Respected Sir, I am a final year B. Tech. student from an IIT belonging to ST category having 8.45 CGPA till 7th sem. As per the Prime Minister Research Fellow Scheme for direct PhD as mentioned in the attached file published in the MHRD website, I have the following queries: 1. Whether students belonging to ST category will get relaxation in CGPA criteria of more than 8.5, that is, will a student belonging to ST category having 8.45 CGPA be eligible to apply. 2. What are the detailed guidelines for the process of selection, whether the institute giving admission also take their separate interview, or selection will be done only based on a project proposal with no interview/test in the institute level.