How to Apply for Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students for Higher Studies

Central Sector Scheme of 'Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship' for Providing Scholarships to Scheduled Caste Students to Pursue Programmes in Higher Education such as M.Phil. and Ph.D.:-

Implementing agency of the Fellowship:

UGC is the nodal agency for implementing the scheme. UGC notifies the scheme by releasing suitable advertisements in the Press.

Eligibility for Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship:

(i) Any student belonging to Scheduled Caste category who has been admitted to M.Phil./Ph.D. degree in a University or academic institution by completing the required formalities for admission at that University or academic institution is eligible for the award of Fellowship subject to provision of the scheme as per the advertisement of UGC.

(ii) After two years, if the progress in the research work of the awardee is found satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended for a further period of three years as Senior Research Fellowship (SRF). The research work will be assessed by a three member committee set up by the University. The committee will consist of the Supervisor, Head of the Department and one outside expert in the subject. Junior Research Fellowship may be terminated in case the progress of the candidate is not found satisfactory by the committee. The Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) shall be sanctioned on year-to-year basis on the recommendation of the Supervisor of the candidate duly accepted/rejected by the Head of the Department and finally approved by the Vice Chancellor. The total period of award of JRF and SRF shall not exceed a period of 5 years. The fellowship is paid form date of registration of the students in Ph.D./M. Phil. course.

(iii) The students belonging to Scheduled Caste category once considered eligible for the fellowship shall not be entitled to any other benefits from Central or State Government or any other body like UGC offering similar benefit to avoid duplication and increase coverage. Only those, doing regular and full time M.Phil./Ph.D. course of a University/Research Institution shall be eligible for the fellowship. Employees of any University /College/ Educational Institution/Central/State/UT Government shall be excluded from availing Fellowship, even if there are on Study Leave or EOL to pursue the M.Phil./Ph.D. course.

Number of Fellowships:

(i)  The total number of fellowships to be awarded to the Scheduled Caste students under the scheme is 2000. In case of non-availability of adequate number of Scheduled Caste candidates, the number of fellowships not availed during a year will be carried forward to the next academic session.

(ii) In case, the number of candidates exceeds the number of available awards, the UGC will select the candidates based on the percentage of marks obtained by the candidates in their Post Graduation examination.

Eligibility for Senior Research Fellowship:

In order to qualify for the award of Senior Research Fellowship the UGC norms would be applicable

Procedure for applying for RGNF:

i.        UGC is the nodal agency for implementing the RGNF scheme for SC students.

ii.      UGC notifies the scheme by inserting suitable advertisement in the press.

iii.    UGC is implementing the scheme from the financial year 2005-06 and the revised rate is effective from 1.4.2010.

iv.   . There is no restriction as regards to the minimum marks in the Post Graduation examination.

v.     It would be sufficient for a SC candidate to have passed the Post Graduation Examination for being eligible for the RGNF.

vi.   There is no restriction to the effect that a SC candidate should have cleared NET/SLET examination for being eligible for receiving the RGNF.

vii. UGC will give one month's time to the candidate for applying for the RGNF.

viii.           UGC will select the candidates for award of RGNF.

ix.   The distribution of fellowships amongst different States/UTs would primarily be in the proportion of SC population in the respective States/UTs.

x.     In case the numbers of fellowships so allocated to a State/UT are not fully utilized, due to non-availability of eligible candidates, the UGC will allocate the slots amongst the other States/UTs where the number of eligible candidates is much more than the slots allocated to that State/UT. A Committee consisting of the representatives of UGC and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will take this decision.

xi.   UGC shall disburse the scholarship amount to the candidates through Bank Smart Cards.

xii. UGC will also issue a booklet containing all the details about the scheme, for the benefit of prospective candidates.

xiii.           UGC will evolve its own mechanism for verifying the genuineness of the SC certificates furnished by the candidates in order to eliminate the possibility of students availing of the RGNF on fake certificates.

xiv.           The decision of the UGC in regard to awarding the RGNF shall be final and no appeal would lie against any decision by UGC in regard thereof

For detail information please visit -http://socialjustice.nic.in/SchemeList/Send/29?mid=24541

Or

http://socialjustice.nic.in

Or

http://www.ugc.ac.in/rgnf