Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which now runs SERB schemes under the Department of Science and Technology, continues Accelerate Vigyan Scheme through the portal acceleratevigyan.gov.in for PG and PhD level students across India. ABHYAAS, a component of this scheme, covers two programs called Karyashala for high-end workshops and Vritika for research internships, and calls for applications open twice a year through faculty members at institutes such as IITs, IISc, IISERs and NITs.
Vritika interns get support of up to ₹30,000 for the full internship period, along with travel reimbursement as per government norms. Karyashala workshops run for one to two weeks with daily expenses of participating students, such as food, stay and stationery, covered by the host institute through SERB/ANRF funding support.
Accelerate Vigyan ABHYAAS Apply Online Process
Accelerate Vigyan Scheme works to build a system for finding research potential, mentoring, training and hands-on workshops on a national scale. ABHYAAS is especially useful for students who have limited access to such learning facilities and infrastructure. Applications for both Karyashala and Vritika are submitted online, not by individual students directly, but by a Faculty member or Scientist at an eligible institute who acts as the Event Organizer (EO). Below is the process to apply online for ABHYAAS through Karyashala / Vritika application form:
ABHYAAS (Karyashala / Vritika) Application Form
STEP 1 - Visit official Accelerate Vigyan Scheme portal at acceleratevigyan.gov.in
STEP 2 - On homepage, click "ABHYAAS (Skill Development)" section as shown below:
STEP 3 - Direct link to Abhyaas page - https://acceleratevigyan.gov.in/programs/abhyas
STEP 4 - On this page, both Abhyaas components, Karyashala (high-end workshops) and Vritika (research internships), will appear as shown below:
STEP 5 - Karyashala Apply Online - Click "Apply Now" under Karyashala section, then "Join Now" tab. On login page, new applicants can "register as student" first. Registration form for Karyashala looks like below:
STEP 6 - Vritika Apply Online - Click "Apply Now" under Vritika section, then "Join Now" tab. On login page, register as student to open Vritika application form as shown below:
Event Organizer, meaning the Faculty member or Scientist, has to register on Accelerate Vigyan web portal first and follow instructions given there for submission of applications. Students cannot apply on their own, they get selected once their institute's proposal is approved and applications are invited internally.
Who Can Apply for Abhyaas Karyashala / Vritika
Faculty or Scientists working in central institutions of higher learning and research, such as IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs and other institutes of eminence like CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, are invited as Event Organizers for running Karyashala workshops and Vritika internships. PG and PhD level students of universities, colleges and private academic institutions are the actual beneficiaries, and they get selected through their host institute's own shortlisting process once the proposal is approved.
Support Amount Under Abhyaas Component
For Karyashala, daily expenses such as travel, stationery, consumables, stay and food for participating students are covered by the host institute through SERB/ANRF funding. Karyashala workshops cannot have more than 25 student participants at a time. For Vritika, support amount is up to ₹30,000 per intern for the whole internship period, and this covers daily expenses, not a stipend. Interns also get travel reimbursement for the journey to the host institute, both ways, as per government norms. One supervisor can guide a maximum of 5 interns at a time under Vritika.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Accelerate Vigyan Scheme - ABHYAAS (Karyashala / Vritika) |
| Administered By | SERB, now functioning under Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Department of Science and Technology |
| Eligible Applicants (Event Organizer) | Faculty / Scientists at IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs, CSIR, ICAR, ICMR and similar institutes |
| Actual Beneficiaries | PG / PhD level students shortlisted by host institute |
| Karyashala Duration | 1 to 2 weeks per workshop, up to 25 students |
| Vritika Duration | 4 weeks to 2 months per intern, up to 5 interns per supervisor |
| Vritika Support Amount | Up to ₹30,000 per intern |
| Application Mode | Online, through Event Organizer only |
| Official Website | acceleratevigyan.gov.in |
When Does Application Window Open
Calls for Karyashala and Vritika proposals open twice a year. Institutes generally submit proposals in May for winter season programs (November to January), and in November for summer season programs (May to July next year). Application form stays open on the portal only during an active call period, so it is worth checking acceleratevigyan.gov.in directly before starting the process, since exact opening and closing dates change every cycle.
Documents Required to Apply
Host institute needs to upload a few documents along with the online application, and these are checked before a proposal gets approved. Required documents include:
- Endorsement letter signed and stamped by competent authority of host institute, confirming institutional support for the workshop or internship.
- Short summary of the workshop or planned research work, including objectives, schedule and list of experts involved.
- Host institute's bank account details, needed for release of SERB/ANRF funding support.
Official Website and Contact Details
For more details, guidelines and current call status, visit official Accelerate Vigyan portal at acceleratevigyan.gov.in or SERB/ANRF page at serb.gov.in. Program Coordinator and Program Officer details for Abhyaas are also listed on official ANRF website for institutes that need direct help. Applicants working in similar SERB research schemes can also check SERB POWER Research Grants for additional funding support meant for women scientists.
FAQ's
Can a student apply directly for Karyashala or Vritika?
No, students cannot apply directly on Accelerate Vigyan portal. Only Faculty members or Scientists at eligible institutes can register as Event Organizer and submit proposal. Once approved, host institute invites applications from students and shortlists them.
What is difference between Karyashala and Vritika?
Karyashala is a short, high-end workshop of 1 to 2 weeks covering hands-on training on specific research skills. Vritika is a longer research internship of 4 weeks to 2 months where students work under a supervisor on an actual research assignment.
Is Vritika support amount a stipend?
No, up to ₹30,000 given under Vritika is meant to cover daily expenses such as stay, food and consumables during internship, not a stipend or salary. Travel reimbursement is given separately as per government norms.
Who looks after Accelerate Vigyan Scheme now?
SERB functions under Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Department of Science and Technology now, so Accelerate Vigyan Scheme related funding and approvals are managed through ANRF, although application portal acceleratevigyan.gov.in remains same.