Sarkari Yojana
Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates
About Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates
This scheme responds to the social circumstances of candidates from deprived sections of society, giving them the chance to pursue advanced studies and research in Science, Engineering & Technology, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges. Objective: It aims to let SC/ST candidates carry out postdoctoral research in Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Indian institutions such as:
- Universities/Institutions/Colleges covered under Section 2(f) and 12 (B) of the UGC Act.
- Deemed-to-be-Universities covered under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, that qualify for UGC grants-in-aid.
- Universities/Institutions/Colleges funded by the Central/State Government.
- Institutes of National Importance.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry of Education
University Grants Commission, Government Of India
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
Target Group: Unemployed candidates from deprived sections of society who hold a Ph.D. and have an aptitude for research.
The candidate must hold a doctorate in the…
The candidate must hold a doctorate in the relevant subject, preferably with published research to their name (a provisional degree certificate is acceptable if the degree hasn't been conferred).
The candidate must belong to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled…
The candidate must belong to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe category.
Only unemployed candidates who already hold a Ph.D
Only unemployed candidates who already hold a Ph.D. are eligible for this fellowship.
The upper age limit is 50 years for…
The upper age limit is 50 years for male applicants and 55 years for female applicants, as of the last date for receiving online applications.
SC/ST candidates need at least 50% marks at…
SC/ST candidates need at least 50% marks at the UG level and 55% at the PG level to apply under this scheme.
The candidate must upload a No Objection Certificate…
The candidate must upload a No Objection Certificate from the proposed research place, forwarded by the Head of Department and the Registrar/Director/Principal, in the online application.
Transgender candidates may also apply, with reservation applied…
Transgender candidates may also apply, with reservation applied per Government of India norms. Note: SC/ST/Persons with Disability candidates receive reservation as provided under the Constitution and instructions issued by the Government of India from time to time.
Benefits Provided
Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
The financial assistance available under the scheme is as follows: Sl. No. Item Rate of Fellowship (Pre-revised) Rate of Fellowship (Revised w. e. f. 01.12.2014) 1 Fellowship @ ₹16,000/- per month @ ₹38,800/- per month for the first 2 years and ₹46,500/- per month from the third year onwards. 2 Contingency @₹30,000/- per annum @₹50,000/- per annum 3 Departmental Assistance 10% of the Post Doctoral Fellowship to the host Institution Not applicable 4 Escorts/Reader/Assistance @ ₹2,000/- per month (fixed) for physically disabled and blind candidates. @ ₹2,000/- per month (fixed) for physically disabled and blind candidates. 5 HRA As per University/Institution rules. As per University/Institution rules. House Rent Allowance:
Institutions may offer suitable single-seated hostel accommodation to…
Institutions may offer suitable single-seated hostel accommodation to candidates; in that case, the fellow can draw only the hostel fee, excluding mess, electricity, water, and similar charges, certified by the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA does not apply to those staying in hostel accommodation.
Where hostel accommodation isn't available, the host institution…
Where hostel accommodation isn't available, the host institution may provide single accommodation instead, with the fellow's actual rent reimbursed up to the HRA ceiling under Government of India norms.
If the fellow arranges accommodation independently, he/she may…
If the fellow arranges accommodation independently, he/she may draw HRA based on the Government of India's city categorization.
Medical:
The Post-Doctoral Fellow gets no separate or fixed medical assistance but may use the medical facilities available at the University/Institution/College.
Leave:
The Post-Doctoral Fellow may take up to 30 days of leave a year, besides public holidays, with the Head of Department's approval, but is not entitled to summer, winter, pooja, or other vacations.
Candidates may take maternity/paternity leave once during the award's tenure, at the full fellowship rate, per Government of India rules.
Academic leave: The fellow may take academic leave without fellowship or contingency, for up to one year during the tenure, for academic/teaching assignments or a foreign visit connected to research; travel costs cannot be claimed from UGC, and this leave period still counts towards the tenure.
Note: The University/Institute/College must approve all types of leave.
Duration of Fellowship:
The award runs for five years, with no provision for extension.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
Copy of Aadhaar card
Copy of Aadhaar card
Passport-size photograph
Passport-size photograph
Proof of age
Proof of age
Mark sheets/grade cards & degrees
Mark sheets/grade cards & degrees
Caste certificate
Caste certificate
Disability certificate, if applicable
Disability certificate, if applicable
Income certificate, if applicable
Income certificate, if applicable
Bank account details
Bank account details
NOC/Undertaking
NOC/Undertaking
Any other document, if required
Any other document, if required.
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates through the online application process outlined below.
Procedure for applying for the scheme:
Every year, the scheme opens for applications online, announced through advertisements in leading newspapers and Employment News, inviting SC/ST candidates who meet the eligibility conditions. A short notification also goes up on the UGC Website.
Note: Incomplete applications will not go before the Expert Committee, and candidates must apply strictly per the instructions given on the online application portal.
Selection Procedure:
A screening committee scrutinizes the applications received, after which shortlisted candidates are called before an Expert Committee set up by the Commission.
No TA/DA is paid for attending the interview.
The Commission's decision is final.
The Commission may withdraw or cancel the award at its discretion, without giving a reason.
Results are published on the UGC website, and award letters can be downloaded from the UGC online application portal.
The fellowship takes effect from 1st April of the selection year, or the actual date of joining the PDF, whichever comes later.
Joining:
The candidate must join the fellowship within 3 months of the Award letter's issue date, or the award is treated as cancelled.
Procedure for release of the grant by the UGC:
The fellowship amount is disbursed directly into the awardee's bank account through a UGC-designated bank. The list of designated branches of UGC-identified banks is available on the UGC portal i.e. www.ugc.ac.in.
The awardee must visit the designated branch with…
The awardee must visit the designated branch with a copy of the Award Letter and Joining Report, including a photograph, address, and contact number, in the prescribed proforma Annexure-II . The awardee must also submit the following documents to the designated branch of the UGC designated Bank at the specified intervals, and the approved Agency may verify the records' genuineness before releasing funds.
At the end of every three months, the…
At the end of every three months, the fellow must submit a 'Continuation Certificate' in the prescribed proforma. Annexure-III . This makes the awardee eligible to draw the fellowship for the next three months.
Once one year of the fellowship award is…
Once one year of the fellowship award is complete, the fellow/awardee must submit a Progress Report in the UGC-prescribed proforma given in Annexure-IV .
The Fellow/awardee must also submit accounts of contingency…
The Fellow/awardee must also submit accounts of contingency grants in the UGC-prescribed proforma given in Annexure-V .
The Fellow/awardee must submit an HRA Certificate in…
The Fellow/awardee must submit an HRA Certificate in the prescribed proforma
Annexure-VI
.
Disbursement of fellowship (old cases/legacy cases):
UGC has built a dedicated web portal to capture data on eligible scholars, through which legacy (Non-DBT) cases will move onto the DBT platform.
Universities/Colleges/Institutions will upload the eligible beneficiaries' master data onto the portal using a unique user profile (username and password).
Beneficiaries' bank account numbers are validated through PFMS to create a beneficiary ID, and the Universities/Institutions/Colleges must update the master data monthly (covering continuation, HRA, up-gradation, resignation, etc.). Fellowship payments are made to beneficiaries only through the DBT platform, based on the master data received from the concerned institutions.
Resignation:
If a fellow wants to leave the fellowship before completing the tenure, they should inform the identified Agency, with UGC kept in the loop; the grant will be released only up to the date of relinquishment.
Transfer:
The concerned University/Institution/College handles transfer of the research place, informing UGC; such a transfer is permitted only once during the entire tenure.
Cancellation of Award:
The fellowship may be cancelled in cases of:
Misconduct.
Unsatisfactory progress in the research work.
The candidate later being found ineligible.
The candidate already drawing a scholarship/fellowship from another source.
The candidate being found employed during the PDF research.
Any false information given by the applicant, or fraudulent activity by the Scholar/Fellow/Research Awardee.
Objectives
The objective of the scheme is to provide an opportunity to SC/ST candidates to undertake postdoctoral research in Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences at Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges as indicated below:
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.