Context: Union Minister for Science & Technology launched a scheme titled “SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)”, designed exclusively for women scientists.
About SERB-POWER

• SERB-POWER is an initiative of the Department of Science & Technology (DST).

The scheme will have two components:
SERB-POWER Fellowship

• Target: Women researchers in 35-55 years of age. Up to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time.
• Components of support: Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income; Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum; and Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.
• Duration: Three years, without the possibility of extension. Once in a career.

SERB-POWER Research Grants

• Level I (Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions): The scale of funding is up to 60 lakhs for three years.
• Level II (Applicants from State Universities/Colleges and Private Academic Institutions): The scale of funding is up to 30 lakhs for three years.
• POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG (Science and Engineering Research Board -Core Research Grant) guidelines.
• While a Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the purpose will help in identifying the POWER Fellowship, the existing Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) mechanism will be used to select the POWER Research Grants.
• It is proposed to institute 25 POWER Fellowships annually. A total of 50 POWER Grants each will be sanctioned in Level I & Level II per annum.
• These schemes of the government are expected to empower women scientists and cultivate a women-friendly culture in India’s academic and research institutions and ensure more women in leadership positions in decision-making bodies.

About SERB

• The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament.
• Supporting basic research in emerging areas of Science & Engineering is the primary and distinctive mandate of the Board.
• The SERB Act 2008 is the legislation of Parliament that established the Board.
• It functions under the Department of Science and Technology, GOI.

Objectives of SERB

• Serve as a premier agency for planning, promoting and funding of internationally competitive research in emerging areas.
• Identify major inter-disciplinary research areas, and individuals, groups or institutions and fund them for undertaking research.
• Assist in setting up infrastructure and environment for scientific pursuit.
• Enable in order to achieve synergy between academic institutions, research and development laboratories and industry for promoting basic research in science and engineering.
• Evolve a system of approach to expeditiously provide funding for research, including monitoring and evaluation, by adopting modern management practices.

Status of Women in Science