Lok Sabha Question No. 4611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-22
Subject: Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4611

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2019

## Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship

4611. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has initiated a Central scheme under the name of Rajiv Gandhi National  Fellowship  (RGNF)  for  SC/ST  candidates  from  2005-  2006  onwards,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  said  scheme  is  implemented  by  UGC,  if  so,  the  total  amount  of  funds allocated to the Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RSTM) by UGC under the said scheme during the years from 2007 to 2016, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (c) the details of candidates in RSTM, Nagpur University who were awarded the fellowship under the RGNF during the said years and how many of these awardees have successfully completed their M.Phil./ Ph. D. degree; and
- (d)  whether  the  total  amount  of  fellowship  allocated  under  the  RGNF  Scheme  has  been disbursed to their  respective candidates  after  their successful  completion of  M.Phil./Ph.  D. degree during the years 2007 to 2016 and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK' )

- (a):  Yes,  Sir.  The  Rajiv  Gandhi  National  Fellowship  (RGNF)  scheme  for  Scheduled  Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) is formulated and funded by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment  and  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA)  respectively.  The  scheme  provides financial  assistance  as  fellowship,  contingency  and  HRA  etc.  to  selected  candidates belonging to SC/ST Categories for pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D research on full time/regular basis in Universities/Institutions/ Colleges in India.
- (b)  &  (c):    Yes,  Sir.  The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  is  implementing  RGNF  for SC/ST candidates.  The  RGNF  for  ST  is  fully  transferred  to  MoTA  from  the  selection  year 2017-18.

As informed by the UGC, the scholars are selected based upon the State-wise slots fixed  by  the  respective  Ministries.  Thus,  the  fellowships  are  awarded  to  the  scholars irrespective of University/Institution/College. Funds  amounting  to  Rs.  398.20  lakhs  and  Rs.  42.80  lakhs  have  been  released  to Rashtrasant  Tukdoji  Maharaj  Nagpur  University  (RSTM)  under  RGNF-SC  and  RGNF-ST schemes respectively for the period 2006-07 to 2016-17. The total number of beneficiaries for the same period has been 106 under RGNF-SC and 11 under RGNF-ST from RSTM. The  UGC  has  further  informed  that  these  schemes  are  on  tenure  basis  and scholarship is provided to the scholars for five years or till the submission of their Ph.D thesis, whichever  is  earlier.  The  fellowship  is  paid  as  long  as  there  is  confirmation  from  the respective institutions of satisfactory research work by the scholars but limited to maximum of 5 years. (d): Rs.1123.91 crore and Rs.389.06 crore were released towards RGNF for SC and RGNF

for ST between the financial years 2007-08 to 2016-17 respectively.

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