Question : Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship

(a) whether the Government has initiated a Central scheme under the name of Rajiv Gandhi
National Fellowship (RGNF) for SC/ST candidates from 2005- 2006 onwards, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether the said scheme is implemented by UGC, if so, the total amount of funds
allocated to the Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RSTM) by UGC under the
said scheme during the years from 2007 to 2016, the details thereof, year-wise;
(c) the details of candidates in RSTM, Nagpur University who were awarded the fellowship
under the RGNF during the said years and how many of these awardees have successfully
completed their M.Phil./ Ph. D. degree; and
(d) whether the total amount of fellowship allocated under the RGNF Scheme has been
disbursed to their respective candidates after their successful completion of M.Phil./Ph. D.
degree during the years 2007 to 2016 and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a): Yes, Sir. The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) scheme for Scheduled Caste
(SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) is formulated and funded by the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) respectively. The scheme provides
financial assistance as fellowship, contingency and HRA etc. to selected candidates
belonging to SC/ST Categories for pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D research on full time/regular basis in
Universities/Institutions/ Colleges in India.
(b) & (c): Yes, Sir. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is implementing RGNF for
SC/ST candidates. The RGNF for ST is fully transferred to MoTA from the selection year
2017-18.
As informed by the UGC, the scholars are selected based upon the State-wise slots
fixed by the respective Ministries. Thus, the fellowships are awarded to the scholars
irrespective of University/Institution/College.
Funds amounting to Rs. 398.20 lakhs and Rs. 42.80 lakhs have been released to
Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RSTM) under RGNF-SC and RGNF-ST
schemes respectively for the period 2006-07 to 2016-17. The total number of beneficiaries for
the same period has been 106 under RGNF-SC and 11 under RGNF-ST from RSTM.
The UGC has further informed that these schemes are on tenure basis and
scholarship is provided to the scholars for five years or till the submission of their Ph.D thesis,
whichever is earlier. The fellowship is paid as long as there is confirmation from the
respective institutions of satisfactory research work by the scholars but limited to maximum of
5 years.
(d): Rs.1123.91 crore and Rs.389.06 crore were released towards RGNF for SC and RGNF
for ST between the financial years 2007-08 to 2016-17 respectively.
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