Rajiv Gandhi National fellowship for schedule caste students to pursue programmes in higher education such as Mphil and Phd. .
Scholarship, education, fellowship
Education
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
The scheme caters total number of 2000 Fellowships (Junior Research Fellows) per year to Scheduled Caste students. The scheme covers all universities/institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is implemented by the UGC itself on the pattern of the scheme of UGC Fellowships being awarded to research students pursuing M. Phil. and Ph.D(Ministry of social justice and empowerment, n.d.)." The duration of fellowship for Mphil 2 years (2 years of JRF), for Phd the duration is 5 years (2 years for JRF and remaining 3 years for SRF) for Mphil and Phd the duration is 5 years (2 years JRF and 3 years SRF). The contingency for humanities and social sciences is Rs. 10,000 per annum for initial two years and Rs. 20,500 per annum for remaining tenure. contingency for science and engineering and technology is Rs. 12,000 per annum for initial two years and Rs. 25,000 for remaining tenure. departmental assistance for all subjects is Rs. 3000 per student to the host institution for providing infrastructure. escorts/readers assistance for all subject is Rs. 2,000 per month in cases of physically and visually handicapped candidates (Ministry of social justice and empowerment, n.d.)
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 (Ministry of social justice and empowerment, n.d.)" The fellowship in science and humanities is Rs. 25,000 per month for initial two years and Rs.28,000 per month for remaining tenure. the fellowship amount for engineering and technology is Rs. 25,000 p.m. for initial two years and Rs. 28,000 per month for remaining tenure.
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 (Ministry of social justice and empowerment, n.d.)
Department of social justice and empowerment , UGC
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UGC is the implementing agency
Application through UGC website online. http://www.ugcnetonline.in/ Keep a check on the website around Oct-Dec and Apr-Jun
011-23387430 (Off.)
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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." (Ministry of Social Justice, n.d.)