National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students

Under the scheme, Fellowships are provided to ST students to take up higher studies after completing Post Graduation, such as M.Phil and Ph.D courses.

In order to remove layers resulting in time lag and to facilitate proper control over the implementation and monitoring of the two Central sector scholarship schemes for ST students viz; Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship and Top Class Education, the Ministry merged these two schemes into a single Central Sector Scheme called "National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students". Guidelines were issued on 20th April, 2015.

Objectives

Fellowship: The objective of the scheme is to encourage the ST students, a section of society with the lowest literacy level s in the country, to acquire higher education in the form of fellowships to pursue M. Phil and Ph. D. Courses, with a view to create qualified professionals to hold posts of teachers /professionals and other higher stages of employment

Scholarship: ST Students is intended to encourage meritorious ST students to pursue courses at Graduate/Post Graduate level in identified Institutions of excellence, Government and Private, in professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc.

Eligibility

Fellowships

• The candidate belonging to ST should have passed the Post-Graduation examination for being eligible for the Fellowship. The candidate should get admission and registration for regular and full time M.Phil/Ph.D Courses in University / Academic Institutions recognized by UGC under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act / ICAR by fulfilling conditions of admission of that University/Institution.
• The list of University/Academic Institution as referred to in sub para (i) above shall be identified by ministry. To access the list, click here.
• The ST students once considered eligible for the Fellowship shall not be entitled for any other scholarship of the Centre or Stat e Government the same study.
• The fellowship shall be payable once the student has secured admission and started the research work.
• In order to qualify for Senior Research Fellowship a candidate will have to fulfill the UGC/ICAR norms prescribed in this regard.

Scholarship:

• ST students who have secured admission in the notified Institutions according to the norms prescribed by the respective Institutions will be eligible for the scholarship under the scheme.
• The student will be eligible to join only the list of Institution identified by Ministry. To access the list, click here.
• The total family income of the candidate to be eligible for this scholarship from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.0 lakh per annum.
• The scholarship shall be payable once the student has secured admission and started attending the classes.
• The scholarship awarded, will continue till the completion of the course, subject to satisfactory performance of the student.

Number of Fellowships/Scholarships

Slot for Fellowships

• The total number of fresh fellowships each year, will be 750.
• In case of non-availability of adequate number of Scheduled Tribe candidates, the number of fellowships not availed during a year will be carried forward to the next academic session.
• There is no State /University wise ceiling on number of slots.
• In case the number of candidates exceeds the number of available awards, the MoTA will select the candidates based on a criterion of marks obtained in the last passed examination. Slots will be provided to sub-categories in the following priority:
• Person with Disability (PWD) - 3% of total slots
• PVTG - 50 slots
• BPL - 50 slots
• Female - 30% of total slots
• In case of adequate number of application is not received for the above sub-category, then slots will be allotted to eligible ST candidates on the basis of inter-se merit based on last passed examination.

Slots for Scholarship:

• The total number of fresh Scholarship each year is 1000. There is no ceiling in Institution wise and stream wise number of slots for the Top-Class Institution.
• In case the number of candidates exceeds the number of available awards the criteria will be followed as follows

• Person with Disability (PWD) - 3% of total slots
• PVTG - 50 slots
• BPL - 50 slots
• Female - 30% of total slots

• The remaining left out candidates from ST category admitted in the institute in different courses may apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) administered by this Ministry as a Centrally sponsored scheme, provided such students are otherwise eligible for the said scheme.

Duration of Fellowship

Rate of Fellowship/Scholarship

Fellowship

Scholarships

Application process

Advertisement for inviting applications

Fellowship : The Scheme of Fellowship will be advertised in the leading newspapers, Employment News. Candidates shall, after getting registration/admission in the notified Universities/Institutes and after assessing their eligibility and suitability as per the criteria prescribed for Fellowship, apply online through the National Tribal Fellowship Portal. Online applications for the National Fellowship for ST candidates for the year 2021-22 is now open. Last date of submission application is :- 31/12/2021.

Scholarship : Candidates shall, after getting registration/admission in the notified Universities/Institutes and after assessing their eligibility and suitability as per the criteria prescribed for Scholarship apply online through the Scholarship Portal strictly within the cutoff date and time given in the advertisement. Online applications for the year 2021-22 is now open. Last date of submission application is :- 15/12/2021.

Payment of the Fellowship/Scholarship amount of the scheme for STs would be made through the system of Direct Benefit Transfer through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge into the Aadhaar seeded bank a/c of the beneficiaries from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The selected candidates should obtain the Aadhaar number on priority basis. Pending Aadhaar seeding of the beneficiary bank a/c, payment would be made into the bank account through NEFT.

Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs