Central Government Radhakrishnan Post-Doctoral Fellowship: ₹58,000 a Month

11 November 2026, 4:19 AM • Harish Sharma • Category: All India Schemes

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News: Central Government Radhakrishnan Post-Doctoral Fellowship: ₹58,000 a Month
Date: 11 November 2026, 4:19 AM
Author: Harish Sharma
Category: All India Schemes
Source: See the official portal for details — the link is inside the story.

Photo: Scntst0009, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

If you want to do further research in humanities and social sciences after a PhD, the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan UGC Post-Doctoral Fellowship is for you. It is a scheme of the University Grants Commission (UGC), named after Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President of India and philosopher. A selected researcher gets ₹58,000 a month as fellowship. The fellowship is for 3 years and 900 researchers get this opportunity every year. It is given for research in subjects like history, literature, sociology, economics, political science and languages. The fellowship honours Dr. Radhakrishnan’s belief that teachers and scholars shape a nation’s future, and it supports young researchers who want to build a career in teaching and research.

How much money is given

The Radhakrishnan Fellowship pays as follows.

First year: ₹58,000 a month — the fellowship amount.
Second year: ₹61,000 a month — the increased amount from the second year.
Third year: ₹67,000 a month — a further increase from the third year.
Contingency: ₹50,000 a year — for research expenses.
Escort and reader assistance: ₹3,000 a month — for PwD researchers.
Duration: 3 years — it cannot be extended.

These amounts follow the rates revised in the UGC’s 572nd meeting, in force from 1 January 2023. The older guidelines quoted a flat ₹50,000 a month, which was raised in 2023 to the three-year stepped rate.

Who can apply

This fellowship is for young researchers in humanities and social sciences.

The applicant must hold a PhD degree in humanities or social sciences.
Age below 35 years. SC, ST, OBC and women applicants get 5 years of relaxation.
The applicant must be unemployed.
55% marks at UG level and 60% marks at PG level. Reserved categories get 5% relaxation in marks.
The applicant must do research at a university or institute under UGC Sections 2(f) and 12(B).

How to apply

Applications are made online on the frg.ugc.ac.in portal. First check the new notice on the portal, then fill the application and upload the PhD certificate, research proposal, list of publications and academic certificates. Applications for this fellowship open every year. Check the portal for the new notice for the 2026-27 cycle dates, because the dates can change every year. Selection is based on the quality of the research proposal and the research record. Never pay anyone for applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How much money is given under the Radhakrishnan Fellowship? A: ₹58,000 a month in the first year, ₹61,000 in the second year and ₹67,000 in the third year, plus a ₹50,000 yearly contingency. Q2: For how many years is the fellowship given? A: For 3 years; it cannot be extended. Q3: Who can apply? A: Unemployed researchers with a PhD in humanities or social sciences; age below 35 years (5 years of relaxation for reserved categories and women). Q4: Where do I apply? A: On the frg.ugc.ac.in portal; applications open every year.