Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship For Scheduled Caste Candidates
Category: Education & Learning
Level: Central | State: All
Ministry: Ministry of Education

Details:
**INTRODUCTION**
The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) Scheme for Scheduled Caste is formulated and funded by the Ministry of Social Justice &Empowerment. The scheme is open to candidates who belong to Scheduled Caste and are pursuing higher studies such as regular and full-time M.Phil.and Ph.D.degrees in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Engineering & Technology. There are 2000 slots for Scheduled Caste every year for all the subjects. 3% fellowships are reserved for Persons with Disabilities candidates belonging to SC categories as per the provision laid down by the Government of India. **OBJECTIVE**
The objective of the scheme is to provide five-year fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students from SC categories, as notified by the Central Government to pursue higher studies such as M.Phil. and Ph.D. at Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges as indicated below: 
i. Universities/Institutions/Colleges included under sections 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 grants-in-aid from UGC.
iii. Universities/Institutions/Colleges funded by Central/State Government 
iv. Institutes of National Importance.

Benefits:
DURATION OF FELLOWSHIP

Name of the Course: M.Phil. 
Maximum Duration: 2 years or submission of dissertation whichever is earlier
Admissibility of JRF: 2 years; Admissibility of SRF: Nil

Name of the Course: M.Phil./Ph.D. 
Maximum Duration: 5 years from the commencement of fellowship or submission of Ph.D. thesis whichever is earlier
Admissibility of JRF: 2 years; Admissibility of SRF: Remaining 3 years

Name of the Course: Ph.D. 
Maximum Duration: 5 years or submission of Ph.D. thesis whichever is earlier
Admissibility of JRF: 2 years; Admissibility of SRF: Remaining 3 years

AMOUNT OF FELLOWSHIP

The rate of fellowship for JRF and SRF will be at par with the UGC Fellowship as amended from time to time. Presently these rates are as follows - 

Fellowship (Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences)
@Rs. 25,000/-p.m. initial two years for JRF
@Rs.28,000/- p.m. for remaining tenure for SRF

Contingency (Humanities & Social Sciences)
@Rs.10,000/-p.a. for an initial two years (JRF)
@Rs.20,500/-p.a. for remaining tenure (SRF)

Contingency (Science, Engg. & Technology)
@Rs.12,000/- p.a. initial two-year (JRF)
@Rs.25,000/-p.a. for remaining tenure (SRF)

Escorts/Reader Assistance (All Subjects)
@Rs.2,000/- p.m. in case of physically handicapped & blind candidates. 

HRA As per Govt. of India norms (All Subjects)

HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE

1.   Suitable single-seated hostel accommodation may be provided to the candidates in the institutions. In such cases, the fellow is eligible to draw only hostel fees excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA is not permissible for those candidates who are staying in Hostel accommodation.

2.   In case of non-availability of hostel accommodation, the fellow may be provided with single accommodation by the host institution. In such cases, the rent paid by the fellow on actual basis may be reimbursed subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms.

3. If the fellow makes her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to draw HRA as per the categorization of cities by the Govt. of India. 

Note:
 In all the above cases, the fellow will submit a relevant certificate (Annexure-VI) through the concerned University/College/Institute to the identified Agency for settling the claim.

MEDICAL
No separate /fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/College. 

LEAVE
i. Leave for a maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to the public holidays that may be taken by the candidate. However, they are not entitled to any other vacation, such as summer, winter, and pooja vacations.
ii. Candidates are eligible for maternity/ paternity to leave at full rates of the fellowship as per Govt. of India rules once during the tenure of the award.
iii. Academic Leave: The Fellow may be allowed academic leave (without fellowship and other emoluments) for a period not exceeding one year during the tenure of award for academic/teaching assignment /foreign visit in connection with research work. 
iv.   The expenditure on travel cannot be claimed from UGC. The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the tenure. 
v.   If the awardee wishes to apply for any other fellowship/paid assignment/examination conducted by a public body during the tenure of the fellowship, he/ she is not required to obtain NOC from UGC. In case of selection, the candidate would be required to tender their resignation from the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship.

Note:
 All kinds of leave shall be approved by the University/Institute/College. 

Eligibility Criteria:
**TARGET GROUP**
The candidates belonging to one of the SC categories who have passed the post-graduation examination in the concerned subject and who are pursuing full-time research without JRF of UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET. **ELIGIBILITY**
A candidate has to fulfill the following conditions to be eligible for the award of this fellowship:
i. The candidate should belong to SC/ST and should have passed the Post Graduate Examination.
ii. The Candidate must be registered for M.Phil./Ph.D.
iii. Transgender candidates are eligible to apply under the scheme. The reservation shall be followed as per the government of India norms