UGC NFSC Fellowship 2025: ₹31,000/Month Financial Aid for SC Research Scholars (JRF & SRF) Full Guidelines

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has outlined the guidelines for the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC). This Central Sector Scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to students from the SC category who wish to pursue higher studies leading to M.Phil and Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Eligible scholars can receive a monthly fellowship of ₹31,000 (JRF) for the first two years and ₹35,000 (SRF) for the remaining tenure. With 2000 new slots available every year, this scheme ensures that financial constraints do not hinder advanced research for SC students.

Fellowship Overview & Key Details

Fellowship Rates & Financial Benefits

The fellowship rates are at par with UGC standards. Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): ₹31,000 per month (Initial 2 Years). Senior Research Fellowship (SRF): ₹35,000 per month (Remaining Tenure). Contingency Grant: Humanities: ₹10,000 p.a. (JRF) / ₹20,500 p.a. (SRF). Sciences: ₹12,000 p.a. (JRF) / ₹25,000 p.a. (SRF). HRA: Admissible as per Govt. norms (8%, 16%, 24%) if hostel accommodation is not provided.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this fellowship, candidates must meet the following strict conditions:

• Category: Must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.
• Qualification: Must have qualified the UGC-NET-JRF or CSIR-UGC-NET-JRF joint test.
• Admission Status:
  • Preference is given to candidates who have already secured admission in M.Phil/Ph.D.
  • If slots remain, candidates without admission will be selected based on merit but must secure admission within 3 years of the award letter.
• Course: Must be pursuing a regular and full-time M.Phil/Ph.D course in a UGC-recognized university or institution.

Duration of Fellowship

• M.Phil: Maximum 2 Years (JRF).
• Ph.D: Maximum 5 Years (2 Years JRF + 3 Years SRF).
• M.Phil + Ph.D: Maximum 5 Years (2 Years JRF + 3 Years SRF).

How to Apply

The selection is primarily based on the merit list of the National Eligibility Test (NET). 1. Qualify NET: Ensure you clear the UGC-NET or CSIR-NET JRF exam. 2. Online Portal: NSFDC is the nodal agency. Award letters can be downloaded from the NSFDC online portal. 3. Verification: Your university will verify your SC certificate and admission details. 4. Disbursement: The fellowship is released directly to your Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

Official Website: Click Here to Visit NSFDC Portal