Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Candidates

About this scheme

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) for Scheduled Caste Candidates, now officially known as the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC), is a centrally sponsored fellowship scheme formulated and funded by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme is administered by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and provides financial assistance to Scheduled Caste students to pursue higher studies leading to M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees. The fellowship awards 2,000 slots every year for SC candidates across all subjects — Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Engineering & Technology — at Indian universities, institutions, and colleges. Of these, 3% of fellowships are reserved for persons with disabilities belonging to the SC category, as per Government of India provisions. Transgender candidates are also eligible. Fellows receive a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) at ₹25,000 per month for the first two years, enhanced to a Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) at ₹28,000 per month for the remaining tenure (up to 3 additional years for Ph.D.), along with House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Government of India norms and annual contingency grants for research expenses. The fellowship is tenable for up to 2 years for M.Phil, up to 5 years for Ph.D., or up to 5 years for integrated M.Phil/Ph.D. programmes. A unique feature of this scheme is that NET/SLET qualification is not mandatory — candidates only need to be registered for M.Phil/Ph.D. at a recognised institution. However, candidates who have already availed the JRF through UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET are not eligible. The fellowship is subject to satisfactory research progress reviewed by a three-member committee comprising the Head of Department, Supervisor, and an external subject expert. Applications are invited online once a year through the UGC portal (ugc.ac.in) or the e-SARTS portal, with advertisements published in leading newspapers and Employment News.

Eligibility

• Community: Must belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) category as notified by the Central Government
• Educational qualification: Must have passed the Post-Graduation examination in the concerned subject
• Research registration: Must be registered for regular and full-time M.Phil or Ph.D. at a recognised Indian university, institution, or college
• Disability reservation: 3% of fellowships are reserved for persons with disabilities belonging to the SC category
• Transgender eligibility: Transgender candidates are eligible under this scheme
• Exclusivity: Must not have already availed the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) awarded through UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET. Must not be receiving any other fellowship or stipend simultaneously

Benefits

• JRF stipend of ₹25,000 per month for the first 2 years
• SRF stipend of ₹28,000 per month for the remaining tenure (up to 3 additional years for Ph.D.)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per Government of India norms (categorisation of cities)
• Contingency Grant — Humanities/Social Sciences: ₹10,000/year (JRF) and ₹20,500/year (SRF)
• Contingency Grant — Sciences/Engineering/Technology: ₹12,000/year (JRF) and ₹25,000/year (SRF)
• Escort/Reader assistance allowance of ₹2,000 per month for physically handicapped and blind candidates
• Medical facilities available at the host university/institution
• Maximum tenure of 2 years (M.Phil) or 5 years (Ph.D.) from the date of award
• 2,000 fellowships awarded annually across India
• No NET/SLET qualification required — only registration for M.Phil/Ph.D. is needed

Required documents

• Aadhaar Card
• Caste Certificate (SC)Issued by competent authority as per Government of India norms
• Post-Graduation degree certificate and marksheets
• M.Phil / Ph.D. admission letter / registration proofFrom a recognised Indian university, institution, or college
• Bonafide Certificate from the institution
• Proof of identity
• Proof of address
• Bank account details (Aadhaar-linked)
• Passport-size photograph
• Disability certificate(optional)Required for 3% disability reservation under SC category

Frequently asked