National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities

What is the National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities?

National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities is a research fellowship that supports scholars with disabilities to pursue advanced study leading to an MPhil or PhD degree. It is funded by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and is implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which already administers several national fellowship schemes.

According to the UGC guidelines, the fellowship provides 200 slots every year and pays research scholars at the same rates as other UGC fellowships. The purpose is to remove the financial barrier that often stops students with disabilities from continuing into research careers, and to increase their representation among MPhil and PhD holders and, in turn, among university and college teachers.

Key features

• 200 fellowships awarded each year - 150 via UGC NET-JRF and 50 via UGC-CSIR NET-JRF.
• Junior Research Fellow stipend of Rs 37,000 per month for the first two years.
• Senior Research Fellow stipend of Rs 42,000 per month thereafter.
• Escort or reader allowance of Rs 2,000 per month for scholars who need it.
• Annual contingency grant and HRA as per the UGC norms.

Who is eligible for the National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities?

You can be considered if you:

• Have a benchmark disability of at least 40%, certified by a competent medical authority, in one of the categories recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
• Have qualified the UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET with Junior Research Fellowship eligibility - the fellowship is awarded to candidates who clear NET-JRF and then take up research.
• Are enrolled, or take admission, in a regular, full-time MPhil or PhD programme in a recognised university, deemed university or institution.

Within the 200 fellowships, reservation is applied - 15% for Scheduled Caste and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe candidates - alongside the disability requirement.

You cannot apply if you:

• Do not have a certified benchmark disability of at least 40%.
• Have not qualified NET with JRF eligibility through the relevant stream.
• Are pursuing the research on a part-time or distance basis rather than as a regular, full-time scholar.
• Are already drawing another central or state government fellowship for the same research - the fellowship cannot be combined with a second government award.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities

The fellowship is not a walk-in scholarship - it flows from qualifying the National Eligibility Test with Junior Research Fellowship. Follow these steps:

1. Qualify the UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET with JRF eligibility in your subject, in the stream reserved for candidates with disabilities.
2. Secure admission or registration to a regular, full-time MPhil or PhD programme in a recognised university or institution.
3. Complete the fellowship joining formalities through the UGC's fellowship process, submitting your disability certificate, NET-JRF award proof, degree documents and admission proof, verified by the university.
4. Get the university and supervisor to confirm your enrolment and progress; the fellowship is released and later renewed on the basis of satisfactory research progress.
5. Track your fellowship and yearly renewals through the UGC portal and your university's research section.

Because the exact online steps and the annual notification are issued by the UGC, confirm the current-year procedure on the UGC website before applying.

How much does the fellowship provide?

For the first two years, the scholar is a Junior Research Fellow drawing Rs 37,000 per month. On satisfactory assessment, the scholar becomes a Senior Research Fellow drawing Rs 42,000 per month for the remaining tenure, up to a total of five years. In addition, fellows receive an annual contingency grant to meet books, travel and research costs, House Rent Allowance where applicable, and an escort or reader allowance of Rs 2,000 per month for those whose disability requires such support.

These rates follow the common UGC fellowship guidelines and are revised from time to time; the amounts above reflect the rates confirmed in the UGC's revised guidelines. Check the UGC guidelines PDF for the current contingency figures for humanities, social sciences and science streams.

Help and where to ask

The fellowship is administered by the University Grants Commission. General UGC contact numbers are 011-23604446 and 011-23604200. Scheme funding and policy sit with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. For queries specific to your fellowship release and renewals, work through your university's research or scholarship section, which coordinates with the UGC.