Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) 2025 – For SC/ST Students

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) 2025 is a government fellowship program for SC and ST students who want to pursue M.Phil. or Ph.D. courses in regular mode. It is run by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Every year, 2,000 SC students are selected for this fellowship. It also reserves 3% seats for students with disabilities (within the SC category).

Offered by	Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Who can apply	SC students pursuing M.Phil. or Ph.D.
Number of Seats	1,333 for SC, 667 for ST students
Benefits	Monthly stipend + contingency + HRA (if applicable)
Fellowship Duration	Up to 5 years
Mode of Application	Online
Official Website	ugc.ac.in

Also Read: Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, students must:

• Be a permanent resident of India
• Belong to the SC or ST category
• Be enrolled in a full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. program from a recognized university or institution
• Apply at the start of the course (applications not accepted after 2 years of joining)
• Transgender candidates are also eligible
• Selection is based on academic merit

Fellowship Benefits

Fellowship Amount (per month):

Year	Humanities/Social Sciences	Science/Engineering
First 2 Years (JRF)	₹10,000	₹10,000
Next 3 Years (SRF)	₹20,500	₹20,500

Contingency Grant (per year):

Subject Area	1st 2 Years	Next 3 Years
Humanities/Social Sciences	₹12,000	₹25,000
Science/Engineering	₹12,000	₹25,000

Other Benefits:

• Reader/escort allowance: ₹2,000/month for physically disabled/blind students
• Departmental assistance: ₹3,000 per student to host institution
• HRA: As per university/institution norms

Fellowship Duration

• M.Phil. only: 2 years
• M.Phil. + Ph.D.: 5 years (2 years JRF + 3 years SRF)
• Ph.D. only: 5 years
• Progress after 2 years is reviewed by a university committee. If approved, fellowship continues for the remaining period.

How to Apply

• Go to – https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/rgnfscc
• Click on Apply Now
• Fill in the online application with:
• Name, DOB, Address
• Caste category
• Course details
• Research topic
• Upload required documents
• Submit the form.

Also Read: Kind Circle Scholarship 2025

Required Documents

• SC/ST caste certificate
• Disability certificate (if applicable)
• PG marksheet
• Certificate from university/college confirming admission
• Research topic details
• Identity proof

Contact Details

Address: University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO Metro Gate Number 3 Road, New Delhi – 110002

Phone: 0120-6895200

FAQs