About LAMP
The Legislative Assistants to Members of Parliament (LAMP) Fellowship is a unique and exciting opportunity for young Indians to learn law-making and public policy. LAMP Fellows are mentored by a Member of Parliament (MP) and work full-time with the assigned MP during a given year, starting from the Monsoon session of Parliament till the end of the Budget session.
The primary role of a LAMP Fellow is to provide extensive research support to her/his MP for their parliamentary work. This includes drafting parliamentary questions for the MP, preparing the MP’s speeches for zero-hour debates, raising matters of public importance, drafting private members’ bills etc.
When Parliament is not in session, LAMP Fellows engage with policymakers, experts from various think tanks, academicians from several leading universities, and leaders from diverse public policy institutions through participation in workshops on important policy and development issues. LAMP Fellows also participate in field visits during the inter-session period for practical exposure to governance at the ground level.
Role of a LAMP
LAMP Fellowship provides an opportunity to be mentored by a Member of Parliament for 10-11 months, subject to the Parliamentary calendar. During the Fellowship, the Fellows will get the opportunity to engage with experts from diverse sectors and understand important policy and development issues in the country.
The Fellow’s primary task involves providing research support to the Member of Parliament (MP) that she/he is assigned to. A significant amount of the research a LAMP Fellow will undertake will be Parliament-related, such as inputs for bills, parliamentary questions, policy discussions and standing committee meetings.
LAMP Fellows are also required to provide background research for the conferences and media events MPs attend in their official capacity. While some MPs may delegate constituency-related work to their LAMP Fellows, taking up such work (including visits to the constituency) is subject to the agreement between the MP and the LAMP Fellow.
LAMP Fellows research topics as diverse as defence, food security, environment, economics and foreign affairs. Research tasks may include
- Legislative research
- Data Analysis
- Framing parliamentary questions
- Background research parliamentary debates
- Research for Standing Committee meetings
- Drafting Private Member Bills
- Media-related work including drafting press releases, preparing interventions for TV appearances
- Research for constituency-related issues
- Interacting with stakeholders
LAMP Fellows rarely have a “typical” work day. Research requests may have varying deadlines – ranging from thirty minutes to a couple of days, depending on the specifications of the MP. When Parliament is in session, the workload is likely to be heavier than the time between sessions.
Eligibility
PRS seeks to engage with highly motivated, bright young people for the LAMP Fellowship.
- LAMP Fellowship is open to candidates who are 25 years of age or below
- Candidate must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in any academic discipline.
- Only Indian citizens are eligible for the LAMP Fellowship.
How to Apply?
Apply by filling out the form given below this post.
Things you need to have ready before filling up the form:
1) Academic scores/grades (Undergraduate and upwards)
2) Details of work experience/internships/ volunteer work
3) A 500-word essay justifying your candidature for the LAMP Fellowship
4) A 500-word essay analysing any issue and the related policy implications
The essays should be written in English and your own words. Any material used in your essays from other sources must be properly cited. Application of candidates who have plagiarized their essays will be summarily rejected.
The form contains 8 sections:
Section 1: Personal information and contact details
Section 2: Academic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree
Section 3: Academic Qualification: Post Graduate Degree (if applicable)
Section 4: Academic Qualification: Other Degree / Course (if applicable)
Section 5: Work Experience (other than internships) (if applicable)
Section 6: Internship Experience (if applicable)
Section 7: Languages known
Section 8: Two essays (500 words each)
Candidates shortlisted in the first round will be required to take a mandatory online evaluation test on January 7, 2024.
If you have any doubts, please check the FAQs here. If you face difficulties filling out the online application form or have a question that’s not answered in the FAQs, please send an email to lampfellowship@prsindia.org.
Click here to Apply
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