Page 46 - CURAJ Information Handbook for SC ST Cell

9. The modifications as considered appropriate in the Provisions of the Scheme, from time
to time, would be approved by the Administrative Minister, on the recommendations of
the committee as give in para 7.

13.6 GUIDELINES FOR THE CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME OF NATIONAL
FELLOWSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OF ST

STUDENTS.

1.0 Background
1.1 The erstwhile two Central Sector Schemes namely Rajiv Gandhi National

Fellowship (RGNF) for ST students and Top Class Education for ST Students earlier
implemented by this Ministry to provide financial assistance for pursuing higher
education of ST students were merged into a single Central Sector Scheme called
“National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students”.

1.2 Under this merged scheme, Fellowships are provided to ST students to take up
higher studies after completing Post Graduation, such as M.Phil and Ph.D courses,
Fellowship is awarded on the lines of UGC Fellowships for research students pursuing
such courses on regular and full time basis. Similarly, Scholarships is provided to ST
Students to encourage meritorious ST students to pursue courses at Graduate/Post
Graduate level in identified Institutions of excellence, Government and Private, in
professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information

Technology, Law etc.

1.3 Fellowship component of the merged scheme came into force from the year
2014-15 and Scholarship component from the year 2015-16. However, the
scholars/students already covered under the scheme prior to these years were
allowed to continue to be in the existing scheme till they complete their fellowships
/studies.

2.0 Objective

2.1 Fellowship: The objective of the scheme is to encourage the ST students, a
section of society with the lowest literacy levels in the country, to acquire higher
education in the form of fellowships to pursue M. Phil and Ph. D. Courses, with a view
to create qualified professionals to hold posts of teachers /professionals and other
higher stages of employment

2.2 Scholarship: ST Students is intended to encourage meritorious ST students
to pursue courses at Graduate/Post Graduate level in identified Institutions of
excellence, Government and Private, in professional fields such as Management,
Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc.

Page | 37