Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNFS)

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes is formulated and funded by Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The scheme is open to candidates who belong to Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe and wish to pursue higher studies such as regular and full time M.Phil. and Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering Technology.



There are 1333 slots for Scheduled Caste and 667 slots for Scheduled Tribe candidates every year for all the subjects.



Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for full time M.Phil. and Ph.D degrees


The tenure of fellowship is initially for two years under the RGNF scheme. Before expiry of this
period, the work of the Fellow will be evaluated by the Committee of three members comprising of Head of the Department, Supervisor and one outside expert to be constituted by the concerned Department of the University/Institution/College.


RGNFS Eligilibility :

The candidate should belong to SC/ST and should have passed the Post Graduate examination. The selection will be made on the basis of merit of the candidates. The candidate must get himself/herself registered for M.Phil./Ph.D at the first available opportunity but not later than within a period of two years from the receipt of award letter. This period is not extendable. However, the actual payment of fellowship will be made with effect from the date of joining only.


Nature of assistance available under the scheme - The tenure of fellowship is initially for two years under the RGNF Scheme. Before expiry of this period, the work of the Fellow will be evaluated by a Committee of three members comprising of Head of the Department, Supervisor and one outside subject expert to be constituted by the concerned Department of the /University/Institution/College. If the research work is found satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended further for a period of three years under the enhanced emoluments of the Rajiv Gandhi National Senior Research Fellowship (RGNSRF). The recommendation of the Committee shall be submitted to the UGC for upgradation to the level of RGNSRF.The work done and the time spent on scholarships or fellowships of any agency other than the UGC will not be taken into account while considering the proposals for enhancement in the value of fellowship. The fellowship may be withdrawn if the work is not considered satisfactory or the candidate fails in any of the examinations related to Ph.D. The candidate would be eligible for following financial assistance.



Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNFS) :


a) Fellowship @Rs.8000/-p.m. for initial two years @Rs.9000/-p.m. for remaining tenur.



b) Rajiv Gandhi National Junior Research Fellowship RGNJRF

RGNJRF - Contingency A @Rs.10000/-p.a. for initial two years @Rs.20500/-p.a. for remaining tenure.



c) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Humanities Social Sciences Contingency

B @Rs.12000/-p.a. for initial two years @Rs.25000/-p.a. for remaining tenur.



d) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Sciences, Engg. Technology Departmental Assistance

@Rs. 3000/- p.a. per student to the host institution for providing infrastructur.



e) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Escorts/Reader assistance @ Rs. 2000/- p.m. in cases of physically handicapped blind candidate.



In special cases Rajiv Gandhi National Junior Research Fellow may be allowed leave without fellowship by the Commission upto one academic year during the entire tenure of the award for accepting teaching assignments on a temporary basis, provided the assignment is in the same city/town. In other cases, leave without fellowship will be restricted to a period not exceeding three months during the tenure of the award on the recommendations of the supervisor and the institution.

Applications are invited in the prescribed format  once in a year through advertisement in leading newspapers and Employment News. The same is also uploaded in the UGC Website www.ugc.ac.in The selection is made on the basis of merit and as per the procedure of the Commission.


Note : 1) “The application form received from the candidates who will not be selected for fellowship will be destroyed after six months of the selection made in that respective year under the scheme. Henceforth, such application form can not be called for after destroying.”


2) The applications in the prescribed format given below may be sent to Mr. SATISH AHUJA, UNDER
SECRETARY, (SA-III), UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION, BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG,
NEW DELHI-110002 duly forwarded by the Registrar/Director/Principal of the
Universities/Institutions/Colleges.

For More Details & to Download Application Form Click Here