SCHOLARSHIP TO SC COMMUNITY
SCHOLARSHIP TO SC COMMUNITY
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are implementing the ‘National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students’ (NFSC) and the ‘National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe Students’ (NFST) for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Ph.D. scholars respectively.
The eligibility criteria for SC and ST students for these schemes is as under:
Scheme
Eligibility
National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC)
(i)Qualifying UGC-NET (JRF) or Joint UGC-CSIR NET examination and securing admission in Universities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
(ii) No age limit
National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe Students (NFST)
(i) At least 55% marks in Post-Graduation and qualifying UGC-NET or Joint UGC-CSIR NET examination and securing admission in Universities/Institutions covered under the scheme.
(ii)Maximum age 36 years
Under National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) and National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe Students (NFST), there are no separate categories of scholarships/fellowships. However, under the NFSC scheme, out of 2000 slots annually, 1500 slots for UGC-NET (for humanities) and 500 slots for joint UGC-CSIR NET (for science stream) have been earmarked.
The State/UT-wise details of SC and ST beneficiaries during the last three years are at Annexure- I
To enhance access, awareness, and timely disbursement of scholarships to SC/ST Ph.D. scholars, the Government has undertaken several measures such as implementation of the schemes through a dedicated online Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP), disbursement of fellowships through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in the aadhaar seeded account of the eligible applicants, streamlining of verification processes and dissemination of information through the websites and outreach activities of the Department, NSFDC and UGC to ensure wider awareness among eligible students.
Annexure-I
Details of Year-wise and State/UT-wise number of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Scholars covered under NFSC and NFST Scheme during 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Sl. No.
State/UT Name
Number of Scholars
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
SC
ST
SC
ST
SC
ST
1
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
12
0
20
1
6
1
2
ANDHRA PRADESH
77
106
147
90
105
59
3
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
1
129
0
133
0
142
4
ASSAM
51
180
70
189
86
195
5
BIHAR
49
15
93
13
85
10
6
CHANDIGARH
12
0
16
0
19
0
7
CHHATTISGARH
31
101
43
109
54
113
8
DELHI
196
0
250
0
260
0
9
GOA
0
1
0
1
1
0
10
GUJARAT
37
145
53
146
47
113
11
HARYANA
194
0
258
0
263
0
12
HIMACHAL PRADESH
125
45
157
54
160
35
13
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
57
119
73
119
69
103
14
JHARKHAND
24
74
31
73
34
67
15
KARNATAKA
150
296
213
289
200
203
16
KERALA
90
14
125
12
140
11
17
LADAKH
0
51
0
55
0
53
18
LAKSHADWEEP
0
1
0
1
0
1
19
MADHYA PRADESH
59
67
118
53
107
36
20
MAHARASHTRA
102
79
147
81
149
69
21
MANIPUR
18
138
32
147
43
139
22
MEGHALAYA
1
122
1
142
1
138
23
MIZORAM
0
292
0
288
0
340
24
NAGALAND
0
186
0
216
0
222
25
ODISHA
68
141
106
142
84
191
26
PUDUCHERRY
3
0
4
2
5
1
27
PUNJAB
212
0
243
0
221
0
28
RAJASTHAN
128
102
176
104
174
88
29
SIKKIM
3
20
4
21
4
20
30
TAMIL NADU
75
27
107
24
102
22
31
TELANGANA
111
353
166
313
122
173
32
THE DADRA NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN AND DIU
0
0
0
1
0
1
33
TRIPURA
6
35
6
46
4
51
34
UTTAR PRADESH
462
10
735
15
776
17
35
UTTARAKHAND
58
6
88
8
95
8
36
WEST BENGAL
483
83
687
87
727
76
Total
*2895
2938
*4169
2975
*4143
2698
*As the tenure of Fellowship under NFSC Scheme is upto 5 years and a Scholar is repeated over the years, therefore, a Scholar is counted once during the year despite multiple payments.
Source: Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP)
This information is given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.