Keralam Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Keralam Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship Scheme (also written as Vidyaposhini or Vidhyaposhini Fellowship) is a research fellowship of the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change (DoECC), Government of Kerala. The Directorate runs it under its Environmental Research and Development Scheme to help postgraduate students in Kerala carry out short-term research projects in environment and climate change subjects as part of their academic coursework. Each selected project gets financial support of up to ₹25,000.

Many PG students in environment-related courses must complete a research project in their final semester, but fieldwork, sampling, lab tests, and data collection cost money. DoECC launched the Vidyaposhini Fellowship to fill this gap. The objective of the fellowship is to promote research in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Technology, Environmental Management, Environmental Studies, and Climate Change Studies by supporting PG students in Kerala to take up short-term research projects linked to their coursework. In simple terms, the scheme turns a routine academic project into a funded research opportunity and builds a pool of young environmental researchers in the state.

Students enrolled in a regular M.Sc., M.Tech. or M.A. course in these subjects at a recognised college or university in Kerala can apply, but only in their final (4th) semester or at the end of the 3rd semester. Each student works with a Teacher Investigator from their institution, and the application needs the consent of both the Teacher Investigator and the Head of Institution. DoECC releases the grant to the Head of the Institution in two equal instalments of ₹12,500, and each project runs for six months from the date of sanction.

The fellowship works through a simple cycle. Students submit the application online and by post in the prescribed format; a Technical Committee constituted by DoECC evaluates the proposals, and the Directorate issues a sanction order to selected projects. The institution then intimates the start date of the project within one month, receives the first instalment, completes the research, and submits the final report along with the Utilization Certificate (UC) and Expenditure Statement (ES) to claim the second instalment. Awardees are also encouraged to publish their findings in reputed journals and must acknowledge DoECC in every publication or patent that comes out of the project.

Apart from the Keralam Vidyaposhini Students Fellowship Scheme, the Kerala Government is also running the Chief Minister’s Research Fellowship for Minorities (₹2.40 lakh per year for full-time Ph.D. scholars from minority communities) and the Civil Service Fee Reimbursement Scholarship (₹20,000 coaching fee + ₹10,000 hostel fee for minority students preparing for Civil Services exams at recognised centres). You can check the complete details of these schemes here

Benefits of Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship

The Keralam Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship gives selected PG students a funded research project with clear payment terms, as listed below.

• Research grant: Maximum financial assistance of ₹25,000 per project.
• Two instalments: DoECC pays the grant in two equal instalments of ₹12,500 each.
• Payment mode: The Directorate releases the grant to the Head of the Institution, not directly to the student.
• Six-month project: Students get six months from the date of sanction to complete the research.
• Extension option: DoECC can extend the project period for valid reasons if the request reaches it before the sanctioned period ends.
• Faculty guidance: The student carries out the project under an approved Teacher Investigator.
• Year-round applications: The application window remains open throughout the year.
• Biannual evaluation: DoECC evaluates applications twice a year, considering all applications received in the preceding five months for each cycle.

Instalment-wise Release of Grant

Each instalment is linked to a specific condition, as shown here.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Vidya Poshini Fellowship, applicants must fulfil the following requirements.

• The student must be currently enrolled in a regular Postgraduate course - M.Sc., M.Tech., or M.A.
• The course must be in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Technology, Environmental Management, Environmental Studies, or Climate Change Studies.
• The student must study at a recognised college or university in Kerala.
• Only students in the final semester (4th semester) or at the end of the 3rd semester can apply.
• The application must carry the consent of both the Teacher Investigator and the Head of Institution in the prescribed format.
• The student must not submit the same project for funding under any other government fellowship, agency, or funding body.

Who is Not Eligible?

The following applicants and proposals are not eligible for the fellowship:

• Students in the 1st or 2nd semester, or in the middle of the 3rd semester.
• Students in PG courses outside the six listed environment and climate change subjects.
• Students studying outside Kerala, or in courses that are not regular PG programmes.
• Incomplete applications, or applications without the consent of the Teacher Investigator and Head of Institution.

Documents Required

Applicants are required to submit the following documents both at the application stage and after the project has concluded.

At the Time of Application

Submit these documents along with your proposal:

• Completed application in the prescribed format
• Consent of the Teacher Investigator and Head of Institution in the prescribed format
• Supporting documents as required by the application format

After Sanction (For 1st Instalment)

Selected projects must send the following to receive the first instalment:

• Terms & Conditions form signed by the Student Investigator, Teacher Investigator, and Head of Institution, with the office seal

After Project Completion (For 2nd Instalment)

The institution must submit these documents to claim the second instalment:

• Final project report (soft copy in PDF), certified by the Teacher Investigator and Head of Institution
• Utilization Certificate (UC) in KFC Form 44
• Detailed Expenditure Statement (ES)

Who Signs the UC and ES?

The guidelines fix the authorised signatory based on the type of institution.

Steps to Apply

The application process is both online and offline. Students are required to submit a soft copy online and a hard copy by post. The steps outlined below will help students clearly understand and complete the application process.

• Make sure you are in a regular M.Sc./M.Tech./M.A. course in one of the six listed subjects in Kerala and are in your 4th semester or at the end of your 3rd semester.
• Fix the research topic with a faculty member who will act as your Teacher Investigator.
• Visit envt.kerala.gov.in and download the Vidyaposhini Fellowship application format and details.
• Complete every field in the prescribed format. DoECC summarily rejects incomplete applications.
• Obtain the consent of the Teacher Investigator and the Head of Institution in the prescribed format.
• Add all the documents the application format asks for.
• Submit the soft copy: Send the completed application online (soft copy) as per the guidelines.
• Post the hard copy: Send the signed hard copy with documents to the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, 4th Floor, KSRTC Bus Terminal, Thampanoor P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695001.

Note: The completed application must be submitted online as a soft copy. Specific details on the submission portal/mode have not yet been provided by the concerned authority. As soon as official information is received, it will be shared with you. For any clarification, you can contact the department at [email protected] or helpline 0471-2326264.

Selection Process

After submission, DoECC selects projects through the following process.

• DoECC collects applications received during the five months before each evaluation cycle.
• A Technical Committee constituted by DoECC evaluates all applications.
• The decision of DoECC in all selection matters is final.
• DoECC issues a sanction order for each selected project.

After Selection: Project and Payment Process

Selected students and their institutions must complete these steps to receive the full grant.

• Sign Terms & Conditions: The Student Investigator, Teacher Investigator, and Head of Institution sign the Terms & Conditions form and submit it to DoECC.
• Receive 1st instalment: DoECC releases ₹12,500 to the Head of the Institution.
• Intimate start date: The institution informs DoECC of the project start date within one month of receiving the sanction order.
• Complete the research: Finish the project within six months of sanction under the approved Teacher Investigator. Send any extension request before the sanctioned period ends.
• Submit final documents: Send the certified final report (PDF), UC in KFC Form 44, and detailed ES. Submit the final consolidated UC and ES within one month of project completion.
• Receive 2nd instalment: After DoECC verifies and accepts the UC and ES, it releases the balance ₹12,500.

Important Terms and Conditions

The selected institution and investigators must follow these key conditions from the official Terms & Conditions.

• The institution cannot transfer the project to another institution or divert the grant for any other purpose.
• Any change of Teacher Investigator needs prior approval from DoECC; change of Student Investigator is not permitted.
• Delay in submitting the report, UC or ES may lead to withholding or non-release of pending instalments.
• DoECC can review, monitor or audit the project at any stage, and the Accountant General or any authorised authority can audit the accounts.
• Misuse of funds, non-compliance or unsatisfactory progress can lead to cancellation of the fellowship and recovery of the grant.
• All publications, presentations and patents from the project must acknowledge DoECC.
• DoECC may issue further operational instructions from time to time, and the institution and investigators must follow them.

Relevant Links

• Keralam Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship Scheme Application Form
• Guidelines of Keralam Vidya Poshini students fellowship
• Revised Guidelines of Keralam Vidya Poshini students fellowship
• Keralam Vidya Poshini Students Fellowship Notification
• Directorate of Environment & Climate Change (DoECC), Kerala

Contact Information

• Directorate of Environment & Climate Change Helpline Number: 0471-2326264
• Directorate of Environment & Climate Change Helpdesk Email: [email protected]
• Directorate of Environment & Climate Change (DoECC), Kerala Contact Details