National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) is open for the 2026-27 academic year. The scheme provides 2,000 new fellowships every year to SC candidates who qualify UGC NET-JRF or Joint CSIR-UGC NET-JRF. Monthly fellowship stands at ₹37,000 during the JRF phase and ₹42,000 during the SRF phase, plus contingency grants and HRA. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment funds the scheme and NSFDC runs it as the Central Nodal Agency since 1 October 2022.
Selection happens through the National Testing Agency (NTA) purely on the basis of the NET-JRF merit list. There is no separate fellowship application form to fill. Candidates who get selected download their award letters from the NSFDC portal and start receiving the fellowship directly in their Aadhaar-linked bank account through the DBT system.
National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC)
The scheme was started in the 2005-06 financial year by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to support SC students who want to do M.Phil or PhD in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences at UGC-recognized Indian universities, colleges and institutions. It covers all states and union territories, and the 2,000 yearly slots are over and above the SC students selected under the normal reservation policy for UGC fellowships.
Of the total slots, 75% go to candidates qualifying through the UGC NET-JRF exam and 25% through the Joint CSIR-UGC NET-JRF exam for science students. If slots stay unfilled in one category, they can be shifted to the other for the same year. A separate provision is also there for SC candidates with disability, with the minimum disability level set at 40% under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2005-06 |
| Beneficiaries | SC students pursuing M.Phil or PhD |
| Benefit Amount | ₹37,000/month (JRF) + ₹42,000/month (SRF) + contingency + HRA |
| Total Slots | 2,000 per year (1,500 Humanities/Social Sciences, 500 Science) |
| Application Mode | No separate application - selection via NET-JRF merit list |
| Implementing Agency | NSFDC (Central Nodal Agency since Oct 2022) |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Official Website | nsfdc.nic.in / socialjustice.gov.in |
| Award Letter Portal | nfsc.nsfdcdigital.in |
Benefits
NFSC gives 2,000 new fellowships every year, split into 1,500 slots for Humanities and Social Sciences and 500 for the Science stream. These are additional to the SC students covered under the normal reservation policy for UGC fellowships.
The fellowship amount was revised as per the UGC rates with effect from 1 January 2023. JRF holders get ₹37,000 per month for the first two years, and after promotion to SRF the amount goes up to ₹42,000 per month for the remaining tenure. Contingency grants for books, travel and research expenses are paid separately every year.
| Course | Max Duration | JRF Period | SRF Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Phil | 2 Years | 2 Years | NIL |
| PhD | 5 Years | 2 Years | 3 Years |
| M.Phil + PhD | 5 Years | 2 Years | 3 Years |
Monthly and annual rates under the revised UGC structure are given below.
| Category | JRF (Initial 2 Years) | SRF (Following 3 Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Fellowship (All Streams) | ₹37,000 per month | ₹42,000 per month |
| Contingency (Humanities & Social Sciences) | ₹10,000 per annum | ₹20,500 per annum |
| Contingency (Sciences) | ₹12,000 per annum | ₹25,000 per annum |
| Escort/Reader Assistance (PwD) | ₹2,000 per month | ₹2,000 per month |
Candidates who do not get hostel accommodation can claim House Rent Allowance (HRA) at 8%, 16% or 24% as per Government of India norms for their city. If hostel accommodation is offered and refused, HRA does not apply. Medical facilities and leave, including maternity leave, follow the UGC fellowship rules. Payments are released through the Aadhaar-based payment system directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the scholar.
Science students who want PhD support can also check the INSPIRE Fellowship run by the Department of Science and Technology, and girl candidates can see the Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Fellowship for research in social sciences on this website.
Eligibility
To get this fellowship, the candidate must belong to the Scheduled Caste category and be enrolled in a regular, full-time M.Phil or PhD program at a university, college or institution recognized by UGC. The candidate should have qualified the UGC NET-JRF or the UGC-CSIR NET-JRF joint test.
Candidates who already have admission and qualify NET get preference, and they must join the fellowship within three months of the award letter. If enough admitted candidates are not available, NET-qualified candidates without admission are selected in order of merit. Students who have cleared post-graduation or are in the final year get preference and are allowed up to one year to join; other candidates get up to three years from the award letter date.
Only one fellowship can be held at a time, and the scholar cannot accept any other scholarship, stipend, salary or paid appointment during the tenure. SC candidates with a disability of at least 40% get reservation benefits as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Exclusions
Employees of any university, college, educational institution or central/state/UT government department cannot apply, even if they are on study leave or extra-ordinary leave. Candidates who did not complete earlier research work under this scheme, or who already received a PhD fellowship from any other source, are also not eligible.
Application Process
There is no separate application form for the NFSC fellowship. Selection is done by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on the basis of the merit list of the UGC NET-JRF and Joint CSIR-UGC NET-JRF exams, and NSFDC has no role in selection or cut-offs. The steps below explain how the process works.
STEP 1 - Appear for the UGC NET or the Joint CSIR-UGC NET exam conducted by NTA and qualify for JRF. UGC NET is held twice a year, in June and December. The June 2026 exam was held from 22 to 30 June 2026, and the December 2026 cycle is expected to open around October 2026 as per reports. Exam dates and application details come on the official UGC NET portal.
STEP 2 - Take admission in a regular, full-time M.Phil or PhD program at a UGC-recognized institution. Candidates who already have admission get first preference in selection, and those who clear the post-graduation exam or are in the final year also get preference.
STEP 3 - Check the NFSC eligible candidates list and subject-wise cut-offs published by NSFDC after each exam cycle. If the roll number appears in the list, download the award letter from the NFSC award letter portal at nfsc.nsfdcdigital.in. Admitted candidates must join the fellowship within three months of the award letter, otherwise the candidature gets cancelled. Candidates without admission must get admission within three years.
Documents
Keep these documents ready for verification once selected, because the university checks the SC certificate before the fellowship starts:
- SC caste certificate issued by a competent authority such as SDM or Tehsildar
- UGC NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET scorecard with JRF qualification
- Admission letter of the M.Phil or PhD program
- Mark sheets and degree certificates of the last qualifying exam
- Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked bank account details
- Passport size photograph and PAN card
- Disability certificate, if applying under the PwD quota
- Research proposal, if asked by the institution
Contact Details
For queries related to NFSC, candidates can call the toll free number 1800110396 or write to nfsc.nsfdc@gmail.com. The contact details and all notices are available on the NSFDC website.
References
- Official NFSC scheme page - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- NFSC scheme guidelines (official PDF, May 2025)
- NSFDC NFSC page
- NFSC updated guidelines (official PDF)
- NFSC award letter download portal
- UGC NET official portal
FAQ's
How is the merit list determined for this fellowship?
The merit list is created on the basis of performance in the UGC NET-JRF or Joint CSIR-UGC NET-JRF exam. Candidates who already have admission in an M.Phil or PhD program get first preference, and if slots remain, candidates without admission are added in order of merit.
Is there a separate application form for the NFSC fellowship?
No. There is no separate fellowship application. Selection happens from the NET-JRF merit list prepared by NTA, and selected candidates download their award letters from the NSFDC portal.
When will I receive my fellowship payments?
The university confirms the continuation of the fellowship twice a year, within the 10th of the starting month of each semester. Based on this certification, the fellowship is released by the 15th of every month through the Aadhaar-based payment system into the bank account.
Can I hold another scholarship while receiving this fellowship?
No. Only one fellowship can be held at a time. Accepting any other scholarship, stipend, salary or cash benefit from any other source cancels the eligibility under this scheme.
Are there specific provisions for PwD candidates?
Yes. SC candidates with a minimum of 40% disability can get reservation benefits as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, along with escort or reader assistance of ₹2,000 per month.
What if I am already employed?
Employees of any university, college, educational institution or government department are not eligible for this fellowship, even if they are on study leave or extra-ordinary leave to pursue the course.