Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme (RGNFS)

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) Scheme for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, formulated and funded by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs is for Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe students who 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 2000 slots for Scheduled Caste and 667 slots for Scheduled Tribe candidates every year for all the subjects.
SC/ST Candidates who have passed the Post Graduate examination in concerned subject and who desire to pursue research without JRF of UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET are eligible. 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 approval of fellowship or date of joining whichever is later.
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 up-gradation 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 The fellowship may be withdrawn if the work is not considered satisfactory or the candidate fails in any of the examinations related to Ph.D.
In case the work for the first two years is not found satisfactory, an additional year will be given to him/her for improvement. However, during this period he/she will be designated as Rajiv Gandhi National Junior Research Fellow. In such cases work will be evaluated again before third year of the tenure, and if improvement is found, the Fellow will get two more years under the RGNSRF. Thus, the total period of fellowship (RGNJRF and RGNSRF) is for five years, with no further provision of extension. Fellowship in Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering & Technology is @Rs.16000/-p.m. for initial two years (RGNJRF) and @Rs.18000/-p.m. for remaining tenure (RGNSRF). Details of Contingency, HRA, Departmental Assistance, Escort/Reader Assistance etc are given at http://www.ugc.ac.in/rgnf/amount_fellowship.aspx