The Central Sector Scheme of National Fellowship is a fellowship initiative by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, launched in 2005-06. The scheme aims to support Scheduled Caste (SC) students pursuing M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The University Grants Commission (UGC) serves as the nodal agency for implementing this scheme, managing the selection and disbursement processes.
Benefits
- Number of Fellowships:
- 2000 new fellowships annually:
- 1500 for Humanities/Social Sciences.
- 500 for Science streams.
- These slots are in addition to the SC reservations under existing UGC fellowships.
- 2000 new fellowships annually:
- Duration of Fellowship:
- M.Phil: Up to 2 years.
- Ph.D.: Up to 5 years (2 years as Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and 3 years as Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)).
- M.Phil + Ph.D. (Integrated Courses): Up to 5 years.
- Fellowship Amount:
- JRF: ₹ 31,000/month (initial 2 years).
- SRF: ₹ 35,000/month (remaining 3 years).
- Contingency Grant:
- Humanities & Social Sciences:
- ₹ 10,000/year (JRF), ₹ 20,500/year (SRF).
- Sciences:
- ₹ 12,000/year (JRF), ₹ 25,000/year (SRF).
- Humanities & Social Sciences:
- House Rent Allowance (HRA):
- ₹ 8%, 16%, or 24% based on city classification (X, Y, Z cities) for those not provided hostel accommodation.
- Escort/Reader Assistance for PwD Candidates:
- ₹ 2,000/month for Physically and Visually Handicapped candidates (applicable for both JRF and SRF).
- Mode of Disbursal:
- Fellowship is disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Validity & Continuation of Fellowship
- Start Date: Fellowship begins from either:
- The date of issue of the JRF award letter.
- The date of joining M.Phil./Ph.D., whichever is later.
- Continuation Confirmation: Universities must confirm continuation twice a year (per semester) by the 10th of the first month of each semester. Based on this, fellowships are released by the 15th of each month.
- Integrated Courses: For M.Phil. + Ph.D. programs:
- Fellowship for 2 years for M.Phil.
- 3 additional years for Ph.D.
Eligibility Criteria
- Scheduled Caste Category:
Applicants must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. - Full-Time Studies:
Applicants should be enrolled in regular, full-time M.Phil./Ph.D. programs. - Qualification Requirements:
Applicants must have qualified:- National Eligibility Test – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC.
- UGC-CSIR NET-JRF Joint Test.
- Recognized Institutions:
The applicant must pursue studies in UGC-recognized institutions:- Central/State Universities with NAAC accreditation.
- Deemed Universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act.
- Institutions fully funded by the Central/State Governments.
- Institutions of National Importance.
- Single Fellowship Policy:
Applicants can only receive one fellowship at a time and are not permitted to accept any other monetary assistance.
Reservation & Special Provisions
- Priority for Admitted Students:
SC students who have already secured admission and qualified NET will receive preference. These students must join the fellowship within 3 months of receiving the JRF award letter. - Persons with Disabilities (PwD):
Inclusive provisions for SC-PwD candidates as per ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’. A minimum 40% disability is required for eligibility.
Exclusions
- Employed Individuals:
Employees of universities, colleges, educational institutions, or government bodies (Central/State/UT) are not eligible, even if on study leave. - Previous Fellowship Recipients:
Scholars who have already availed a fellowship for M.Phil./Ph.D. (fully or partially) are ineligible to reapply. - Non-Completion Clause:
Scholars who fail to complete their research during the fellowship period cannot reapply under this scheme.
Application Process Online
- Announcement:
UGC will advertise and invite applications online from NET/UGC-CSIR joint test qualified candidates. - Preparation of Merit List:
- Merit is based on NET examination performance.
- Priority is given to students who have already secured admission.
- In cases where sufficient admitted candidates are not available, candidates without admission may be selected in order of merit.
- Publication of Results:
Results are published on the UGC website. Award letters can be downloaded from the UGC online application portal.
Documents Required
- Passport-sized Photograph
- Aadhaar Number
- Caste Certificate (issued by SDM/Tehsildar or other competent authority)
- Degree/Mark Sheet of the last qualifying exam
- Fee Receipt of the current course year
- Declaration Certificate
- Bank Details of the Aadhaar-linked bank account
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How is the merit list for fellowship awards prepared?
Merit is based on NET/UGC-CSIR joint test results, with preference for candidates who have secured admission. - Are employed individuals eligible for the fellowship?
No, employees of any educational institution or government body are not eligible, even if on study leave. - What are the fellowship rates for JRF and SRF?
- JRF: ₹ 31,000/month (first 2 years).
- SRF: ₹ 35,000/month (remaining 3 years).
- Are there provisions for House Rent Allowance (HRA)?
Yes, HRA is provided at rates of 8%, 16%, or 24%, depending on the city classification. - What happens if a scholar fails to complete their research during the fellowship period?
They will be ineligible to reapply for the fellowship. - Are there additional provisions for SC-PwD candidates?
Yes, PwD candidates receive Escort/Reader Assistance of ₹ 2,000/month. - How is the fellowship disbursed?
Disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the scholar’s Aadhaar-linked bank account. - Can a scholar receive multiple fellowships simultaneously?
No, scholars can only receive one fellowship at a time.