The government initiated the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship to motivate Scheduled Caste candidates by supporting them in acquiring a higher academic qualification like M.Phil and PhD fellowships. The government scheme was intended for deserving SC students and will reduce the financial barriers, which will empower them towards a brighter and more fulfilling future.
Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Objective | Support SC students in pursuing an M.Phil/PhD. |
| Benefits | Financial support for tuition, living expenses, HRA, medical expenses, etc. |
| Duration | 2 years for M.Phil, 5 years for PhD |
| Selection Process | Merit-based selection with consideration of eligibility |
Read More: Indian Global Leaders Scholarship Scheme To Study In Australia
What Is the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Candidates?
This Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched and financed the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste. Candidates who belong to Scheduled Caste and are enrolled under regular and full-time M.Phil and PhD degrees in courses like Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Engineering & Technology.
One slot is provided every year for Scheduled Caste candidates in all subjects, with a total of 2000 slots allocated. The fellowship policy has 3% of candidates falling under Persons with Disabilities under the SC category as per the provision of the Government of India.
Objective
The government scheme provides five-year fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students belonging to SC categories notified by the Central Government for pursuing higher studies like M.Phil. and PhD at Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges.
The fellowship aims to help bridge historical gaps and offers equal opportunities in advanced studies.
-
Promote higher education among Scheduled Caste candidates.
-
Reduce financial barriers and encourage research and academic pursuits.
-
Empower students to contribute to their fields and society at large.
Benefits
The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship provides comprehensive support to eligible Scheduled Caste students, allowing them to focus fully on their academic pursuits. Here are the main benefits:
-
Financial support for academic and living expenses.
-
House Rent Allowance (HRA) for eligible candidates.
-
Medical benefits as per the govt scheme guidelines.
-
Paid leave during the fellowship period.
Read More: NSP Scholarship Online Form
Target Group
The fellowship aims to support deserving candidates from Scheduled Caste categories in pursuing advanced research. Candidates applying for this fellowship must fulfil the following requirements:
-
The candidate should belong to any one of the Scheduled Caste categories.
-
They must have qualified post-graduation examinations in an appropriate subject.
-
They must pursue their research full-time.
-
They shall not have availed themselves of the Junior Research Fellowship awarded through UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR NET.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the award of this fellowship, a candidate should satisfy the set conditions. The government scheme is only available for people who satisfy the eligibility criteria.
-
Must belong to the SC/ST category with a Post Graduate degree.
-
He or she should be registered for M.Phil/PhD
-
Transgender candidates are also eligible under this govt scheme.
-
All reservations will be done as per the Government of India norms.
Nature Of Assistance Available Under The Scheme
The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) has a proper assessment and extension process for supporting the beneficiary. Here is an overview of the tenure of the fellowship and the conditions under which continuation and enhancement take place:
-
The fellowship is initially granted for a five-year period, during which fellows are expected to make satisfactory progress in their research.
-
Before the end of the initial tenure, the fellow’s work is reviewed by a three-member committee comprising the Head of the Department, the Supervisor, and an external subject expert. This committee, established by the department, assesses the fellow's progress.
-
If the fellow’s research is deemed satisfactory, their tenure is extended for an additional five years with enhanced fellowship rates, and the recommendation is submitted to the UGC using Annexure-VI for upgradation to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) under the RGNF-SC Scheme.
-
Only the time and research conducted under the RGNF-SC scheme are considered for fellowship enhancement; any other scholarships or fellowships previously held are not factored in.
-
If the fellow’s work is unsatisfactory or if they fail any PhD-related examinations, the fellowship may be withdrawn.
-
If the fellow's progress during the first two years is unsatisfactory, they are given an additional year to improve, during which they are designated as a Rajiv Gandhi National Junior Fellow. After this period, the committee re-evaluates the work to determine suitability for continued support.
-
If improvement is demonstrated, the fellowship may be extended for two more years at the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) level. If no improvement is found, the fellow may continue for the remaining tenure at the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) rate.
Distribution Of Fellowship
| Program | Duration | Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) |
|---|
| M.Phil | Up to 2 years or until the dissertation is submitted, whichever comes first | Applies for 2 years | Not applicable |
| Integrated M.Phil./PhD | Up to 5 years from the start of the fellowship or until the PhD thesis is submitted, whichever comes first | Applies for the first 2 years | Applies for the remaining 3 years |
| PhD | Up to 5 years or until the PhD thesis is submitted, whichever comes first. | Applies for the first 2 years | Applies for the remaining 3 years |
Amount Of Fellowship
It has a fellowship for the support of deserving students, keeping in view UGC guidelines. The fellows are remunerated at prescribed rates, as applicable for the time, in tune with UGC's policies and government norms. In detail, fellowship rates are at par with the UGC Fellowship, as amended from time to time.
-
Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences: INR 25,000 per month for the initial two years.
-
Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences: INR 28,000 per month for the remaining tenure.
-
INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years (JRF).
INR 20,500 per year for the rest of the tenure (SRF).
- INR 12,000 per year for the first two years (JRF).
INR 25,000 per year for the rest of the tenure (SRF).
-
INR 2,000/-per month for Physically handicapped and blind candidates (all subjects).
-
According to Govt. of India norms apply to all subjects.
House Rent Allowance
The fellowship is provided with a stipend to motivate research towards Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The rates are based on the UGC Fellowship and may be altered as per the norms of the government. The information is reflected below.
-
Accommodation in suitable single-seated hostel the candidates may be given in the respective institutions. There, the fellow is eligible to draw only hostel fees, excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate confirming this must be provided by the Registrar, Director, or Principal. HRA is not admissible for those candidates who are staying in Hostel accommodation.
-
The host institution may provide fellows with single accommodation in case of non-availability of hostel accommodation. In such cases, rent paid by the fellow on an actual basis may be reimbursed, subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms.
-
If the fellow themselves make their arrangements of accommodation, they may be eligible to draw HRA as per the categorisation of cities by the Govt of India.
Medical
No separate /fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/College.
Leave
The fellowship also has provisions for leave to cater to the well-being and academic growth of candidates. Leave policies are created to balance personal needs and research commitments. The details include
-
Maximum of 30 days per year, along with public holidays.
-
No entitlement for summer, winter, or pooja vacations.
-
Maternity/paternity leave at full fellowship rates under Government of India rules, once during the fellowship tenure.
-
Eligible to be granted Academic leave for up to one academic year during the term of fellowship, for academic/teaching assignments or foreign visits in connection with research work.
-
No fellowship or emoluments during this period.
Application
The application process is intended to increase transparency and accessibility for qualified applicants. All pertinent information is circulated as widely as possible to promote participation. These include the following:
-
Applications are invited online once a year.
-
Advertisements will be published in leading newspapers and Employment News.
-
Open to candidates from the SC category who meet the eligibility criteria under the government scheme.
-
A brief notification will be uploaded on the UGC website: www.ugc.ac.in.
Selection Procedure
The selection procedure ensures fair and transparent evaluation of all applications. Based on eligibility and merit, the committee will closely review all submissions. The process is as follows:
-
The screening committee will scrutinise applications.
-
The decision of the Commission shall be final.
-
The Commission may withdraw or cancel the award without any reason.
-
Results will be published on the UGC website.
-
Award letters will be available for download from the UGC online application portal.
Documents Required
To apply for the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, candidates need to provide a range of documents to verify their eligibility and identity. These documents help ensure that applicants meet all necessary criteria and qualifications. Here are the required documents.
Procedure For Release Of Grant
| Category | Details |
|---|
| Disbursal of Fellowship Amount | The fellowship amount shall be paid directly to the account of the awardee by the designated agency of the UGC.The awardee shall approach the designated branch with the following documents:A photocopy of the Award Letter and a Joining Report.The disbursing agency, if required, may verify the genuineness of records before releasing funds. |
| Submission of Documents | The following documents have to be submitted at the branch concerned:Continuation Certificate at the end of every three months (Annexure-II).After one year of fellowship, the awardee shall submit a Yearly Progress Report (Annexure-III).The awardee shall also submit and present accounts of contingency grants (Annexure-IV). |
| Continuation Certificate | It shall be submitted every quarter to remain eligible for the subsequent quarter's fellowship. |
| Yearly Progress Report | After one year, the recipient should submit the annual progress report in the prescribed proforma. |
| Contingency Accounts | The beneficiary should submit accounts for grants for contingency as intended by UGC. |
Cancellation Of Award
There are some clear guidelines to ensure that the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship is awarded to deserving candidates. The fellowship can be cancelled in cases of misconduct or if the candidate fails to make satisfactory progress in their research work.
Awards will be withdrawn if any candidate is declared ineligible or is in receipt of some other fellowship or scholarship. Moreover, the fellowship would automatically be cancelled in case the candidate is found to have employment during his/her M.Phil/Ph.D. research work.
The fellowship can also be cancelled immediately on account of giving false information or any fraudulent action or practice on the part of the candidate. Such actions ensure that the program remains flawless and viable.
Conclusion
The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC candidates is a transformative opportunity, one which empowers disadvantaged communities by providing them with the chance to pursue their educational dreams with financial support.
Have any queries or want us to search on some other topic? Drop your thoughts and message on the Jaagruk Bharat community page!
