Lok Sabha Question No. 2253 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-01
Subject: Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHAGIRATH PRASAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2253

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.01.2018

## RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP

## 2253.  DR. BHAGIRATH PRASAD:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the funds allocated during the last three years in the budget to implement Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship;
- (b) the  number  and  details  of  Scheduled  Tribe  candidates  who  were  awarded  the scholarship annually for pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D and M.Phil+Ph.D during the last three years;
- (c) the details of the actual expenditure under the said scheme and the achievements during the said period; and
- (d) whether any measures have been taken by the Government for effective implementation of the scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS ( SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR )

(a): The budget allocation under the erstwhile scheme of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for the year 2014-15 was Rs.50.00 crores.  During the year  2015-16, the two Central Sector scholarship schemes for ST students viz.,i)Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for ST students and  ii)Top Class Education Scheme for ST students were merged into a single Central Sector Scheme called  'National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students'. The  details  of  funds  allocated  under    the  merged    scheme  'National  Fellowship  and Scholarship for Higher  Education of ST students',    for both Fellowship and Scholarship components of the scheme, are as under:-

(Rs. In lakhs)

| 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2016-17   | 2016-17   |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| BE        | RE        | BE        | RE        |
| 5000.00   | 4881.00   | 5000.00   | 8000.00   |

BE: Budget Estimates,    RE: Revised Estimates

(b)&(c): The details of grants released, expenditure and the    number of Scheduled Tribe candidates awarded the Fellowship under the 'National Fellowship (RGNF)'  component of the scheme 'National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students' for the last three years  are as under:-

(Rs. in lakhs)

| 2014-15     | 2014-15        | 2015-16     | 2015-16       | 2016-17     | 2016-17        |
|-------------|----------------|-------------|---------------|-------------|----------------|
| Expenditure | Beneficiari es | Expenditure | Beneficiaries | Expenditure | Beneficiarie s |
| 0.00*       | 3335           | 3000.00     | 1408          | 4512.25     | 2197           |

* Unspent fund available with UGC utilised during the year.

- (d) The scheme  National Fellowship (Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship)  for ST students was    being  implemented  by  the  Ministry  through    University  Grants  Commission (UGC) till last year ie., 2016-17. However, it has been decided that the Ministry itself will  implement  the  Scheme  from  the  year  2017-18  onwards.  For  this  purpose  a dedicated portal has been designed in the Ministry for online applications.  During the current  year 2017-18 (as on 28.12.17), a total amount of Rs.52.21 crores has been released towards fellowship for  1934 Scheduled Tribe fellowship candidates.

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