The Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) is an on-going National Program of Fellowship in Basic Sciences, initiated and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to attract exceptionally highly motivated students for pursuing basic science courses and research career in science.
The objective of the program is to identify students with talent and aptitude for research; help them realize their academic potential; encourage them to take up research careers in Science, and ensure the growth of the best scientific minds for research and development in the country.
The advertisement for the KVPY Fellowship appears in all the national dailies normally on the Technology Day (May 11) and the Second Sunday of July every year.
Selection of the students is made from those studying in XI standard to 1st year of any undergraduate Program in Basic Sciences namely B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./M.S. in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology having aptitude for scientific research. Special groups / Committees are set up at IISc to screen the applications and conduct an aptitude test at various centres in the country. Based on the performance in the aptitude test, short-listed students are called for an interview which is the final stage of the selection procedure. For receiving a fellowship, both aptitude test and interview marks are considered.
Generous fellowships are provided up to the pre-Ph.D. level to the selected KVPY Fellows.
The "Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana" (KVPY) is a program started in 1999 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India to encourage students who are studying Basic Sciences to take up research career in Science. The aim of the program is to identify and encourage talented and motivated students to pursue career in research.
This program aims to assist the students to realize their potential and to ensure that the best scientific talent is groomed for research and development in the country. Generous fellowship and contingency grant are provided to the selected KVPY Fellows up to the pre Ph.D. level or 5 years whichever is earlier. In addition, summer camps for the KVPY Fellows are organized in prestigious research and educational institutions in the country.
The Department of Science and Technology, the nodal agency of the Government has entrusted the overall responsibility for organizing and running the KVPY Program to the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and set up a Management Committee and a National Advisory Committee (NAC) for overseeing its implementation. A core committee looks after both the day-to-day and academic aspects of the KVPY Program.
The Fellow continues to study Basic Science courses in school/junior college/university, and maintains a minimum level of academic performance of first class or 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate or equivalent grade points and the students has to necessarily pass all the subjects prescribed for that particular academic year (two semesters in case of semester system) and should have obtained the above specified percentage of marks. In the course work, in each academic year, the marks/grades will have to be certified by the Dean or Head of the Institution. The fellowship will be discontinued if the above marks/grade is not obtained. However, if the fellow passes all the subjects and obtains greater than 60% ((50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in the subsequent years, the fellowship can be renewed only from that year onwards, again with the condition that the fellow should obtain 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate every year. This is effective from 2012 awardees onwards. The Student is eligible to receive the KVPY fellowship upto Pre-PhD level or 5 years whichever is earlier.
In addition to the above, participation and satisfactory performance in the Summer Camp in the first year and Summer project every year thereafter is required for renewal of the fellowship.
KVPY Fellows who opt out of the basic science (B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./M.S.) stream at any stage will forfeit the Fellowship and Contingency Grant forthwith.
The fellowship for the students selected under the stream SA/SX/SB will be started after the XII Standard/ (+2) / I year UG, only if they pursue an undergraduate course in Basic Sciences, that are, B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./M.S. in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Ecology, Molecular Biology, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, Biotechnology, Neurosciences, Bioinformatics, Marine Biology, Geology, Human Biology, Genetics, Biomedical Sciences, Applied Physics, Materials Science, Environmental Science or Geophysics.
Participation and satisfactory performance in the summer programme/Project each year from the second year (B.Sc./B.S./B.Math./B.Stat /Integrated M.Sc./Integrated M.S.) onwards in an academic Institution of National or International repute or a DSIR approved research labs (in case of private lab or institutions) is mandatory for renewal of the Fellowship. The report on the summer programme /project together with the assessment report from the mentor will have to be forwarded along with the course performance certificate etc. for renewal purpose from second year of B.Sc./B.S./B.Math./B.Stat /Integrated M.Sc./Integrated M.S. program.
Each KVPY Fellow will be issued an Identity Card so as to have access to National Laboratories/ Universities who have agreed to extend special privileges like library, laboratory facilities, etc. to KVPY Fellows on production of the ID card.
We hope that the award of the Fellowship to a student acts as an encouragement and motivation to take up research in a subject in B.S. (Basic Sciences) of their liking that induces the student to choose a research career.
The KVPY Fellowships are given to Indian Nationals to Study in India (Students intending to pursue/pursing under graduate program under Distance Education scheme/correspondence course of any university are not eligible to apply).
Stream SA: Students enrolled in XI Standard (Science Subjects) during the academic year 2022-20 and having secured a minimum of 75% (65% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects in the X Standard Board examination immediately in the preceding academic year are eligible to appear for Aptitude test.
The fellowship of the students selected under this stream will be activated only if they join an undergraduate course in Basic Sciences (B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S.) in the academic year 2021-22 after having secured a minimum of 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in Science subjects in the XII standard/(+2) Board Examination. During the interim period of one year they will be invited for the National Science (Vijyoshi) Camp and their travel expenses and local hospitality will be met by KVPY.
Stream SX: Students enrolled in XII Standard/ (+2) (Science subjects) during the academic year 2022–20 and aspiring to join undergraduate program in Basic Sciences namely Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics & Biology leading to B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S. for the session 2022–21 provided they have secured a minimum of 75% (65% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects (Physics/Chemistry/ Biology) in the X Standard Board Examination during the academic year 2017-18 are eligible to appear for the Aptitude test.
The fellowship of the students selected under this stream will be activated only if they join an undergraduate course in Basic science (B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S.) in the academic year 2022-21 after having secured a minimum of 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) in the XII standard Board Examination during academic year 2022-20.
Students in their 2nd year of study in Cambridge International Examination Board and aspiring to join an UG program (viz. B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S.)in Basic Sciences namely Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology in the Academic year 2022-20 are eligible to apply provided they have secured a minimum of 75% (65% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) in the X Standard Board Examination. They must secure 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) in the XII standard Board Examination before taking up the fellowship, if awarded.
Stream SB: Students enrolled in the 1st year of undergraduate program in Basic Sciences namely Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics & Biology leading to B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S. during the academic year 2022–20 and having secured a minimum of 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) in the XII Standard Board Examination are eligible to appear for the Aptitude test. In the 1st year final examination of B.Sc./B.S./B.Math./B.Stat./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S. they must secure 60% (50% for SC/ST/PWD) marks before taking up the fellowship, if awarded.
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) Olympiad Exam is conducted for the following classes.