Lok Sabha Question No. 2849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Scholarship to SC Community
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2849 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026

## SCHOLARSHIP TO SC COMMUNITY

## 2849 . SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the scholarship/fellowship schemes currently being implemented by the Government for SCIST PhD. scholars, along with the eligibility criteria prescribed under each scheme;
- (6) whether   separate   categories of   scholarships/fellowships are available for candidates belonging to SCIST communities who have qualified the UGC-NET examination and if the details thereof; including the three categories of eligibility, financial assistance provided and duration of such support; SO,
- the total number of beneficiaries under each of the above schemes during the last three years, year and State/UT-wise; and
- the steps taken by the Government to enhance access, awareness and timely disbursement of scholarships to SCIST Ph D. scholars?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

- (a): The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are implementing the 'National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students' (NFSC) and the National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe Students' (NFST) for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Ph.D. scholars respectively. and

The eligibility criteria for SC and ST students for these schemes is as under:

| Scheme                  | Scheme   | Eligibility                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| IScheduled INFSC)       | Caste    | National Fellowship Scheme fork)Qualifying UGC-NET (JRF) or Joint UGC-CSIR NET Studentslexamination and securing admission in UUniversities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC):                                                      |
| IScheduled Tribe kNFST) |          | Kii) No age limit National  Fellowship Scheme for) At least 5S% marks in Post-Graduation and qualifying StudentsUUGC-NET or Joint UGC-CSIR NET examination and Isecuring admission in Universities/Institutions covered  under the scheme. Kii)Maximum age 36 years |

(b): Under National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) and National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe Students (NFST), there are no separate categories of scholarships/fellowships   However under NFSC scheme, out of 2000 slots annually, 1500 slots for UGC-NET (for humanities) and 500 slots for joint UGC-CSIR NET (for science stream) have been earmarked:

(c): The StateMUT-wise   details of SC and ST beneficiaries during last three years is at Annexure:

(d): scholars, the Government has undertaken several measures such as implementation of the schemes through a dedicated online Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP), disbursement of fellowships through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in the aadhaar seeded account of the eligible applicants, streamlining of verification processes and dissemination of information through the websites and outreach activities of the Department; NSFDC and UGC to ensure wider awareness among eligible students.

on 10.03.2026 regarding "SCHOLARSHIP TO SC COMMUNITY"

Details of Year-wise and State/UT-wise number of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Scholars covered under NFSC and NFST Scheme during 2022-23 to 2024-25.

| SL: No.   | State/UT Name                | Number of Scholars   | Number of Scholars   | Number of Scholars   | Number of Scholars   | Number of Scholars   | Number of Scholars   |
|-----------|------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|           |                              | 2022-23              | 2022-23              | 2023-24              | 2023-24              | 2024-25              | 2024-25              |
|           |                              | SC                   | ST                   | SC                   | ST                   | SC                   | ST                   |
| 1         | ANDAMAN AND NICOBARI ISLANDS | 12                   |                      | 20                   |                      | 6                    |                      |
| 2         | ANDHRA PRADESH               | 77                   | 106                  | 147                  | 90                   | 105                  | 59                   |
| 3         | ARUNACHAL PRADESH            | 1                    | 129                  |                      | 133                  | 0                    | 142                  |
| 4         | ASSAM                        | 51                   | 180                  | 70                   | 189                  | 86                   | 195                  |
| 5         | BIHAR                        | 49                   | 15                   | 93                   | 13                   | 85                   | 10                   |
| 6         | CHANDIGARH                   | 12                   | 0                    | 16                   | 0                    | 19                   | 0                    |
| 7         | CHHATTISGARH                 | 31                   | 101                  | 43                   | 109                  | 54                   | 113                  |
| 8         | DELHI                        | 196                  | 0                    | 250                  |                      | 260                  |                      |
| 9         | GOA                          | 0                    |                      | 0                    |                      | 1                    | 0                    |
| 10        | GUJARAT                      | 37                   | 145                  | 53                   | 146                  | 47                   | 113                  |
| 11        | HARYANA                      | 194                  | 0                    | 258                  | 0                    | 263                  | 0                    |
| 12        | HIMACHAL PRADESH             | 125                  | 45                   | 157                  | 54                   | 160                  | 35                   |
| 13        | JAMMU AND KASHMIR            | 57                   | 119                  | 73                   | 119                  | 69                   | 103                  |
| 14        | IJHARKHAND                   | 24                   | 74                   | 31                   | 73                   | 34                   | 67                   |
| 15        | KARNATAKA                    | 150                  | 296                  | 213                  |                      | 200                  | 203                  |
| 16        | KERALA                       | 90                   | 14                   | 125                  | 12                   | 140                  | 11                   |
| 17        | LADAKH                       |                      | 51                   | 0                    | 55                   | 0                    | 53                   |
| 18        | LAKSHADWEEP                  |                      | 1                    |                      | 1                    |                      | 1                    |
| 19        | MADHYA PRADESH               | 59                   | 67                   | 118                  | 53                   | 107                  | 36                   |
| 20        | MAHARASHTRA                  | 102                  | 79                   | 147                  | 81                   | 149                  | 69                   |
| 21        | MANIPUR                      | 18                   | 138                  | 32                   | 147                  | 43                   | 139                  |
| 22        | MEGHALAYA                    |                      | 122                  |                      | 142                  |                      | 138                  |
| 23        | MIZORAM                      |                      | 292                  |                      | 288                  |                      | 340                  |
| 24        | NAGALAND                     |                      | 186                  | 0                    | 216                  |                      | 222                  |
| 25        | ODISHA                       | 68                   | 141                  | 106                  | 142                  | 84                   | 191                  |
| 26        | PPUDUCHERRY                  | 3                    |                      | 4                    | 2                    | 5                    |                      |
|           | PUNJAB                       | 212                  |                      | 243                  | 0                    | 221                  | 0                    |
| 28        | RAJASTHAN                    | 128                  | 102                  | 176                  | 104                  | 174                  | 88                   |
| 29        | SIKKIM                       | 3                    | 20                   | 4                    | 21                   | 4                    | 20                   |
| 30        | TAMIL NADU                   | 75                   | 27                   | 107                  | 24                   | 102                  | 22                   |
| 31        | TELANGANA THE DADRA NAGAR    | 111 0                | 353                  | 166                  | 313                  | 122                  | 173                  |
| 32        | HAVELI AND DAMAN AND DIU     |                      | 0                    | 0                    |                      |                      | 1                    |
| 33        | TRIPURA                      | 6                    | 35                   |                      | 46                   | 4                    | 51                   |
| 34        | UTTAR PRADESH                | 462                  | 10                   | 735                  | 15                   | 776                  | 17                   |
| 35        | UUTTARAKHAND                 | 58                   | 6                    | 88                   | 8                    | 95                   | 8                    |
|           | WEST BENGAL                  | 483                  | 83                   | 687                  | 87                   | 727                  | 76                   |
|           | Total                        | *2895                | 2938                 | *4169                | 2975                 | *4143                | 2698                 |

Source: Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP)

As the tenure of Fellowship under NFSC Scheme is upto 5 years and a Scholar is repeated a Scholar is counted once payments. during