Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)
UGC doctoral fellowship for students from six notified minority communities pursuing M.Phil./Ph.D. research at recognized Indian universities, with a monthly stipend and contingency grant.
About this scheme
The Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) is a Government of India initiative administered by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on behalf of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It provides five-year integrated fellowships to students belonging to the six notified minority communities — Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Zoroastrian (Parsi) — to pursue full-time M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes at universities and research institutions recognized by UGC. The scheme aims to promote higher education and research among educationally and socially backward minority communities and supports scholars across all disciplines: sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and technology. Fellows receive a monthly Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for the first two years and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) from the third year onwards, along with an annual contingency grant to cover books, lab materials, field trips, and academic conferences. The fellowship is administered through the National Fellowship Portal at ugc.ac.in and the National Scholarship Portal.
Eligibility
- Community: Must belong to one of the six notified minority communities: Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Zoroastrian (Parsi). Minority community certificate from the competent authority is required.
- Income: Annual family income must not exceed ₹6 lakh from all sources
- Course Level: Enrolled in or seeking admission to a full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme at a UGC-recognized university/research institution in India
- Entrance Qualification: Must have qualified in NET/JRF conducted by UGC/CSIR, or secured admission through a valid university entrance test for M.Phil./Ph.D.
- Age Limit: Maximum 30 years as on the last date of application (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates)
- Citizenship: Indian citizen
- Non-duplication: Must not be receiving any other fellowship or stipend from UGC or any other government source
Benefits
- JRF Stipend: ₹37,000 per month for the first two years
- SRF Stipend: ₹42,000 per month from the third year onwards
- Contingency Grant: ₹10,000 per annum for humanities and social sciences; ₹20,500 per annum for sciences
- Departmental Assistance: ₹3,000 per annum for universities/institutions
- Escort/Reader Assistance: ₹2,000 per month for blind and orthopedically handicapped scholars
- HRA: Applicable as per university/city rules
- Duration: Maximum 5 years (2 years as JRF + 3 years as SRF)
Required documents
- Completed MANF application form
- Minority Community Certificate from competent authority
- Income Certificate (annual family income ≤ ₹6 lakh)Issued by Revenue/Tahsildar
- NET/JRF scorecard or university entrance test result
- Admission letter / enrollment certificate from university
- Master's degree certificate and marksheets
- Date of birth proof (10th certificate or Aadhaar)
- Aadhaar Card (copy)
- Bank account passbook with IFSC code
- Passport-sized photographs
- Caste/community certificate in prescribed format
- Self-declaration of non-receipt of any other fellowship
- Research proposal / study plan(optional)Usually required by the supervising institution
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