Photo: PIB, Government of India
The Central Government’s National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities is for disabled students doing a PhD. It belongs to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and runs through the UGC. The scheme has been in force since 1 April 2012. 200 fellowships are given every year. The fellowship pays ₹37,000 a month as JRF for the first 2 years and ₹42,000 a month as SRF for the next 3 years. HRA, contingency and escort/reader help are also given.
How much money is given
The fellowship pays ₹37,000 a month as JRF for the first 2 years and ₹42,000 a month as SRF for the next 3 years. HRA (House Rent Allowance) is also given. A contingency grant is given every year — ₹10,000 for JRF and ₹20,500 for SRF in humanities; ₹12,000 for JRF and ₹25,000 for SRF in science. Students with physical or visual disabilities also get ₹2,000 a month as escort/reader assistance. The fellowship is given for a maximum of 5 years. The fellowship amount comes directly into the bank account (DBT). Note that the old rates of ₹31,000 and ₹35,000 a month no longer apply — the current rates are ₹37,000 and ₹42,000.
Who can apply
The applicant’s disability must be 40% or more (benchmark disability). The applicant must take admission in a full-time PhD at an institution recognised by the UGC. The applicant must have passed the UGC-NET or the Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination — of the 200 fellowships every year, 150 are filled through UGC-NET and 50 through the Joint CSIR-UGC NET. The applicant has to give the disability certificate and the PhD admission proof. Admission in M.Phil has stopped under NEP 2020, so this fellowship is mainly for PhD.
How to apply
Applications are made on the UGC website (ugc.gov.in) — see the fellowship page at ugc.ac.in/nfpwd. Submit the disability certificate, NET examination proof, PhD admission proof and bank account details with the application. Check the latest dates and process on the UGC website — never pay anyone for applying. Selection is on the basis of merit in the NET examination. The selected fellow gets the fellowship amount directly in the bank account. While filling the form, enter your disability and marks correctly. Keep your Aadhaar-linked bank account ready, because the fellowship is paid through DBT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money is given under the disability fellowship? A: ₹37,000 a month as JRF for the first 2 years and ₹42,000 a month as SRF for the next 3 years, plus HRA and contingency.
Q2: How many fellowships are given every year? A: 200 fellowships — 150 through UGC-NET and 50 through the Joint CSIR-UGC NET.
Q3: Who can apply? A: Students with 40% or more disability who have passed UGC-NET or CSIR-UGC NET and taken admission in a PhD.
Q4: Who gets the escort/reader assistance? A: Students with physical or visual disabilities get ₹2,000 a month as escort/reader assistance.
Useful links
- UGC National Fellowship (PwD): https://www.ugc.gov.in/
- National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/sn2408
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
