Central Sector Scheme of National Fellowship for Providing Fellowship to Scheduled Caste Students to Pursue M.Phil. & PhD
State: Central
Ministry: Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Department: Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Category: Education & Learning, Social welfare & Empowerment
Beneficiary Type: Individual

The scheme provides opportunities to Scheduled Castes students to pursue higher education leading to M.Phil/Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Science streams. The objective of the scheme is to provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance to SC students.

Benefits:
##### **Number of Slots**

1. The scheme provides for 2000 new Fellowships (1500 Junior Research Fellows for Humanities/ Social Sciences and 500 Junior Research Fellows for Science stream) per year.
1. These slots are over and above the number of SC students selected under the normal reservation policy of the Government for UGC Fellowships.

<br>

##### **Validity**

1. The fellowship shall be paid from the date of issue of the JRF award letter under the Scheme for National Fellowship or the date of joining the M.Phil./Ph.D., whichever is later.
1. The fellowship shall be granted upto the date of submission of the Ph.D. thesis or five years of tenure, whichever is earlier. No extension is permissible beyond the total period of five years of fellowship.
1. Confirmation for continuation of the fellowship shall be given by the University twice a year on a semester basis within the 10th of the initial month of the semester. Based on this certification, the research scholars would be released the fellowship within the 15th of every month without any further intervention of the university.
1. With regard to the combined course of M.Phil and PhD, Fellowship will be provided initially for 02 years for M.Phil and after upgradation to Ph.D course, for another 03 years.
1. In case of integrated Ph.D. or M.Phil. to Ph.D., the maximum tenure is 5 years including the M.Phil. period of fellowship. For doing M.Phil., fellowship shall be granted for two years or upto the date of submission of the M.Phil. dissertation, whichever is earlier.

<br>

##### **Duration of the Fellowship**

1. Name of the Course: M.Phil; Maximum Duration: 2 Years; Admissibility for JRF: 2 Years; Admissibility for SRF: NIL
1. Name of the Course: PhD; Maximum Duration:  5 Years; Admissibility for JRF: 2 Years; Admissibility for SRF: Remaining 3 Years
1. Name of the Course: M.Phil + PhD; Maximum Duration: 5 Years; Admissibility for JRF: 2 Years; Admissibility for SRF: Remaining 3 Years

> **Rate of Fellowship**

**Head: Fellowship in All Streams**
**Rate Applicable for JRF:** ₹ 31,000/- p.m. for initial two years
**Rate Applicable for SRF:** ₹35,000/-p.m. for remaining tenure
**Head:** C**ontingency for Humanities &amp; Social Sciences**
**Rate Applicable for JRF:** ₹10,000/- p.a. for initial two years
**Rate Applicable for SRF:** ₹20,500/- p.a. for remaining tenure
**Head:** **Contingency for Sciences**
**Rate Applicable for JRF:** ₹12,000/- p.a. for initial two years
**Rate Applicable for SRF:** ₹25,000/-p.a. for remaining tenure.
**Head: Escort/ Reader Assistance (All Subjects) for Physically and Visually Handicapped Candidates**
**Rate Applicable for JRF:** ₹2,000/-p.m.
**Rate Applicable for SRF:** ₹ 2,000/-p.m.
**Head: House Rent Allowance (HRA)**
**Rate Applicable:** 8%, 16% and 24% to those students who are not provided with hostel accommodation, in accordance with Govt. of India norms as applicable in the city/location where the research fellows are working.
##### **Mode of Disbursal**
The disbursal of the fellowship will be directly into the beneficiary&#39;s Aadhaar-linked Bank Account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
<br>

Eligibility:
1.    The applicant should be from a Scheduled Caste.
  2.    The applicant should be pursuing regular and full-time advanced studies/ research leading to an M.Phil/PhD Degree.
  3.    The applicant should have qualified one of the following tests:
             a)    National Eligibility Test - Junior Research Fellowship (NET - JRF) of UGC.
             b)    UGC - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC - CSIR) NET - JRF Joint Test.
  4.    The applicant should be pursuing the program from a University/Institution recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as follows:
             a)    Central/State Universities (including constituent and affiliated institutions) are included under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act,1956 and has valid accreditation from NAAC.
             b)    Deemed Universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act i.e. Institutions for higher education notified by the Central Government to be deemed University, in consultation with UGC and having valid accreditation from NAAC.
             c)    The institutions fully funded by the State/Central Government and empowered to award degrees.
             d)    Institutions of National Importance as notified by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
  5.    A scholar is eligible to receive only one fellowship at a time. The scholar will not accept/receive any other monetary benefit/ scholarship/ fellowship from any other source.
> **Reservation/ Relaxation/ Preference/ Priority**

1. Scheduled Castes candidates who have already secured admission and qualify NET examination will be given preference. Such candidates will be required to join the fellowship within 3 months of the issue of the JRF award letter.
1. There will be an inclusive provision of reservation for Person with Disabilities (PwD) who belongs to the SC category for consideration as per norms of the existing quota of PwD., as per &#39;The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016&quot;. The minimum degree of disability should be 40% in order to be eligible for any concessions/benefits.

**NOTE:** In case sufficient candidates, who have already secured admission are unavailable, candidates who have not yet secured admission will also be selected in the order of merit in the NET examination.
<br>

Application Process:
[Online]
Call of ApplicationsUGC will advertise/ invite online applications from NET/UGC -CSIR joint tests qualified candidates for the award of National Fellowship for SC students. The selection for the award of fellowship to students will be made on the basis of the merit of each UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIRNET-JRF examination.
Preparation of Merit ListThe merit for the award of fellowships under NFSC will be drawn up through the NET examination.
Preference will be given to such students who have already secured admission. Such candidates are required to join the fellowship within 3 months of the issue of the JRF award letter under the Scheme.
However, in case sufficient such candidates are not available, candidates who have not secured admission will also be selected in the order of merit in the NET examination. A separate merit list will be drawn up for such candidates if required.
Intimation of the ResultsThe results shall be published on the UGC website. Award letters can be downloaded from the UGC online application portal or as advertised by UGC.

Documents Required:
Passport Sized Photograph
Aadhaar Number.
Self-attested Degree/Mark Sheet of the last qualifying exam.
Fee Receipt of ‘Current Course Year’.
Bank Details of the Aadhaar-linked Bank Account.
Caste certificate (issued by SDM or Tehsildar or any competent authority).
Declaration Certificate