Doctoral/Post Doctoral Research Fellowships 2010 @ NATIONAL TESTING SERVICE-India in Testing and Evaluation

NATIONAL TESTING SERVICE-INDIA
Centre for Testing and Evaluation
H.Q: Central Institute of Indian Languages
( MHRD, Government of India)
MYSORE - 570 006

Award of NTS Research Fellowships

Attention! Post Graduates / Researchers!!

The NTS-India invites applications from post graduates / researchers of any discipline of study for the award of 30 Doctoral and 15 Post Doctoral fellowships (including two Doctoral and one Post Doctoral for North-Eastern Region) for the year 2010-11. The fellowships will be equally distributed among the three languages viz., Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu.

This is initiated with a view to promote research in the interdisciplinary areas of testing and evaluation. The research topic may be in any discipline but with a component on testing and evaluation.

The applicant should have studied one of the above 3 languages under Part I / Part II upto the graduate level. If the applicants are from other disciplines such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, management, etc., they should have studied one of these languages upto Higher Secondary level.

The value of fellowship for doctoral research is Rs. 10,000/- per month with a contingency of Rs. 20,000/- per annum; for post doctoral research Rs. 12,000/- per month with a contingency of Rs.30,000/- per annum. The period of the fellowship is 2 years and may be extended by one more year based on a strict assessment procedure in deserving cases when the need arises.

For prescribed application format, terms and conditions, operational details etc. please logon to www.ciil-ntsindia.net, www.ciil-miles.net, and look for ANNOUNCEMENT (NEW). The duly filled in applications in the prescribed format should reach the Head, NTS-India, CIIL, Mysore - 570 006, within 21 days of the date of publication of this advertisement (28 days for the candidates from North-East region only).

The Objectives :

(i) To extend financial assistance to scholars who intend to undertake research in the interdisciplinary area of testing and evaluation.

(ii) To create adequate human resources in this specialized area so that their services could be utilised for meeting a variety of evaluation requirements of the country.

(iii) To promote empirical studies on this essential component of education as part of developing a centralised mechanism on quality control in every discipline of study including language and literature.

(iv) To establish a system of eclectic intelligentsia by exploring the potentials available from all the sources as a basis for building up of the NTS as a vibrant social organisation.

(v) To facilitate the younger generation to focus their attention in bridging the gap between the system of formal education being practiced and the actual needs of the country.

General Eligibility

(i) Any one with first or high second class post graduate degree in any discipline under humanities (language, literature, linguistics, etc.), social science, commerce, science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.), engineering, medicine, management, agriculture, etc., is eligible to apply.

(ii) Those who have obtained degree in education, in addition to their post graduate degree, will get preference.

(iii) The applicants for doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships should be below 40 and 50 years of age respectively (relaxation of 3 years and  5 years in respect of OBC and SC/STs respectively is permissible). Freelancers / applicants with teaching / work experience in the area of evaluation may also be considered for age relaxation.

Terms & Conditions :

Value & duration of fellowships

Doctoral Fellowship
Post Doctoral Fellowship

(i) Rs.10, 000/-per month (subject to any revision by the Ministry of HRD) initially for a period of 2 years and may be extended by one more year based on a strict assessment procedure in deserving cases when the need arises.
(ii) Rs.12, 000/- per month (subject to any revision by the Ministry of HRD) initially for a period of 2 years and may be extended by one more year based on a strict assessment procedure in deserving cases when the need arises.

(i) A contingency grant of Rs.20,000/- per annum will also be provided to meet other related expenses such as field study / data collection, purchase of equipments, stationery, etc.
(ii) A contingency grant of Rs.30,000/-per annum will also be provided to meet other related expenses such as field study / data collection, purchase of equipments, stationery, etc.

Facilities such as leave, etc.

(i) Both doctoral and post doctoral candidates shall be entitled for a maximum period of 30 days of leave in a year in addition to public holidays. They will not be entitled for any other type of leave.

(ii) Women candidates may however be eligible for maternity leave of 135 days at full rates of fellowships only once during the whole tenure of the award of the fellowship.

(iii) In exceptional cases, the leave without fellowship shall be allowed but restricted to a maximum period of 3 months only once during the entire tenure of the fellowship.

(iv) The candidates while seeking any such leave shall have to apply through proper channel well in advance with supporting documents (such as medical certificates, appointment letters) for approval of the competent authority at the NTS Head Quarters.

Note : The respective guides / supervisors are requested to inform the NTS, if the scholar under them
takes extraordinary leave other than the leave prescribed under para (i) to (iv)].

Procedure for release of the fellowship 

The effective date of commencement of fellowship & its continuation will be decided by the competent authority based on the following:

(i) The joining / acceptance report.

(ii) Verification of documents / certificates, etc.

(iii) Confirmation of registration of Doctoral / Post Doctoral Fellowships.

(iv) The progress report of the work in every quarter duly signed by the supervisor/ guide, head of the department and countersigned by the Registrar or Dy. Registrar (Academic) or a concerned designate for such certification of the university / college / institute of higher learning.

Monitoring of the Progress:

(i) The performance of the candidates (both for doctoral and post doctoral fellowship) shall be regularly monitored by a designated committee as per the procedures established at the NTS.

(ii) The candidate will not be permitted to accept or hold any position paid or unpaid or receive emoluments / salary or stipends etc. from other sources during the tenure of the fellowship awarded by the NTS-India.

(iii) The fellowship may be terminated at any time during the tenure of its award, if the candidate:

(a)   Has not shown adequate progress after initiating the research.

(b)   Found involved in any activity detrimental to the NTS, or Govt. of India.

(c)   Found violating any of the terms & conditions of NTS fellowships.

(iv) Any additional claim after the actual tenure of fellowship shall be treated as illegal and in such case, the candidate is liable to face disciplinary action.

(v) The candidates will have to be available for discussion / orientation at the NTS Head Quarters, CIIL, Mysore for 90 days in a year during the fellowship period failing which their fellowship will be withheld. The period of 90 days can be spent at NTS Head Quarters in a maximum of three fractions.

(vi) Within the specified period, the candidate has to submit his/her thesis to the University / Institution concerned and a copy of the same to the NTS-India at CIIL, Mysore.

Conditions related to publication of research papers

(i)The candidates can write research papers / articles for seminars and journals, for publication with an intimation to Head, NTS.

(ii) Shifting of the place of work including transfer from one institution to another (in unavoidable circumstances) will be considered with prior permission from the competent authority of the NTS, CIIL.

Note: 1) The above terms & conditions will equally be binding upon the candidates of the North-East Region.

2) This will however be amended as and when required and as per directives of the PAC
of NTS / Ministry, which will be binding on the awardees.

Utilization of Contingent Grants :

1. A contingency grant of Rs. 20, 000/- (for doctoral research Scholars) and Rs. 30, 000/- (for Post Doctoral Research Scholars) is admissible per annum payable once in 6 months - 15th of March & 15th of September.

2. The grant may be utilized for the following items with the approval of the Supervisor and the Head, National Testing Service-India.

a. Purchase of books, journals, apparatus, chemicals, equipments, etc., needed for the approved research.

b. Cost of Xeroxing, typing (including thesis), stationery, postage and clerical or other assistance.

c. Expenditure incurred on field work / travel expenses.

3. On termination of the scholarship, the apparatus and other non-consumable articles purchased out of the contingency grant will become the property of the institution where the researcher works. A scholar may, retain with him the books purchased out of the contingency grant, with the permission of the Head, NTS.

4. The Contingency grant is not intended for meeting expenditure on furniture items normally provided by the University / College / Institute and payment of examination or other fees.

5. For all expenditure out of the contingency grant, a certificate from the Supervisor to the effect that the expenditure incurred was in furtherance of the approved research work will be necessary.

6. The travel expenses for field work / travel undertaken by a scholar in connection with the approved research work will be admissible. The travel cost will be limited to the II sleeper class. The daily allowance of Rs. 100/- will be admissible during the travel period as incidental charges.

Note: Fellowship will be released to the researcher directly with a copy marked to the supervisor, on receipt of pre-receipted bills duly signed by the researcher and countersigned by the supervisor.

Terms & Conditions, Utilization of Contingent Grants

Application Proforma

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