On 24 September 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the DSIR/CSIR Scheme for Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CBHRD) with an outlay of ₹2,277.397 crore for the period of the Fifteenth Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
The scheme will cover a wide range of institutions - R&D institutions, national laboratories, Institutes of National Importance, Institutes of Eminence, and universities. It has four sub-schemes:
Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships
Extramural Research, Emeritus Scientist, Bhatnagar Fellowship schemes
Promotion and Recognition of Excellence through Awards
Travel & Symposia Grants / Knowledge Sharing
One of the stated drivers is to strengthen the Science, Technology, Engineering, Medical and Mathematical (STEMM) ecosystem in India, increasing researchers per million population and advancing India’s research outputs. The press release links this to India’s improved ranking on the Global Innovation Index (GII) (39th in 2024) and increased scientific publications.
Policy Relevance:
The scheme addresses a critical bottleneck: human capital in R&D. Without adequate researchers, fellowships, and connectivity to international symposia, India cannot scale innovation or technology leadership.
It dovetails with national priorities like Amrit Kaal innovation goals, efforts to boost domestic high-tech manufacturing, and improving India’s global science standing.
For institutions like CSIR, DST, and higher education bodies, the scheme provides both incentives and structural backing to attract and retain scientific talent.
In policy terms, monitoring implementation (fellowship uptake, equitable geographic / institutional spread, research output outcomes) will be as important as disbursal.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders
How can states, universities, and research institutions be aligned to ensure that the CBHRD scheme not only expands numbers of researchers but improves quality, inter-disciplinary collaboration, and translation into innovation and industry impact?
Follow the full news here: Cabinet approves DSIR Scheme “Capacity Building and Human Resource Development”
