universities face pension arrears and partial grants—Kuvempu got ₹15 crore against ₹29 crore requested recently.

Financial Strains on Karnataka State Universities

Karnataka's 15+ state universities, including Kuvempu, grapple with chronic underfunding. Pension liabilities exceed hundreds of crores; Mysore University cited ₹82 crore burden despite ₹25 crore aid. Infrastructure needs ₹676 crore statewide, per the Karnataka State Higher Education Council. Research output suffers—India's global research share lags despite NEP 2020 ambitions.

• Unpaid pensions for 5+ years at multiple unis, diverting research funds.
• Delayed grants under RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan), a central scheme for state HEIs.
• Declining PhD enrollments in state institutions amid fellowship gaps.

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Kerala's Model: A Beacon for State Intervention?

Prof. Ananthamurthy praised Kerala after a recent visit, where state universities offer ₹15,000-₹20,000 monthly fellowships to full-time PhD scholars without central aid, plus postdocs. Kerala's Budget 2026 extends free education to graduates and bolsters research via KSCSTE (Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment), with JRF at ₹31,000 rising to ₹35,000. Chief Minister's Research Fellowship for minorities provides ₹20,000 monthly up to 5 years.

This federal assertion contrasts Karnataka's reliance on delayed central funds, highlighting potential for states to bridge gaps.Explore KSCSTE fellowships.

Impacts on Research Scholars and Academia

The ripple effects are profound: scholars self-fund amid delays, leading to dropouts (e.g., thousands from reserved categories in central unis), stalled projects, and brain drain to abroad or industry. Quality suffers—India's PhD output rose, but innovation metrics stagnate. At Kuvempu, complaints of guides demanding fees for reports underscore ethical strains.

• Financial distress: Months-long payment delays for NFST schemes.
• Reduced output: Fewer publications, patents from state unis.
• Inclusivity hit: Marginalized scholars disproportionately affected.
• Long-term: Weakened R&D pipeline for India's knowledge economy.

Kuvempu University Research Forum: Fostering Innovation Amid Cuts

In response, Kuvempu launched its Research Forum to spark cross-disciplinary dialogues, echoing IISc's coffee-shop breakthroughs. Objectives include freedom for young scholars beyond guides' directives and addressing malpractices. Speakers like M.S. Sriram (IIM Bengaluru) emphasized knowledge creation.

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Stakeholder Perspectives and Broader Implications

Experts urge balanced funding: more JRF slots, timely disbursals, state supplements. Retired Prof. Rajendra Chenni recalled past interdisciplinary efforts at Kuvempu stifled by admin. NEP 2020 envisions research unis, but funding must match. For jobs in this space, see university jobs.

Path Forward: Solutions and Optimism

Solutions include hybrid models: expand PMRF modestly, revive scaled UGC fellowships, incentivize industry sponsorships (e.g., via research assistant jobs), and state-level funds like Kerala's. Efficiency via digital tracking, performance audits. Outlook: With Budget boosts for clusters, targeted advocacy could reverse declines, positioning India as research hub.

• States emulate Kerala: Allocate 1-2% education budget to fellowships.
• Unis diversify: Endowments, alumni funding.
• Govt: Bridge JRF gap to 10,000+ annually.
• Scholars: Apply to CSIR/DBT alternatives, international options.

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