Sarkari Yojana

Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship For Scheduled Caste Candidates

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Quick Summary: RGNF gives SC-category students five-year fellowships to pursue full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. programmes at recognised Indian institutions, with 2000 slots a year and 3% reserved for candidates with disabilities. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment funds it, with UGC handling online applications.

About Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship For Scheduled Caste Candidates

Funded and designed by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) for Scheduled Caste students supports SC candidates pursuing regular, full-time M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes across Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Engineering & Technology. Every year, 2000 slots across all subjects are set aside for Scheduled Caste candidates, and within this, 3% of the fellowships are reserved for Persons with Disabilities from the SC category, in line with Government of India norms.

OBJECTIVE The scheme’s goal is to give SC-category students — as notified by the Central Government — five-year fellowships carrying financial support for higher studies such as M.Phil. and Ph.D. at these types of Indian institutions: i. Universities/Institutions/Colleges covered under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. ii. Deemed Universities covered under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, that qualify for UGC grants-in-aid. iii. Universities/Institutions/Colleges funded by the Central or State Government. iv. Institutes of National Importance.

Scheme Overview

Government Level

Central Government

Ministry

Ministry of Education

Implementing Agency

University Grants Commission (UGC)

Eligible Entity

Individual

Scheme Details

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship For Scheduled Caste Candidates, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

TARGET GROUP Candidates from an SC category who have cleared their post-graduate examination in the relevant subject, and are pursuing full-time research without holding UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET JRF, form the target group. ELIGIBILITY To qualify for this fellowship, a candidate must meet the following:

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Belong to the SC/ST category and have passed…

Belong to the SC/ST category and have passed the Post Graduate Examination.

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Be registered for an M.Phil

Be registered for an M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme.

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Transgender candidates may also apply, with reservation applied…

Transgender candidates may also apply, with reservation applied per Government of India norms.

Applicants must meet all of the above conditions to be considered eligible for this scheme.
Documents Required

Documents Required

Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:

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A passport-size photograph

A passport-size photograph

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Aadhaar number

Aadhaar number

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Bonafide certificate

Bonafide certificate

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Caste certificate

Caste certificate

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Proof of identity

Proof of identity

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Proof of age

Proof of age

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Proof of address

Proof of address

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Proof of educational qualifications The awardee must also…

Proof of educational qualifications The awardee must also submit the documents below to the designated branch of the UGC-designated bank at the specified intervals; the approved agency may check these records for authenticity before releasing funds.

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Every three months, the fellow must submit a…

Every three months, the fellow must submit a 'Continuation Certificate' in the prescribed proforma, Annexure-II, which allows the fellowship to continue for the following three-month period.

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Once one year of the fellowship has elapsed,…

Once one year of the fellowship has elapsed, the fellow must submit and present a Yearly Progress Report using the UGC's prescribed proforma, Annexure-III.

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The fellow must also submit and present an…

The fellow must also submit and present an account of contingency grants in the UGC's prescribed proforma, Annexure-IV.

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An HRA Certificate must likewise be submitted and…

An HRA Certificate must likewise be submitted and presented in the prescribed proforma, Annexure-V. Note: The approved agency may verify these records' authenticity before disbursing the funds.

Ensure all documents are valid and, where required, duly attested before submitting your application.

How to Apply

Online Application

Applicants can apply for Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship For Scheduled Caste Candidates through the online application process outlined below.

Application Portal: Open Application Portal ↗

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Application Process

Once a year, applications are invited online — announced through advertisements in leading newspapers and Employment News — from SC-category candidates who satisfy the scheme's eligibility conditions. A brief notification is also posted on the UGC website www.ugc.ac.in; incomplete applications are not placed before the Expert Committee. Candidates must follow the instructions given on the online application portal, e-SARTS: http://www.ugc.ac.in/ugc_schemes/

Ensure all required documents are ready before starting the application process.

Official Application & Website

Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.

Official Sources & References