Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates

What is the Post Doctoral Fellowship to SC/ST Candidates?

Post Doctoral Fellowship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Candidates is an affirmative-action research fellowship of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which functions under the Ministry of Education. The scheme gives unemployed SC and ST scholars who already hold a PhD the means to pursue advanced, post-doctoral research, so that more researchers from these communities move into teaching and research careers.

According to the UGC fellowship portal, the scheme offers roughly 100 fellowships a year. A selected fellow receives Rs 38,800 per month for the first two years and Rs 46,500 per month from the third year, for a fixed, non-extendable tenure of three years. In addition, UGC pays a contingency grant of Rs 50,000 per year to cover books, travel and other research costs, and differently-abled fellows receive an escort/reader allowance of Rs 2,000 per month.

The fellowship is entirely funded by the Government of India through the UGC and is intended to raise the number of SC/ST scholars engaged in high-level research across disciplines.

Who is eligible for the SC/ST Post Doctoral Fellowship?

You can apply if:

• You belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe category and hold a valid caste certificate.
• You have been awarded a PhD degree in a relevant subject.
• You are unemployed; not in any regular salaried job.
• You meet the minimum marks requirement in your qualifying degrees.
• You are not more than 50 years old (55 for women) as on the last date of application.

You cannot apply if:

• You are employed in a regular position anywhere.
• You do not hold a PhD or are outside the eligible subjects.
• You are not from the SC or ST category, or cannot produce a valid caste certificate.
• You exceed the age limit on the application deadline.

The scheme is meant to be held on its own — a fellow cannot draw this fellowship along with another fellowship or scholarship, and taking up employment ends it.

What does the fellowship provide?

• Fellowship amount: Rs 38,800 per month (years 1-2), Rs 46,500 per month (year 3).
• Contingency: Rs 50,000 per year for books, travel and research expenses.
• Escort/reader allowance: Rs 2,000 per month, fixed, for differently-abled fellows.
• Tenure: Three years, non-extendable.

Fellows are attached to a university department or recognised research institution where they carry out their post-doctoral work under a supervisor.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the SC/ST Post Doctoral Fellowship

1. Wait for the annual UGC notification, normally published around April on the UGC website and fellowship portal.
2. Go to the UGC official portal and open the Scholarship/Fellowships section, then the Post-Doctoral Fellowship page.
3. Register with your details to create a login ID and password.
4. Fill in the online application form completely and upload your PhD certificate, caste certificate, mark sheets, age proof and unemployment declaration.
5. Submit the application and retain a printout for your records.
6. If selected, join within three months of the award letter, failing which the fellowship is forfeited.

Selection is made by an expert committee following the UGC's prescribed procedure, on the basis of academic record and research potential.

How is this different from the UGC PDF for the general category?

The general UGC Dr. D.S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship is open to all candidates on merit and carries different, higher revised rates. The SC/ST Post Doctoral Fellowship is a reserved, category-specific scheme designed to widen participation from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, with its own notification, its own quota of around 100 seats and its own stipend structure. Applicants should apply under the stream that matches their category and eligibility.

Help and where to check

• Official portal: ugc.gov.in (Scholarship/Fellowships section)
• UGC toll-free helpline: 1800-11-7800

Because the number of fellowships and the stipend rates are revised by UGC from time to time, always confirm the current figures and the last date on the live UGC notification before applying. Do not rely on third-party portals for the official deadline.