(a) the salient features of the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme;
(b) the number of students benefited through this scheme during the last
three years, year-wise and State-wise; and
(c) the funds released under this scheme and those actually utilised
during the said period, State-wise?
MINISTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI MUKUL WASNIK)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement in answer to parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question
No. 311 for 03.09.2012 by Shri Pakuri Lal, M.P. regarding “Rajiv Gandhi
National Fellowship` Scheme
(a): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has initiated “Rajiv
Gandhi National Fellowship†(RGNF) Scheme for the Scheduled Caste students.
Under the Scheme fellowships are awarded to the SC students for pursuing
research studies leading to M. Phil., Ph.D. and equivalent research degrees
in universities, research institutions and scientific institutions. The
salient features of the Scheme are as follows:-
i) 2000 fresh fellowships are awarded every year with effect from 2010-11.
ii) University Grants Commission (UGC) is the nodal agency for
implementing the Scheme.
iii) There is no income criteria for eligibility.
iv) Fellowships are primarily distributed among different State
Governments/UTs in the proportion of SC population in the respective States/UTs.
v) There is no restriction as regards to the minimum marks in
Post-Graduation exam. It would be sufficient for a SC candidate to have passed
the Post Graduation Examination for being eligible for RGNF.
vi) There is no requirement to clear National Eligibility Test
(NET)/State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) examination for availing fellowship.
(b): State/Union Territory-wise number of SC students to whom fresh
fellowships have been awarded under the Scheme during 2009-10 to 2011-12 is
given in the Annexure.
(c): Funds under the Scheme are not released to State Govts but to the University
Grants Commission (UGC). Details of funds released to UGC under the Scheme
and utilized by it during the last three years are given below:-
(Rupees in crore)
Sl. Year Amount released Amount utilized No. to UGC by UGC
1. 2009-10 105.00 62.65
2. 2010-11 144.00 141.71
3. 2011-12 103.69 59.37