Lok Sabha Question No. 5661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-02
Subject: Research Fellowship
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5661 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2018

## Research Fellowship

## 5661. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

## Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Ministry  had  announced  the  hike  in  the  Net-Research  Fellowship  by  more than half in 2015 and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the students availing non-net fellowships find it harder to deal with both research and daily expenses;

(c) if so, whether the Government is proposing to index fellowships with inflation, based on a formula and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is aware that there is inordinate delay in disbursing stipend by University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  for  research  students  even  after  qualifying  Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)/National Eligibility Test (NET) and if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether   the Government has effected any budgetary cut for research in higher education, owing to shortage of funds and if so, the details thereof; and

(f)  whether  the  Government  has  decided  as  a  policy  decision  that  Retired  Professors  and Foreign Students are not eligible to  receive  Fellowship  under  the  UGC  Scheme  of  non-net fellowships and if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## ANSWER (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)    The  University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that they have hiked the NetResearch Fellowship with effect from 01.12.2014. The Net-Research Fellowship is for five years.  For the first two years, the Fellowship is called Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for the remaining period it is called Senior Research Fellowship (SRF).

The hike in the Net-Research Fellowship is as follows:-

| Fellowship   | Previous (in Rs.)   | Enhanced Fellowship (in Rs.)   |
|--------------|---------------------|--------------------------------|
| JRF          | 16000 per month     | 25000 per month                |
| SRF          | 18000 per month     | 28000 per month                |

- (b)    Central  Universities  charge  nominal  fees  from  the  students.  Further,  under  Non-NET Fellowship,  University  Grants  Commission  is  providing  to  the  students,    Rs.  8,000/-  per month  for  full  time  Ph.D,  Rs.3000/-  per  month  for  full  time  M.Phil  and  Contingency Rs.10,000/- per annum for Science subject and Rs.8000/- per annum for Humanities & Social Sciences.  The fellowship amount is provided for meeting the research and daily expenses of the students.
- (c) No.
- (d)  There  is  no  reported  delay  in  disbursal  of  fellowship  by  the  UGC.    However,  in  a  few cases there may be delay in disbursements due to (i0 late joining by candidates; (ii) delay in submission  of  documents to  the  bank  branches;  (iii)  delay  in  uploading  of  documents;  (iv) technical problems in Public Financial Management  System(PFMS).
- (e)  No budgetary cut has been made.
- (f)  Yes, Madam.  The retired Professors and the Foreign students are not eligible to receive Fellowship under the UGC scheme of Non-NET Fellowships.

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