New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS): The government will provide annual scholarships to five Indian students for doctoral research in science, engineering and mathematics to create a "critical mass of performing scientists", the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to support five Indian students every year for doctoral research in science, engineering and mathematics at CMU, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Y.S. Chowdary, said in a written reply.

"The SERB proposed to spend $2.4 million while CMU will spend at least $5 million on Indian students who will be selected from 2016-17 to 2020-21," Chowdary said.

"This overseas doctoral fellowship programme is aimed to build national capacity where the talent supply of researchers in the areas of interest to the country is sub-critical," he added.

According to Chowdary, the programme will in the long run create a critical mass of performing scientists in niche areas to strengthen national programmes of interest to the country.