National Fellowship for OBC Students

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs the National Fellowship for OBC Students (NFOBC) to help Other Backward Class (OBC) students complete M.Phil and Ph.D degrees in India. The scheme gives 1000 fellowships every year, and selected candidates get ₹37,000 per month as JRF and ₹42,000 per month as SRF.

Fellowship is awarded to OBC students who clear UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF and take admission in a full time research course at a recognized university. National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) is now the nodal agency that runs the scheme, and the whole process from result list to award letter is done online.

National Fellowship for OBC Students - Introduction

Government of India launched National Fellowship for OBC Students during the financial year 2014-15 as a Central Sector Scheme. The aim is simple: give OBC students a fair chance to do advanced research without worrying about money. Students who clear the UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET exam but miss the regular JRF cut-off get a second chance through this fellowship.

The scheme covers all universities and institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Now the fellowship runs under the SHREYAS umbrella scheme (2021-22 to 2025-26) of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. NBCFDC has been nominated as the nodal agency for running the scheme, and the ministry provides the full funding.

There are 1000 slots every year. Out of these, 750 are for subjects under UGC NET-JRF (humanities and social sciences) and 250 are for UGC-CSIR NET-JRF joint test (science streams). These slots are over and above the OBC students selected under the normal reservation policy for UGC fellowships. The amount paid is at par with the regular Junior Research Fellowship, so the money support is the same as a JRF holder gets.

Key Information

Benefits

Selected candidates get the same monthly amount as regular UGC JRF and SRF holders. The rates were revised with effect from 01 January 2023. Earlier the JRF amount was ₹31,000 and SRF was ₹35,000, and now the rates are higher.

Duration of the fellowship:

Contingency Allowances (per annum):

Physically or visually challenged candidates get an Escort/Reader support of ₹2,000 per month. If hostel facility is not available, House Rent Allowance (HRA) is paid as per UGC norms. HRA rates were also revised with effect from 01 January 2024, and HRA is calculated on the new fellowship amount.

Eligibility

Eligibility for NFOBC follows the same conditions as the UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC-NET exams. A candidate has to meet all the following conditions to get the fellowship:

OBC category: The candidate must belong to the Other Backward Classes and hold a valid OBC certificate.

NET-JRF qualification: The candidate should have qualified UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF in the relevant subject.

Full time admission: The candidate must be enrolled in a regular and full time M.Phil or Ph.D course in a university or institution recognized by UGC.

No other fellowship: The candidate should not be receiving any similar fellowship or scholarship from the Central or State Government, so that funding is not duplicated.

Employment rule: Employees of any university, college, or government institution are not eligible, even if they are on study leave.

Note: As per the current NBCFDC guidelines, 5% of the total slots are reserved for Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates belonging to the OBC category.

Exclusions

The fellowship can be cancelled if the candidate gives incorrect or misleading information at any stage, is found to be getting money from another source at the same time, makes slow progress in research, is found involved in plagiarism or other unfair academic practices, or takes up employment while doing research.

Application Process

There is no separate application form for NFOBC. Candidates are considered based on their UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF result, and the selection is done twice a year after each NET cycle. NBCFDC publishes the result list and the award letter on its official website. A similar fellowship is available for SC students under the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students.

STEP 1 - Clear the UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF exam with OBC category. Only NET-JRF qualified candidates are considered for the fellowship, so a good rank in the exam is the first requirement.

STEP 2 - Take admission in a regular and full time M.Phil or Ph.D course in a UGC recognized university or research institution. The fellowship starts from the date of registration in the course or the date of result declaration, whichever is later.

STEP 3 - Check the NFOBC result list on the official NBCFDC website at nbcfdc.gov.in after each NET cycle. The list of qualified candidates is prepared by NTA and published by NBCFDC.

STEP 4 - Download the fellowship award letter from the NBCFDC portal once the result is out. Selected candidates complete the joining formalities online through the Scholarship Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP).

STEP 5 - Keep bank account and Aadhaar details ready. The fellowship amount is paid directly to the bank account through DBT after Aadhaar seeding and monthly confirmation by the host institution.

For any help, candidates can call NBCFDC at 011-45854421 or write to nf-obc@nbcfdc.gov.in. NBCFDC also runs other schemes like the NBCFDC General Loan Scheme for backward classes.

Documents

Keep these documents ready while completing the fellowship formalities:

• Aadhaar Card
• Valid OBC caste certificate
• UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF qualification certificate
• M.Phil / Ph.D admission and registration proof
• Bank account details for DBT payment
• Disability certificate (if applicable)

References

NBCFDC official NFOBC page

NFOBC guidelines and annexures (PDF)

Revision of fellowship amount notice (PDF)

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment scheme page

UGC official website

FAQ's

How many fellowships are given every year?

The scheme gives 1000 fellowships every year. 750 slots are for UGC NET-JRF subjects and 250 slots are for UGC-CSIR NET-JRF science subjects.

What is the JRF and SRF amount in 2026?

JRF holders get ₹37,000 per month and SRF holders get ₹42,000 per month. These revised rates are effective from 01 January 2023.

Who is eligible for NFOBC?

OBC students who qualify in UGC-NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF and take admission in a regular and full time M.Phil or Ph.D course in a UGC recognized institution.

Is there any reservation for disabled students?

Yes, 5% of the total slots are reserved for Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates belonging to the OBC category.

Which agency runs the scheme now?

NBCFDC (National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation) is the nodal agency that runs the scheme for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Can I take another scholarship with this fellowship?

No, candidates getting a similar fellowship or scholarship from the Central or State Government cannot take this fellowship at the same time.

Is House Rent Allowance given?

Yes, HRA is paid as per UGC norms to candidates who are not provided hostel accommodation. HRA rates were revised with effect from 01 January 2024.

How is the fellowship amount paid?

The amount is paid directly to the bank account of the candidate through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after Aadhaar seeding.