National Fellowship for SC/ST 2012-13 for MPhil/PhD

UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

New Delhi-110 002

Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC/ST Candidate For The Year 2012-13

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes is formulated and funded by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The scheme is open to candidates who belong to Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe and wish to pursue higher studies such as regular and full time M.Phil. and Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology. There are 2000 slots for Scheduled Caste and 667 slots for Scheduled Tribe candidates every year for all the subjects.

OBJECTIVE

The scheme has been initiated keeping in view the social background of the candidates for the deprived section of the society and to provide them opportunity to undertake advanced studies and research. The objective of this award is to provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students belonging to SC/ST to pursue higher studies leading to M.Phil and Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology.

TARGET GROUP

SC/ST Candidates who have passed the Post Graduate examination in concerned subject and who desire to pursue research without JRF of UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET.

ELIGIBILITY:

The candidate should belong to SC/ST and should have passed the Post Graduate examination. The selection will be made on the basis of merit of the candidates. The candidate must get himself/herself registered for M.Phil./Ph.D at the first available opportunity but not later than within a period of two years from the receipt of award letter. This period is not extendable. However, the actual payment of fellowship will be made with effect from the date of approval of fellowship or date of joining whichever is later.

NATURE OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE UNDER THE SCHEME:       The tenure of fellowship is initially for two years under the RGNF Scheme. Before expiry of this period, the work of the Fellow will be evaluated by a Committee of three members comprising of Head of the Department, Supervisor and one outside subject expert to be constituted by the concerned Department of the /University/Institution/College. If the research work is found satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended further for a period of three years under the enhanced emoluments of the Rajiv Gandhi National Senior Research Fellowship (RGNSRF). The recommendation of the Committee shall be submitted to the UGC for upgradation to the level of RGNSRF. The work done and the time spent on scholarships or fellowships of any agency other than the UGC will not be taken into account while considering the proposals for enhancement in the value of fellowship. The fellowship may be withdrawn if the work is not considered satisfactory or the candidate fails in any of the examinations related to Ph.D. In case the work for the first two years is not found satisfactory, an additional year will be given to him/her for improvement. However, during this period he/she will be designated as Rajiv Gandhi National Junior Research Fellow. In such cases work will be evaluated again before third year of the tenure, and if improvement is found, the Fellow will get two more years under the RGNSRF. Thus, the total period of fellowship (RGNJRF and RGNSRF) is for five years, with no further provision of extension.     The candidate would be eligible for following financial assistance: 

Fellowship in Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering & Technology	@Rs.16000/-p.m. for initial two years @Rs.18000/-p.m. for remaining tenure	RGNJRF RGNSRF
Contingency A	@Rs.10000/-p.a. for initial two years @Rs.20500/-p.a. for remaining tenure	Humanities &Social Sciences
Contingency B	@Rs.12000/-p.a. for initial two years @Rs.25000/-p.a. for remaining tenure	Sciences, Engg.& Technology
Departmental Assistance	@Rs. 3000/- p.a. per student to the host institution for providing infrastructure	For all disciplines
Escorts/Reader assistance	@ Rs. 2000/- p.m. in cases of physically	For all disciplines
HRA	As per rules of the University/ Institutions	For all disciplines

Additional Info /Apply Online: National Fellowshipfor SC/ST 2012-13 for MPhil/PhD