National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students
Central fellowship scheme awarding Rs. 31,000–Rs. 35,000 monthly fellowship for Ph.D. research and full tuition fee reimbursement for professional courses at premier institutes (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS) for ST students.
Quick Eligibility Snapshot
₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown
📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach
750 new research fellowships and 1,000 top-class fresh scholarships awarded annually
As of: 2026-01-31PIB / Official Citation ↗Verified Eligibility Criteria
Scheduled Tribe students admitted to full-time regular M.Phil/Ph.D. programs (no income ceiling for fellowship) or admitted into 246 notified premier institutes with family income <= Rs. 6 Lakh.
Required Documents Checklist
Verify readiness before applying for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students. Check off your papers or print this list before visiting your local CSC / Cyber Cafe.
Mandatory Documents(3)
Check off as readyKeep self-attested photocopies and clear digital scans (100 KB – 200 KB, PDF/JPG format) ready to avoid portal upload timeouts.
Worried About Application Rejection for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students?
Over 30% of applications on official portals get delayed or rejected due to minor certificate authority mismatches or unseeded bank accounts. Our civic research desk compiles a verified 1-page Scheme Blueprint tailored to your state and profile.
- ✓Valid issuing authority rules (Tehsildar/SDM)
- ✓Aadhaar-DBT bank seeding verification
- ✓Direct official portal guide (no middlemen)
- ✓Email delivery in 1–2 hrs during desk hours
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Application Effort & Process Friction
Readiness assessment derived from official prerequisites, mandatory documentation, and submission channels.
Effort scores reflect portal accessibility, mandatory document burden, and physical verification requirements.
How to Apply
- 1
Student secures admission into a regular M.Phil/Ph.D. program or undergraduate/postgraduate degree in a notified premier institute.
- 2
Apply online on fellowship.tribal.gov.in (for Fellowship) or scholarships.gov.in (for Scholarship).
- 3
Upload ST caste certificate, annual income certificate (below Rs. 6 Lakh for scholarship), admission offer letter, and fee structure.
- 4
Ministry of Tribal Affairs verifies credentials with host university nodal officers.
- 5
Monthly fellowship or annual scholarship disbursed directly via PFMS Direct Benefit Transfer.
✅Before You Begin — Pre-Application Checklist
⚠️Common Rejection Reasons — Avoid These
Family income exceeding Rs. 6.00 Lakh (for scholarship component), distance/part-time research course, or holding duplicate fellowship.
Official Government Application Portal
You will be redirected to the secure official portal: fellowship.tribal.gov.in
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Field-tested recommendations from administrative grievance circulars to avoid rejections and processing stalls.
Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)
Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.
Is there an income limit for the doctoral Fellowship component?
No. There is no income ceiling for ST students applying for the M.Phil/Ph.D. research fellowship. The Rs. 6 Lakh income ceiling applies only to the undergraduate/postgraduate scholarship component at premier institutes.
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗What is the duration of the National Tribal Fellowship for Ph.D.?
The fellowship is provided for a maximum period of 5 years (2 years as Junior Research Fellow and 3 years as Senior Research Fellow upon satisfactory research evaluation).
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗Can a student availing this fellowship take up a paid job?
No. The fellowship is meant strictly for full-time regular research scholars who do not hold any other gainful employment during the fellowship tenure.
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗Who is eligible to apply for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students?
Eligible applicants must satisfy official government criteria for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students. Age: min 18 max 36 years. Annual family income ceiling: ₹6,00,000. Conditions: Scheduled Tribe students admitted to full-time regular M.Phil/Ph.D. programs (no income ceiling for fellowship) or admitted into 246 notified premier .
Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗Can I track my National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students application status?
Application status for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students can typically be tracked through the official portal at fellowship.tribal.gov.in using your Aadhaar number, application reference number, or registered mobile number. Alternatively, contact the scheme helpline or visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).
What should I do if my National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students payment is delayed or rejected?
First, verify your Aadhaar-bank account seeding status on the NPCI mapper (npci.org.in). If seeding is confirmed and payment is still pending, register a complaint on the Central Public Grievance Redressal System at pgportal.gov.in. You may also file an RTI application at rtionline.gov.in to obtain official rejection reasons within 30 days.
Is there an income tax implication for receiving National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students benefits?
Agricultural income and certain welfare subsidies may be exempt from income tax under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tax treatment varies by scheme type and beneficiary income level. Consult a certified tax practitioner or visit incometax.gov.in for scheme-specific tax guidance.
Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings
Family income exceeding Rs. 6.00 Lakh (for scholarship component), distance/part-time research course, or holding duplicate fellowship.
Editorial Verification & Change Log
| Date | Field | Description / Update | Source Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-18 | scheme_type | cs | Official Source ↗ |
| 2026-09-26 | budget_allocation | ₹145 Crore annual central sector allocation | Official Source ↗ |
| 2026-09-17 | initial_verification | Baseline verification of National Tribal Fellowship 750 slots, JRF/SRF rates, and 246 premier institute coverage. | Official Source ↗ |
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Application Window & Deadlines
Annual portal window (July to October each academic year)
🛟Grievance & RTI Channels
⏱Estimated Time to First Benefit
Scheme Intelligence
How is this calculated? ↗Verified 7d ago from .gov.in source
Apply online with minimal documents
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📅Scheme Milestone Timeline
Baseline verification of National Tribal Fellowship 750 slots, JRF/SRF rates, an...
Official Source ↗Schemes You Can Stack With This
Complementary programs with non-conflicting eligibility that you can claim concurrently:
Official Helpline & Nodal Offices
Ministry of Tribal Affairs - Education Section
Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110001
Helpline: 011-23386176
Jurisdiction: National (All-India)Notice a Discrepancy?
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Verification Metadata
Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-10-12 against official government documentation.
Eligo is an independent information platform unaffiliated with any government body. Always confirm latest terms directly on the official portal.