Lok Sabha Question No. 750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: National Fellowship Scheme
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 750

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 12/12/2022

## NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP SCHEME

750. SHRI T.N.PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the number of Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who benefitted under the National Fellowship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students from the year 2014 in the country, State and yearwise;
- (b)  whether the Union Government is having a plan to extend the scheme to institutes other than the Institute of National Importance and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the amount of funds allocated, disbursed, and utilised for the tribal students in the country, State-wise under the scheme from the year 2014, year-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a): National Fellowship Scheme for Higher Education of ST students is central sector scheme. There are 750 slots every  year, however no slots are reserved for States/UTs. The selection is based on the merit list prepared for  all  the candidates across the country who are eligible and applied for scholarship.  The details of beneficiaries and amount released from 2016-17is given below:
- (b): As per para 2.4 of guidelines on National Fellowship,  eligible students can take admission for  regular  and  full  time  M.  Phil/Ph.D  courses  in  the  following  categories  of  University  / Academic Institutes: -
- i. Universities/Institutes/Colleges included under section 2(f)/12(B) or 2(f) and 12(B) of UGC Act.
- ii. Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 and eligible to receive grant-in-aid from UGC.
- iii. Universities/ Institutes/ Colleges receiving grants by Central/ State Government
- iv. Institutes of National Importance, as notified by Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India.
- (c): The amount of funds allocated, disbursed, and utilized for the tribal students in the country, under the National Fellowship scheme from 2016 year-wise is given below:-
*   Fund allocation is common for two sub schemes i.e., National Fellowship Scheme and National Scholarship Scheme

| Year    |   Amount Disbursed (Rs. in Cr.) | No. of Beneficiaries   |
|---------|---------------------------------|------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                           73.32 | 2197                   |
| 2017-18 |                           70.22 | 3288*                  |
| 2018-19 |                           82.09 | 2519                   |
| 2019-20 |                           81    | 2552                   |
| 2020-21 |                           90.7  | 2625                   |
| 2021-22 |                           84.83 | 2693                   |
| 2022-23 |                           62.15 | 2066                   |

| Year                   | Fund allocated * (Rs. in Cr.)   |   Fund allocated * (Rs. in Cr.) |   Fund Disbursed/utilized for Fellowship Scheme (Rs. in Cr.) |
|------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17                |                                 |                           73.32 |                                                        73.32 |
| 2017-18                |                                 |                           70.22 |                                                        70.22 |
| 2018-19                |                                 |                           82.09 |                                                        82.09 |
| 2019-20                |                                 |                          100    |                                                        81    |
| 2020-21                |                                 |                          120    |                                                        90.7  |
| 2021-22                |                                 |                          120    |                                                        84.83 |
| 2022-23 [upto Nov' 22] |                                 |                          100    |                                                        62.15 |

Note: It is a central sector scheme and funds are not allocated state-wise & hence state-wise data of release of funds is not maintained.

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