Research Fellowship In Sciences For Meritorious Students (RFSMS)

What is the Research Fellowship in Sciences for Meritorious Students (RFSMS)?

The Research Fellowship in Sciences for Meritorious Students (RFSMS) was a University Grants Commission (UGC) scheme designed to give meritorious candidates the means to pursue advanced study and research leading to a PhD in the sciences. According to the UGC guidelines, the fellowship paid Rs 8,000 per month with a contingency grant of Rs 6,000 per year, and the tenure ran initially for two years and could continue for a total of up to five years.

RFSMS was introduced under UGC's XI Plan to widen the pool of science research scholars beyond those funded through the CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test, by directing support to departments that UGC had already identified for excellence. The fellowship targeted quality science departments so that promising PhD candidates in those centres would not be held back for want of a stipend.

RFSMS is now a closed scheme, it no longer accepts fresh applicants. UGC records show settlement of old RFSMS cases up to June 2016, and the objective of supporting meritorious science research scholars has since been carried forward under UGC's Basic Scientific Research (BSR) framework. This guide documents what RFSMS was and points current scholars to the active successor route, in line with the fact that a shorter accurate guide is better than a complete-looking but outdated one. As an editorial note, RFSMS may serve readers better as a section inside a broader UGC-BSR fellowships page than as a standalone guide, given how little live material remains.

Who was eligible for RFSMS?

Historically eligible:

• Candidates registered for a PhD in science subjects in specific UGC-identified departments, namely Universities or Centres with Potential for Excellence, Centres of Advanced Study, and departments under the Special Assistance Programme.

Who could not apply:

• Scholars in universities or departments not identified by UGC under the scheme could not apply — RFSMS was restricted to a defined set of institutions, not open to every university.
• Candidates in non-science disciplines were not eligible.

Because RFSMS is closed, no candidate can apply today regardless of eligibility. The eligibility above is recorded for context and for those closing out old cases.

What documents were required for RFSMS?

How to apply for science research support today

Since RFSMS is closed, the practical route for a current science PhD scholar is through UGC's successor schemes and other national fellowships.

1. Check the UGC website for the active Basic Scientific Research (BSR) fellowships and their current guidelines and eligibility.
2. Confirm your department's status. BSR support, like RFSMS, is tied to UGC-recognised departments, so verify whether your university/department is covered.
3. Consider parallel national schemes. Qualify for the CSIR-UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship or check institutional fellowships offered directly by your university.
4. Apply through your institution using the prescribed format for whichever active scheme fits, routing the application through your supervisor and department.

Under the UGC-BSR framework, fellowships for research students in the basic sciences continue on lines similar to RFSMS, a monthly fellowship plus an annual contingency for scholars in UGC-recognised science departments; while the UGC-BSR Faculty Fellowship supports superannuated teachers who continue active research. The exact rates under these schemes are revised by UGC from time to time and should be read from the current guidelines on the UGC website rather than assumed from the old RFSMS figures.

How much did RFSMS provide?

Under the original UGC guidelines, RFSMS paid Rs 8,000 per month as the fellowship and Rs 6,000 per year as a contingency grant, for a PhD tenure of up to five years. UGC later revised research fellowship rates in line with its JRF/SRF structure. As the scheme is no longer operational, these amounts are historical and should not be treated as a current benefit.

Help and where to verify

For active support, current science research scholars should consult the UGC website and the UGC-BSR Bureau, which lists the Basic Scientific Research fellowships and related schemes. Enquiries on legacy RFSMS cases are handled by the UGC-BSR Section at the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. Because RFSMS is closed, treat any third-party page advertising fresh RFSMS applications with caution and confirm the current scheme directly on ugc.gov.in.