National Research Professors will now get enhanced honorarium and pension. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Human Resource Development on Thursday for revision of rates of honorarium, pension and contingency allowances for National Research Professorship (NRP). They will be now entitled to get Rs. 75,000 as monthly honorarium instead of Rs. 25,000 and pension of Rs. 25,000 for NRP pensioners. This will be effective from 1st April 2009.
In the past Noble prize winner C.V. Raman, scientist S.N. Bose, film personality Satyajit Ray, Shahnai mastreo Ustad Bismillah Khan and eminent Sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar, renowned cardiac surgeon M S Valiathan, litterateur Mahesveta Devi; and well-known theatre personality Habib Tanvir, had been appointed as NRPs. Recently scientist C.N.R. Rao, biologist Obaid Siddiqui and mathematician C.S. Seshadri were appointed as national research professors in recognition of their contributions.
It is notable that the Scheme of National Research Professorship was instituted in 1949, to honour distinguished academics and scholars in recognition of their contribution to knowledge. Persons of real eminence who have attained the age of 65 years and who have made outstanding contribution in their respective areas are considered for appointment as National Research Professors. The appointment is made initially for a period of 5 years.
These appointments are made on the recommendation of a committee set up under the National Research Professorship Scheme comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Human Resource Development, Finance and Home Ministry.