ICAR Emeritus Scientist
A scheme by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) for outstanding retired agricultural scientists to continue nationally important research or teaching for up to 3 years after superannuation. Selected scientists receive a monthly honorarium of ₹50,000 on top of their pension, plus research grants and a dedicated research fellow. Applications are invited twice a year (June and December) — apply through your prospective host institution to ICAR's Deputy Director General (Education).
About This Scheme
A scheme by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) for outstanding retired agricultural scientists to continue nationally important research or teaching for up to 3 years after superannuation. Selected scientists receive a monthly honorarium of ₹50,000 on top of their pension, plus research grants and a dedicated research fellow. Applications are invited twice a year (June and December) — apply through your prospective host institution to ICAR's Deputy Director General (Education).
Full official description
The ICAR Emeritus Scientist Scheme is a structural method of tapping the Brain and skill bank of the outstanding superannuated professionals of NARS by allowing them to complete the work in hand for its fruitful conclusion, utilize their talent in teaching specialized courses and use their experience in addressing nationally important policy issues. Retired scientists may often be in a position to work and teach in economically and ecologically underprivileged regions. Hence their expertise should also be mobilized for launching a movement in science for remedying regional imbalances in agricultural development. The Emeritus Scientist scheme aims at:
- To Utilise the services of outstanding superannuated scientists from NARS by allowing them to complete the nationally important research already underway and also for initiating a new programme in nationally important priority areas.
- To Use the talent of outstanding retired teachers in teaching specialized courses and developing instructional material, especially multimedia for use in national agricultural education programmes including distance education. The benefit of the scheme shall be open only to the scientists of repute of the level of Principal Scientist/Professor and above from the National Agriculture Research System that includes State Agricultural Universities, Deemed Universities, Central Agricultural Universities, Central Universities having agriculture facilities, Centre and State funded institutions/organizations engaged in Agricultural Research, Education, Human Resource Development and Extension. The benefit of the scheme will be available only to complete the work in hand for its fruitful conclusion and it will not be extended for starting altogether a new project. The project proposal shall be of national importance and it is to be given only when other equally competent regular scientists are not available in the institute to carry out the proposed work in the field of agriculture, veterinary science & animal husbandry, fisheries, home science, dairy technology and allied sciences.
Benefits
- Monthly honorarium of ₹50,000 (in addition to pension)
- Annual contingency grant of up to ₹2,00,000 for lab materials, books, stationery, and domestic travel
- Funding for one Junior or Senior Research Fellow (JRF/SRF) for the full project duration
- Office space, laboratory, and library access at the host institution
- 1 month of paid leave per completed year; up to 3 months unpaid leave on medical grounds
- Residential accommodation at the host institute on priority basis
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be a retired (or retiring within 12 months) scientist at the level of Principal Scientist/Professor or above from NARS (State Agricultural Universities, Central Agriculture Universities, ICAR Institutes, etc.)
- Minimum 5 years of teaching or research experience and a strong publication record
- Maximum age at time of application: 65 years; preference given to those who retired within the past year
- Maximum working age under the scheme: 70 years or 3 years from retirement, whichever comes first
- Research project must be of national importance and a continuation of prior work — new projects are not eligible
How to Apply
How to apply The eligible scientist/ faculty who is to retire in the next 12 month time, may send 15 copies of the application in the prescribed Proforma to the Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR. The application should be submitted through the executive authority where the Emeritus Scientist Proposes to carry out the research, teaching, human resource development and extension duly recommended with justification. The applications will be invited twice a year i.e. in the month of June and December for which a specific circular will be issued depending upon the vacancies, The applicants have one year of service left or have superannuated before one year from the last working day of the month of notification (i.e. June or December) will be eligible for consideration under this scheme. Procedure of Selection The applications received will be referred to the concerned Subject Matter Division of ICAR and to a specialist in the discipline of the applicant for comments. The applications along with these comments will be placed before the Selection cum Standing Committee. Following criteria will be taken into consideration for the selection of an Emeritus Scientist: The scientist should have a minimum of 5 research papers in refereed journals in the last five years or should have received a national/ international level award/recognition or in case of teachers must have received national/university level awards for excellence in teaching or have received a letter of appreciation for excellence in teaching based on alumni feedback. The project proposal is of national importance and other equally competent regular scientists are not available in the institute to carry out the proposed work. The project proposal is in continuation of his/her work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum age to apply for Emeritus Scientist ?
Maximum age will be : 65
What will be the maximum age to work as Emeritus Scientist ?
Maximum age will be : 70
What is the official website ?
What wil be the required documents ?
The eligible scientist/ faculty who is to retire in the next 12 month time, may send 15 copies of the application in the prescribed Proforma to the Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR.
The application should be submitted through the executive authority where the Emeritus Scientist Proposes to carry out the research, teaching, human resource development and extension duly recommended with justification.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- The eligible scientist/ faculty who is to retire in the next 12 month time, may send 15 copies of the application in the prescribed Proforma to the Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR.
- The application should be submitted through the executive authority where the Emeritus Scientist Proposes to carry out the research, teaching, human resource development and extension duly recommended with justification.